Putting the cat before the wildlife: Exploring cat owners' beliefs about cat containment as predictors of owner behavior

Free-roaming domestic cats pose risks to wildlife, animals, humans, and importantly, the themselves. Behavior change campaigns that seek minimize these by increasing cat containment require an understanding of factors predict owners' behaviors. We conducted online survey in Victoria, Australia (N = 1,024) identify 220) behaviors containing their cats, explore beliefs attitudes behavior, compare about with respondents do not own 804). found 53% owning allow any roaming. These were more likely hold concerns cats' safety while roaming less perceive have a right roam. Concern impacts wildlife was significant predictor behavior. Expectations owners should manage behavior social norm among other respondents, containers indicate they would try peers perceived be harmful environment. Cat could improved appealing well-being, engaging respected messengers align concerns, including who already contain cats.