Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using a one-way mirror to reduce stress in hospitalized cats
By Miyata, T et al.·Published in Polish journal of veterinary sciences·2023·School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Assessment of feline hospitalization environment using a one-way mirror.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Five healthy cats were observed in a hospital setting to see how different environments affected their stress levels. They were placed in cages with either a transparent panel or a one-way mirror, which allowed the staff to check on them without disturbing their hiding space. The results showed that the cats' stress levels varied based on their personalities, with friendlier cats feeling less stressed when they could see out through the one-way mirror. This suggests that using a one-way mirror could help reduce stress for cats in veterinary hospitals, making their stay more comfortable.
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Abstract
A separate, cat-specific hospitalization room away from dogs is recommended to reduce stress in cats; however, this can be difficult for some hospitals to provide. In such cases, measures are undertaken to reduce the cat's stress by providing a place to hide. However, inability to observe the cat's condition may be an obstacle to providing veterinary care. The use of a one-way mirror to create a sheltered environment while allowing observation of the cats was assessed. Five healthy cats were assessed using the Cat Stress Score (CSS) while in a cage with either a transparent panel or a one-way mirror. No significant differences in the CSS between the transparent panel and one-way mirror were observed. Variations in the CSS scores depended on the cat's personality, with friendlier and more sociable cats showing a lower CSS with the one-way mirror. A one-way mirror may be useful to reduce stress in hospitalized cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37389419/