Demography and determinants of dog and cat ownership in three towns of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundThe dog and cat population data is generally scarce in developing countries due to the absence of surveys. The demography of owned dogs and cats, and the associated ownership characteristics, are essential for the control of pet population and zoonosis. This study was conducted in three towns of West Shoa Zone of Ethiopia with the objectives of assessing demographic characteristics of owned dogs and cats and determinants of ownership. MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was designed and administered to households to collect data on the demography and determinants of dog/cat ownership. Six hundred ten households, consisting of 305 in Ambo, 182 in Bako, and 123 in Gojo towns were interviewed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of dog/cat ownership. ResultsAbout 65.1% (95% CI: 62.1 – 69.8%) of the householders own dogs, 39.2% (95% CI: 35.8 – 43.8%) own cats, and 30.6% (95% CI: 27.4 – 35.0%) own both. The majority of the dog-owning households own a single dog (74.8%) and cat (74.9%). There were significantly higher proportion of dog and cat-owning households in Bako than Ambo and Gojo towns. The human to owned-dog ratio was 6:1, and that of cat ratio was 10:1. There were more male dogs (72.1%) and more female cats (59.7%). The male to female sex ratio was estimated at 3:1 for the dog while nearly 1:1 for cats. About 37.5% of the owned dogs were indoor, and 62.5% have free access to outside. Dogs and cats were acquired as a gift from families, neighbors, and friends. The identified reason for not owning dogs/cats were fear of zoonosis, dislike, no time to devote, benefit not realized, and shortage of finance. Logistic regression analysis identified study town, community type, the gender of head of household, ownership of other animals as determinants for both dog/cat ownership. Besides, possessing dogs was significantly associated with cat ownership. ConclusionData on dog/cat ownership status is important for the provision of veterinary services, pet population control, and for quantifying risks associated with dog/cat to the community and control of dog/cat borne zoonosis.