Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices Of Cat Owners Regarding Periodontal Disease In Cats In Johor, Malaysia

Periodontal disease is a term used for gum inflammation caused by plaque buildup. It has two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the early stage where the gums are inflamed, but it can be reversed with treatment. If left untreated, gingivitis can worsen and turn into periodontitis, a more serious condition that can damage the teeth and gums permanently. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the cat owners towards PD using a self administered questionnaire using Google Form. However, there is still a lack of good practice among the respondents regarding the prevention and taking care of the oral health of the cat. The study findings show that the cat owner has good knowledge (n =54.3%), good attitude (n=82.7%) and moderate practice (n=49.4%). Significant associations were observed between age and knowledge (p = 0.025) as well as age and attitude (p = 0.03). Additionally, race (p = 0.017) and religion (p = 0.023) were significantly associated with the practices. Correlation analysis among knowledge, attitude, and practice levels regarding periodontal disease in cats among cat owners in Johor, Malaysia, revealed a significant but weak positive correlation between knowledge and attitude levels (r = 0.186, p = 0.048). Similarly, a moderate positive and significant correlation was identified between attitude and practice levels (r = 0.327, p = 0.001), suggesting that attitudes have a strong influence on practices. In contrast, the correlation between knowledge and practice levels was weak and not statistically significant (r = 0.136, p = 0.113).
Keywords: KAP, Periodontal disease, cat owners