Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/944484
ZOO NEWS M EM B ER MAGA ZIN E 12 ANIMAL WELFARE Given that cats can spend up to 70 per cent of their day sleeping, providing resting enrichment opportunities is particularly important. KNOW YOUR CATS The cats of Carnivores' Trail are still settling in and getting used to their new home. Most cat species are quite shy so they can take time to feel comfortable in new surrounds, however the team at Melbourne Zoo are confident the cats will soon love every part of their state-of-the-art development! From pet cats to Snow Leopards: keeping all cats happy and healthy. Whether it's an 85-kilogram tiger or a four-kilogram pet cat, the way to keep cats entertained can be approached the same way. Both big cats and small cats need 'enrichment' to keep them happy. For the big cats at Melbourne Zoo's new Carnivores' Trail, this means spring-loaded logs to jump on, toys to play with and a choice of different places to rest. Zoos Victoria's Animal Welfare Specialist, Dr Sally Sherwen, says that good animal enrichment encourages the natural behaviour of an animal. "You must look at how the animal has evolved in nature and the behaviours that are important for them to express, then we have to provide these behavioural opportunities," Dr Sherwen says. Some key behaviours identified for the snow leopards include: exploration, resting, playing and territorial behaviours. In order to encourage these behaviours, specially designed features were incorporated into the exhibit design at Carnivores' Trail. Given that an important natural behaviour of cats is resting or relaxing, providing comfort enrichment opportunities is particularly important. Different materials for the cats to lie on as well as different locations such as caves or elevated places to perch were included in the exhibits. A special 'flush delivery system' was also built into the Snow Leopard exhibit which allows keepers to randomise the feeding time and location. "This was designed to encourage exploration around food. Randomisation is important as it mimics what would happen in the wild where food doesn't just arrive on a plate," Dr Sherwen says. ››› MAKE SURE YOUR PET CAT HAS THINGS TO DO THAT ENCOURAGE CHASING, SLEEPING, EATING AND SENSORY STIMULATION