Model selection for examining the association between cat intake quantity and socioeconomic conditions

Abstract In this study, on the basis of prior research suggesting that socioeconomic conditions (identified as factors that contribute to owner relinquishment of cats) and geographic conditions (identified as factors that contribute to the habitat characteristics of stray cats) are related to the degree of cat intake, we formulated hypotheses and tested them using model selection. We found that the factors associated with the intake number of owner-relinquished cats and the number of intakes of owner-unknown cats differed, and the results also varied between prefectures and designated cities/core cities. There was a significant negative association between the number of intakes of owner-relinquished cats (in a prefecture) and the proportion of individuals with a higher education level (β = -12.50; 85% CI [-22.65, -2.34]); there was also a significant positive association with the number of intakes of owner-unknown cats (in a prefecture) and the proportion of owner-occupied housing (β = 6.90; 85% CI [3.17, 10.62]). Because both the proportion of individuals with a higher education level and the proportion of owner-occupied housing represented socioeconomic conditions as factors that contribute to owner relinquishment, it is essential to implement measures to account for socioeconomic conditions as potential factors that contribute to owner relinquishment, even when the objective is to reduce the number of intakes of owner-unknown cats.