Convivência com gatos em ambientes urbanos: percepção de estudantes de Ciências Biológicas.

Abstract

Human relationships with cats have taken on varied forms throughout history, ranging from instrumental use to family member status, generating ambiguous representations about the species. In domestic condition, they find a high level of abandonment, motivated by the lack of reproductive control, coexistence problems and unfamiliarity about their behavior. As a consequence, many Brazilian cities face a problem of stray cats overpopulation and diverse conflicts around colonies of felines, commonly established in squares, parks, markets and university campus. Aiming to understand how the interactions around a cat colony occur, a study was carried out with students from the Biosciences Center of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, with application of 215 questionnaires. In this paper, we analyze students representations about these animals and their presence on campus. The results shows the presence of common-sense opinions about the behavior of these animals and the possibilities of infection by zoonoses but, on the other hand, indicate a concern for well-being, which underlies the condemnation of stray animals extermination policies. The study points paths to an environmental education action in the name of a healthier and less confrontational relationship with abandoned animals