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Journals / Bozok Veterinary Sciences / 2026 / Sayı: 2026

FACTORS AFFECTİNG WELFARE LEVELS İN UNOWNED CATS

SAHİPSİZ KEDİLERDE REFAH DÜZEYİNİ ETKİLEYEN FAKTÖRLER

Selda Karadağ0000-0003-0571-9711
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-04-09
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This review aims to examine the main factors affecting the welfare of unowned cats, identify existing problems in this area and suggest ways to improve the situation.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Unowned animals share living environments with humans in urban and rural areas, and their survival largely depends on environmental conditions.
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Key Findings & Data:These animals often have irregular and insufficient access to adequate nutrition, shelter and veterinary care, which directly affects their welfare levels.
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Conclusion & Impact:This review aims to examine the main factors affecting the welfare of unowned cats, identify existing problems in this area and suggest ways to improve the situation.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sahipsiz hayvanlar · sahipsiz kediler · hayvan refahı

Abstract

Unowned animals share living environments with humans in urban and rural areas, and their survival largely depends on environmental conditions. These animals often have irregular and insufficient access to adequate nutrition, shelter and veterinary care, which directly affects their welfare levels. The concept of animal welfare encompasses the fulfilment of animals' physical and psychological needs, protection from pain and stress, and the freedom to express their natural behaviours. However, due to their living conditions, unowned animals are unable to meet many of these requirements adequately. Cats constitute an important group of unowned animals and are commonly found in both urban and rural settings, living in close contact with humans. Their reliance on environmental conditions and human support makes their welfare status particularly vulnerable. When evaluated within the framework of animal welfare principles, it becomes clear that the majority of unowned cats lack fundamental freedoms, such as access to adequate nutrition and appropriate shelter, as well as veterinary care. This leads to serious physical and psychological problems. This review aims to examine the main factors affecting the welfare of unowned cats, identify existing problems in this area and suggest ways to improve the situation.

Özet

Sahipsiz hayvanlar, kentsel ve kırsal bölgelerde insanlarla aynı yaşam alanını paylaşan ve yaşamlarını büyük ölçüde çevresel koşullara bağlı olarak sürdüren hayvanlardır. Bu hayvanların beslenme, barınma ve sağlık hizmetlerine erişimleri çoğu zaman düzensiz ve yetersiz olup, bu durum refah düzeylerini doğrudan etkilemektedir. Hayvan refahı kavramı; hayvanların fiziksel ve psikolojik gereksinimlerinin karşılanmasını, acı ve stresten korunmasını ve temel özgürlüklerinin rahatça sürdürmelerini ifade etmektedir. Ancak sahipsiz hayvanlar, yaşam koşulları gereği bu gereksinimlerin önemli bir kısmını yeterli düzeyde karşılayamamaktadır. Sahipsiz hayvanlar içerisinde önemli bir grubu oluşturan kediler, kentsel ve kırsal alanlarda yaygın olarak bulunmakta ve insanlarla yakın temas hâlinde yaşamaktadır. Yaşamlarını büyük ölçüde çevresel koşullara ve insan kaynaklı desteklere bağlı olarak sürdürmeleri, refah düzeylerini kırılgan hâle getirmektedir. Hayvan refahı ilkeleri çerçevesinde değerlendirildiğinde, sahipsiz kedilerin büyük çoğunluğunun yeterli beslenme, uygun barınma ve sağlık hizmetlerine erişim gibi temel özgürlüklerden yoksun olduğu; buna bağlı olarak fiziksel ve psikolojik açıdan ciddi sorunlar yaşadığı görülmektedir. Bu derlemenin amacı, sahipsiz kedilerin refah düzeyini etkileyen temel faktörleri ele almak, bu alandaki mevcut sorunları ortaya koymak ve söz konusu faktörlerin iyileştirilmesine yönelik çözüm önerileri sunmaktır.

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Cite This Article

Karadağ, S. (2026). FACTORS AFFECTİNG WELFARE LEVELS İN UNOWNED CATS. Bozok Veterinary Sciences, Sayı: 2026. https://doi.org/10.58833/bozokvetsci.1866455

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