Domestic cats (Felis catus) are increasingly popular as companion animals in the Western world. But the close interaction between cats and people inside the home can also generate problems. One important behavioural problem for companion cats is excessive owner-directed attention-seeking behaviour. This behaviour can be observed for cats with or without outdoor access but is probably more prevalent in indoor-only cats, likely due to their increased risk of experiencing unmet environmental needs relative to cats with outdoor access. While it is not inherently problematic for cats to engage with and seek attention from their owners as this is crucial to the communication between them, this type of behaviour can escalate if a cat does not receive enough mental and physical stimulation. One approach suggested by cat professionals to prevent or mitigate excessive attention-seeking behaviour is to provide various types of enrichment, including enrichment through food puzzles. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effect of such enrichment on attention-seeking behaviour. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of enrichment in the form of (i) non-food-related object play and (ii) food puzzles on owner-directed attention-seeking behaviour among companion cats with no or limited outdoor access. A two-arm randomised controlled trial comparing the two enrichment interventions was conducted over a four-week period for 92 privately owned companion cats reported to display one or more predefined attention-seeking behaviours daily. The cats were divided randomly into two groups, one provided with food puzzles (44 cats) and one provided with non-food-related toys (48 cats). Owners in both groups were asked to use the items at their cats’ feeding times, and to report the prevalence of the cats’ attention-seeking behaviour weekly. The implementation of both enrichment interventions was associated with an observed decrease in most of the included attention-seeking behaviours over the study period. However, there was no significant difference between the two types of enrichment in how much the frequency of the included attention-seeking behaviours decreased. This suggests that consistent enrichment in connection with feeding may be a possible solution for attention-seeking behaviour in cats, and that object play and food puzzles can be used interchangeably.

Wildlife rescue is a morally motivated practice that seeks to alleviate suffering in free-ranging, predominantly native, wild animals. However, actions to help individual animals in circumstances that appear relatively easy to handle often have far-reaching and sometimes unintended consequences for animal welfare and raise wider concerns regarding animal ethics and ecological integrity. This can lead to difficult decisions that are inadequately addressed by existing triage guidelines. We present three example rescue scenarios as a foundation for exploring the broad range of concerns that may arise, including the immediate and longer-term risks, benefits and conflicts. Each example, drawn from contemporary Australian wildlife care settings, considers animal welfare implications amidst a variety of contextual factors and competing values. The cases include an orphaned Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) whose predicament is relatively isolated from broader ecological and population-level dynamics, a parasitised wombat (Vombatus ursinus) in a field setting where treatment to improve its welfare may affect populations and ecosystems, and a fire-impacted koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) whose rehabilitation involves the making of complicated welfare, environmental and other ethical trade-offs. By evaluating varying concerns as they apply to these examples and others, along with relevant evidence and prevailing approaches, we expose a range of ethically loaded considerations that apply to wildlife rescue. With increasing environmental threats and a shift in public attitudes in support of wildlife interventions, we propose that decision-making competencies and communication can be promoted through further training in ethical reasoning, the adoption of an ethical review process that includes assessment over time and across individuals, and increased transparency.

BACKGROUND:Insurance may reduce financial strain and potentially limit inequalities in veterinary care. However, we lack an understanding of the factors that influence whether owners purchase insurance and how much they are willing to spend on treatment, and of how these decisions are influenced by finances and emotional bonds. METHODS:In March 2022, an online questionnaire was used to investigate the reasons for the uptake of insurance among dog and cat owners in different income groups in Austria, Denmark and the UK (N = 2117). It also explored factors impacting owners' willingness to spend money on life-saving treatments. RESULTS:A total of 41.7% of owners had insurance, with the highest uninsured rate in Austria (78.7%). In the UK, there was an income disparity: owners in the highest income group were more likely to have insurance (65.6%) compared to those in the lowest income group (34.4%). Insurance mainly serves to avoid tough financial decisions when a pet is ill (35.5%), although high policy costs deter uptake (34.7%). Emotional attachment, in particular, impacts owners' likelihood of spending more on life-saving treatment, irrespective of insurance status. LIMITATIONS:Potential biases from self-reported data, social desirability and hypothetical case formulation may affect the findings. CONCLUSION:Although cost limits insurance uptake, emotional attachment increases owners' willingness to pay for treatment irrespective of insurance status.

Debates on sustainability transitions often turn to the mundane practices of consumption. Still, we know surprisingly little about how people who actively alter their daily routines towards sustainability engage affectively with these changes, and how affect develops and shifts in character over time. To advance research on this, this study explores the role of affect in transitions to and in sustaining a plant-rich diet. We use a longitudinal qualitative design where three interview rounds were conducted over a four-year period with 20 people residing in Denmark who had transitioned to a vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian or flexitarian diet less than nine months prior to the first round. We found that upset, disgust, and enjoyment were implicated in the transition to and continuance of plant-rich diets. Upset , particularly in response to the exploitation of animals, served as an initial catalyst of dietary change. Enjoyment , derived from mastering and engaging in everyday plant-based food practices, was not only powerful in the initial phase of plant-rich eating but also played an enduring role in sustaining plant-rich eating. Disgust , primarily in relation to meat and dairy products, likewise supported long-term continuance. All three affective processes were present, but with less intensity, among people who reverted to diets with more animal-based foods. These findings underline the significance of affect, including stage‑specific affective dynamics, in sustainable food transitions. Our insights may be used to encourage collective and political mobilization for sustainable consumption.

To foster academic integrity in students and future scholars, it is essential to understand how their integrity behaviours evolve throughout their educational trajectory and across various academic integrity topics. While much research has examined students' perception of and engagement in plagiarism and other forms of clear-cut cheating, grey-zone practices have largely been neglected, and comparisons across educational levels are rare. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of European students' conceptions of and engagement with less clearcut aspects of academic integrity, and the potential effects of academic integrity training. The study draws on a large-scale survey of 3,297 students from Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, and Switzerland, covering three educational levels (upper secondary, Bachelor, and PhD). The survey examined perceptions of and engagement in likely grey-zone and non-compliant practices across three dimensions of academic integrity: i) Plagiarism and citation practice, ii) Collaborative practices, and iii) Data collection and analysis. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Results showed that participants at higher educational levels were better at identifying likely non-compliant practices related to plagiarism and citation, and they were less likely to have engaged in such practices during their current studies. Progress along the educational trajectory was less pronounced regarding collaborative practices and practices related to data collection and analysis. In particular, 14% of the PhD level participants admitted having deleted deviating data "based on a gut feeling that they were inaccurate" and 20% admitted to keeping inaccurate records. All participants had a low level of competence in identifying grey-zone practices, and strikingly, their competences did not improve along their educational trajectory. Academic integrity training was not consistently correlated with any group of participants' competences regarding likely grey-zone practices, although it was positively correlated with upper secondary and PhD participants' competences concerning certain likely non-compliant practices. These results call for a different approach to academic integrity training. In particular, they call for more comprehensive approaches that include grey-zone as well as non-compliant practices, and address a broad range of questionable behaviours, not only plagiarism.

Tail biting in production pigs is a complex behaviour often triggered by stress and nutritional deficiencies, posing significant welfare and economic challenges. Despite the EU ban on routine tail docking for welfare reasons, docking remains effective in preventing tail biting, which highlights the need for alternative strategies and yet better understanding of the complex mechanisms behind it. This study investigates the efficacy of magnesium supplementation, specifically magnesium oxide (MgO) and magnesium aspartate (MgAsp), in reducing tail biting incidents in pigs postweaning until life week 9 (rearing pigs) with intact tails. Conducted on a Danish farm raising pigs with undocked tails, the trial involved 381 pigs across two batches. Blood magnesium and cortisol concentrations, along with tail and ear lesions, were systematically monitored. Results indicate a decline in blood magnesium levels across all groups after three weeks (i.e. life week 7 of the pigs), coinciding with increased incidences of tail lesions, particularly significant in the group with MgO supplementation. However, discrepancies in magnesium concentrations at the initial time point in the group with MgAsp supplementation suggest potential variations in magnesium absorption or baseline levels unknown prior to supplementation. While MgAsp showed some efficacy in maintaining higher magnesium levels, neither form of magnesium consistently reduced lesion prevalence or stress markers, as indicated by cortisol levels. These findings suggest that while magnesium supplementation can influence magnesium status, its role in mitigating tail biting and associated stress may be limited in the age class of rearing pigs. Further research is necessary to explore magnesium metabolism in young pigs and its intricate relationship with stress, nutrition, and behaviour.

The welfare of non-human animals is central to ethical discussions on animal use, with increasing attention to fish welfare across research, aquaria, aquaculture, and fisheries. This paper reviews current theoretical approaches to animal welfare and recent advances in defining and assessing fish welfare since the seminal paper by Huntingford et al. (2006; J Fish Biol 68: 332-372), highlighting the growing role of cognitive and affective processes. It also includes the concept of positive welfare and some of the current research advances in this field. Methods for measuring, monitoring and assessing welfare via the utilisation of outcome- and input-based indicators are outlined, ranging from practical operational tools to laboratory-based measures. Welfare concerns in wild-capture fisheries are examined in relation to stress, flesh quality and sustainability, including the welfare of released fish. Recent advances in fish neurobiology, cognition and pain perception are summarised, together with technological innovations that enhance welfare monitoring and management. The paper also explores the relationship between fish welfare, sustainability, public concerns and consumer demand, and legal and moral recognition across contexts, situating fish welfare within the 'One Health' and 'One Welfare' frameworks that link animal welfare, environmental stewardship and human well-being. Ongoing challenges include climate change, cultural factors and the interpretation of fish sentience and cognition among others.

Rabbits are among the most popular companion animals. Despite being a social species, most companion rabbits are solitary housed due to challenges with pairing and cohabitation, which may compromise their welfare. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of social housing (solitary vs. social) and dyadic relationships (using a Friendship Index derived from rates of allogrooming and contact) on rabbit welfare. Moreover, dyadrelated factors (sex combination, age difference, life stage combination, early socialisation, and neuter status) and resource-related factors (group size, spatial availability, enrichment, raised platforms, and visual barriers) previously linked to social dynamics in farmed and laboratory rabbits, were examined for their impact on dyadic relationships. This was assessed through behavioural observations based on home-pen videos collected by owners (in the morning, 5-10 a.m., and evening, 5-10 p.m.), using behavioural welfare indicators for rabbits. Linear and generalized linear mixed effects models were used to assess welfare outcomes and relationship indices, with 'owner' as a random effect. Video material of 122 rabbits from 74 owners were analysed, with approximately five hours per rabbit. Socially housed rabbits spent 21 % of scans in contact and 75 % in proximity to conspecifics. Agonistic interactions were rare. Solitary rabbits expressed significantly less behavioural diversity (P = 0.02) and more awake inactivity (P = 0.04) than socially housed rabbits, indicating improved welfare for the latter group. However, solitary rabbits spent significantly more time on environmental interaction (P = 0.03), plausibly due to their inability to socialise. A higher age difference was found to be significantly associated with a reduced Friendship Index (P = 0.002). Minimising the age difference may therefore be considered for future recommendations regarding pairing of companion rabbits. No significant effects of dyadic relationships on welfare were found; however the sample was biased towards positive relationships. The large housing space available to the rabbits may have contributed to the low level of agonistic behaviour and positive dyadic relationships. In summary, statistical inferences were hindered by data homogeneity and zero-inflation, likely due to convenience sampling, along with a lack of evidence-based welfare indicators for rabbits. Future studies should investigate optimal observation times and durations, as well as assess validity, reliability, and feasibility of existing behavioural welfare indicators for rabbits. Despite methodological limitations, this study provides insights into the social environment and welfare of companion rabbits, emphasizing the benefits of social housing and the potential advantages of minimizing age differences in rabbit dyads.

Knowledge of risk factors for overweight and obesity is important for making preventative strategies for feline obesity. The present study investigated risk factors for feline obesity in privately owned adult cats on Zealand, Denmark. Privately owned cats (>1 year old and reportedly healthy) were recruited through social media. During home visits, the cats underwent a full physical examination and body condition was scored by trained investigators. Owners answered a questionnaire relating to cat characteristics, owner characteristics and attachment to their cat, feeding practices and living environment. For statistical analyses cats were divided into moderately lean to moderately overweight (BCS 4-6/9) and heavy/obese (BCS 7-9/9) groups. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to predict risk of a cat being heavy/obese. 192 cats were included in the final analysis. 65% were BCS 4-6/9, and 35% were BCS 7-9/9. In the multivariate analysis, owners of heavy/obese cats were significantly more attached to their cat and owners of these cats perceived their cat as less active than owners of normal weight cats. Indoor confined domestic shorthaired cats had a high risk of being heavy/obese from a young age (1 year old), while the risk for domestic shorthaired cats with outdoor access was low at a young age and only slowly increased - culminating around 7 years of age. In contrast, in purebred cats, age only modestly affected the risk of being heavy/obese. In conclusion, indoor confinement was identified to significantly increase the predicted risk of domestic shorthaired cats being heavy/obese from a young age, while the risk for cats having outdoor access was highest at an age around 7 years. Whether a closer owner attachment is a contributing factor in feline obesity development should be investigated further.

Hobby and companion pig holdings tend to differ from commercial farms and may pose a risk of introduction and transmission of infectious diseases due to a limited application of biosecurity measures. We conducted a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study with the objective to describe the surroundings, management practices, registration status, and housing conditions under which hobby and companion pigs are kept in Denmark. We used descriptive statistics to summarise the results. The study population included 222 holdings. The respondents had various reasons for keeping the pigs - mainly companionship and meat production. Most of the pigs originated from Denmark and were registered and located in holdings in the countryside. The results indicate that some factors may serve as risk pathways in the case of infectious disease outbreaks, including the trade of pigs from countries where the pathogen of interest is present, feeding leftovers and kitchen waste (swill feeding), contact with other animals and visitors, limited fencing for pigs kept outside, movements outside of the premises, disposal of pig faeces as fertiliser or as feed for other animals, burying dead pigs in the garden, and caretakers' hunting activities. The housing conditions and potential risk pathways should be taken into consideration in future risk assessments, including the risk posed by small-scale holdings in the introduction and spread of infectious diseases. Due to the variation in how hobby and companion pigs are kept, recommendations on management and biosecurity practices should be adapted to the individual holdings, depending on the purpose of the holding and the practicality of the measures.

Separation related problems (SRPs) are common in companion dogs and give rise to serious problems for both dog welfare and owner quality of life. However, they are not well understood, making them difficult to prevent and treat. A so far underutilised source of knowledge is experience from professional behaviour practice. In this qualitative study, we explored professionally situated knowledge to identify factors that may contribute to the development of SRPs in dogs. The study is based on 15 semi-structured interviews with a diverse group of dog professionals (veterinarians, animal behaviourists, dog trainers) involved in the treatment of SRPs in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Six central themes emerged from this analysis, which were labelled “co-occurring behavioural difficulties”, “a body in flux”, “dog training gone wrong”, “breed type”, “changes to routine and environment”, and “psychological interplay between dogs and their owners”. These themes reflect professional observations of recurring contexts in SRP cases, rather than empirically established risk factors. While some align with existing scientific findings (e.g. comorbidity with noise sensitivity), others highlight underexplored areas, such as effects of adolescence and owner stress. The findings serve to underpin a broad, context-aware view of SRPs.

The relationship between ethical orientations and owners' choice of dog training methods is not well understood. This study explored whether animal ethics orientation is associated with the use of positive reinforcement training (Positive Training) or the use of physically aversive methods, such as prong collars or citronella spray (Physical Correction). The Multidimensional Measure of Animal Ethics Orientation was used to assess animal ethics orientations. This tool defines and measures four specific ethical orientations: Animal Rights, Animal Protection, Anthropocentrism, and Lay Utilitarianism. It was hypothesized that higher Animal Rights and Animal Protection scores would be associated with higher use of Positive Training and lower use of Physical Correction. In contrast, higher Anthropocentric and Lay Utilitarian scores would be associated with lower use of Positive Training and higher use of Physical Correction. Data were collected via an online survey completed by 964 US dog owners, 500 of whom met the inclusion criteria. Two outcome variables were constructed based on responses to questions about training practices. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify which orientations predicted the use of Positive Training. For Physical Correction, multivariable ordered logistic regression was used. Ethics orientations were clearly associated with the use of training methods. For Positive Training, higher Anthropocentric scores were associated with lower use of Positive Training (p < 0.001), and higher Animal Protection scores were associated with higher use of Positive Training (p = 0.020). For Physical Correction, higher Anthropocentric scores were associated with a higher use of Physical Correction (p < 0.001), whereas higher Animal Rights (p = 0.0013) and higher Animal Protection (p = 0.0020) scores were associated with lower use of Physical Correction. This is the first study to demonstrate that an owner's choice of dog training method is linked with their ethical orientation toward animals. It provides new insight into "ethical" factors that may influence training method choice.

Cat confinement continues to be a topic that draws lively debate. Our recent paper “Calling a trade-off a trade-off in arguments for cat confinement” aimed to challenge the narrative that confinement is categorically good for cat welfare and is therefore a “win-win” for cats and wildlife conservation (Glanville et al. 2025). Moreover, we questioned the efficacy of the “win-win” public communication strategy, when the welfare risks to cats are not addressed and owners are not appropriately prepared for the implications of confinement. Our paper has since been critiqued by Legge et al. (2026) based on misunderstanding or mischaracterisation of our original arguments. Therefore, we take this opportunity to correct these, to further demonstrate the welfare challenges faced by confined cats, and to underline how our arguments are intended to align with conservation goals.

Whether it is better for the welfare of companion cats to be housed alone or together with conspecifics is a subject of ongoing debate. There are conflicting results regarding the relationship between number of cats in households and cat welfare. However, the number of cats in the home is just one of many environmental factors, alongside cat and human characteristics, that influence individual cat welfare. Possible factors of importance include degree of outdoor access, cat demographics (age, breed, sex), owner-reported cat behavioural characteristics and access to welfare-relevant resources (litter trays, feed stations, water, resting, hiding places etc.). Based on a cross-sectional, representative sample of Danish cat owners this paper uses bivariate chi 2analyses together with multivariate regression analyses to investigate (i) to what degree the number of cats in a household relates to cat welfare (where welfare is measured through the prevalence of four health problems and eleven behavioural indicators), (ii) how other cat-related and husbandry factors (access outdoors and to welfare-relevant resources) correlate with the welfare of companion cats, and (iii) whether the importance of these husbandry and catrelated factors vary with whether cats are from single- or multi-cat households. For the cats included in the sample we find that: (i) increasing risk of health problems, house soiling and spraying is associated with an increasing number of cats in the home, (ii) decreasing risk of most negative welfare outcomes is associated with unrestricted outdoor access, and (iii) cats described by their owners as being more indifferent, not playful, inactive, nervous, reserved and fearful are more likely to have compromised welfare. Regarding differences between cats from single and multi-cat households, we find that: (i) unrestricted outdoor access is associated with reduced risk of the welfare concerns to a greater extent for cats from multi-cat households, compared to cats from single-cat households, (ii) cats from multi-cat households who are described as indifferent, not playful and inactive are more likely to have compromised welfare, compared to cats with similar behavioural characteristics from single-cat households, and (iii) cats from single-cat households who are described as being nervous, reserved and fearful, are more likely to have welfare issues, compared to cats with similar behavioual characteristics from multi-cat households. Our study highlights the complex nature of the relationship between individuals, their environment and welfare, increasing our understanding of the specific and inter-related factors associated with the welfare of cats from both single and multi-cat households.

A fundamental role of farm animal welfare science is to generate evidence-based knowledge on animals’ needs and well-being to inform decision-makers, and ultimately society at large. However, we argue that the knowledge produced by welfare science is systematically affected by pragmatic considerations that shape what problems are studied and how, limiting the information available. This phenomenon, which we term ‘pragmatism bias’, manifests in tendencies to focus on intensive production systems, short-term gains, and symptoms rather than root causes. In the absence of sufficient information, decisions are made with whatever knowledge is at hand. As a result, systems regarded as economically efficient, yet which offer unsatisfactory animal welfare become entrenched, systemic welfare issues are addressed incrementally, and the discipline’s epistemic progress is constrained. We argue that funding availability and operational constraints are central in driving pragmatism bias, yet equally significant is the way researchers, under these pressures, frame and pursue their investigations. To counteract pragmatism bias, we propose a multifaceted approach that includes strengthening researchers’ responsibility to acknowledge how pragmatic constraints shape scientific work. We recommend normalising transparent, reflexive communication about these influences through training, manuscript requirements, and professional dialogue. Meanwhile, funding structures should be reformed so that neutral, bottom-up mechanisms support open-ended, animal-centred inquiry. Science-based knowledge should be broadened to include a wider range of conditions outside of currently economically viable alternatives, including those that enable animals to thrive. Lastly, we suggest that researchers engage more with emerging frameworks for formal animal representation to support more systemic and ethically grounded change.

The One Health concept has been enthusiastically adopted in conservation. However, there are some underrecognized trade-offs that must be navigated when it comes to applying One Health ideas to wild animals. One of these relates to conflicts between the health of individual animals and the wildness and resilience of ecosystems when it comes to natural processes such as predation. Over the past few decades, there is evidence of wildlife managers providing veterinary treatment to animals injured in predation events. These efforts need to be tempered in light of concerns for biodiversity, wildness and human interests. We recognize that animals injured through predation can be distressing to contemplate for some humans, but allowing nature to take its course for these animals is enabling an essential ecological process. On this basis, we argue that there is not a strong ethical justification for interfering with predation.

This study investigates changes in the management of owned domestic cats (Felis catus) in a rural area of Denmark, at two points in time separated by 24 years. Households in a 47 km2 area, and on 23 farms near this area, were presented with the same questionnaire in 1998 and in 2022. Additional data about the number of cats earmarked/microchipped and registered in 1998 were provided by two cat registers. The study population was compared to other rural areas in Denmark using data collected in 2021 from a nationwide probability survey of cat owners. The study area was found to represent rural areas in Denmark well. From 1998 to 2022, our study found a slight drop in the total number of owned cats. There was a major shift away from cats living on farms; this was true both of full-scale farms (that is, farms from which the farmer makes a living) where the number of cats decreased by two-thirds between 1998 and 2022 compared to 1998; and on hobby farms, where the number halved over the period. However, the number of cats living in residential homes nearly doubled, and, correspondingly, there was also a significant increase in the proportion of cats with indoor access. Cat owners have increasingly adopted measures to manage their cats, including much higher proportions of cats being spayed and castrated (there was an increase from 61% to 98% among male cats with indoor access and from 13% to 70% among male cats without indoor access). There was, also, a major increase in cats that have been earmarked/microchipped and registered, rising from 8% to 64%. This change in owner behaviour has led to many fewer unwanted kittens being born and subsequently killed. The findings therefore provide evidence of changing rural human-cat relationships, with rural cat owners increasingly managing their cats in the same way as urban cat owners. Our findings also help to explain recent evidence that the number of unowned cats in Denmark is much lower than previously assumed.

The concept of animal welfare is evolving due to progress in our scientific understanding of animal biology and changing societal expectations. Animal welfare science has been primarily concerned with minimizing suffering, but there is growing interest in also promoting positive experiences, grouped under the term positive animal welfare (PAW). However, there are discrepancies in the use of the term PAW. An interdisciplinary group arrived at a consensus that ‘PAW can be defined as the animal flourishing through the experience of predominantly positive mental states and the development of competence and resilience. PAW goes beyond ensuring good physical health and the prevention and alleviation of suffering. It encompasses animals experiencing positive mental states resulting from rewarding experiences, including having choices and opportunities to actively pursue goals and achieve desired outcomes’. The definition also considers individual and species-specific differences. It provides a framework for researchers to investigate PAW and thereby generate innovative, informative and reproducible science. Studies of PAW can contribute to a richer picture of an animal’s life and may elucidate the biological foundations of happiness. The definition creates opportunities to inspire scientific progress in animal biology and to align animal care practices, legislation and markets with societal expectations.

Dystocia is a common problem in dogs. It is often resolved by emergency caesarean section, which is an invasive procedure that poses a risk to the dam and her puppies, and can cause postoperative discomfort. The risk of death to both puppies and dams can be decreased by elective caesarean section in bitches with a high risk of dystocia. However, if elective caesarean sections lead to the continual breeding of bitches unable to give birth vaginally, the prevalence of dystocia is likely to increase. The aim of this study was to follow the prevalence of caesarean section in pedigree dogs registered in the Danish Kennel Club from 2013 to 2022 (n = 35,121 litters). Specifically, the prevalence was examined for the total population of pedigree dogs (12.7 %-15.5 %), for brachycephalic breeds (37.6 %-40.1 %), and for five selected individual breeds. We observed an increase in the prevalence of caesarean sections from 2013 to 2020, while the prevalence was more stable during the period 2020-2022. Major differences in prevalence were observed between breeds and specifically between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic breeds, with higher levels in the former. Recently imposed legal limits on the number of caesarean sections performed on each bitch in combination with breeding guidelines that account for breed and reproductive history may serve to lower the use of caesarean sections.

Several questionnaire-based instruments have been developed to measure pet owners' attachments to their pets, but they are often lengthy, which likely limits their use in studies where respondent fatigue and data collection costs are concerns. One of these is the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) which has been increasingly used in recent years. It consists of 23 items addressing owners' levels of attachment to their pets. A total attachment score (full LAPS), and 3 sub-scores on the sub-dimensions of General Attachment, People Substitution, Animal Rights/Welfare, can be calculated. The current paper describes the development of a brief-version of the LAPS (Brief-LAPS). We first provide an overview of existing research where the LAPS is used. Then, to develop the Brief-LAPS, we use a combination of input from experts in human-animal interaction (n = 54) about the content validity of the 23 items, and analysis of measurement invariance on questionnaire data from cat and dog owners in 3 European countries [Austria, Denmark, and the UK (n = 2,037)]. Sixteen of the 23 original items were removed, leaving a 7-item Brief-LAPS scale where items from all 3 sub-dimensions are represented. The Brief-LAPS is intended to replace the full LAPS, and it does not offer brief versions of the 3 sub-dimensions. The full and Brief-LAPS are highly correlated (Pearson's r = 0.95). Also, patterns of associations between the full LAPS and a range of measures of interest in practical research are highly similar when running the same associational analyses with the Brief-LAPS. For future users, the paper provides scoring instructions for the Brief-LAPS, including how to calculate a composite score (range: 0-21). We recommend the use of the Brief-LAPS for studies in which questionnaire burden and data collection costs are a concern, but not when mean comparisons with the full LAPS are of interest, or when one or more of the LAPS sub-dimensions are of interest. Scholars should use caution when comparing the Brief-LAPS scores between countries. We recommend additional psychometric evaluations particularly in non-Western countries, to ensure that the Brief-LAPS scale is psychometrically sound beyond the three countries studied in this paper.