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• We compared responses of orphaned and mother-reared kittens to a brief nest separation. • Orphaned kittens emitted more distress calls than mother-reared kittens. • Orphaned kittens were more active than mother-reared kittens. • Orphans were more vocal and active during a nest separation at 1 and 3 weeks of age. • Being orphaned likely increases stress responses of neonatal kittens. It is unknown how premature maternal separation affects the responses of kittens to potentially stressful events. In the United States, thousands of kittens are orphaned each year due to death of the queen, neglect, or accidental separation by humans. Neonatal mammals emit distress calls and increase locomotion when socially isolated, suggesting that being separated from the nest is a stressful event. Increased vocalization and activity of isolated neonates may aid maternal retrieval or relocation of the nest. In the current study, we assessed the effects of early maternal separation on later vocalizations and activity of 49 kittens (28 orphaned, 21 mother-reared; 23 female, 26 male) from 11 litters (5 mothered, 6 orphaned) during an open field test when the kittens were one and three weeks of age. We conducted a total of 79 trials. Each kitten was placed individually in a 1-meter diameter pen away from the rest of the litter and/or mother for two minutes. The number of calls emitted and total activity (in seconds) were recorded for each kitten on every trial. We assessed the effects of age, sex, orphan status, and interactions between orphan status with sex and age on activity and vocalizations. Orphaned kittens were more active than mother-reared kittens at both times (t (46) = 4.62, p < 0.001), with an interaction between age and orphan status (t (28) = -2.84, p = 0.008). Orphaned kittens emitted more vocalizations at both times (Z = 2.38, p = 0.018), with an interaction between age and orphan status (Z = -3.18, p = 0.001). Orphaned kittens showed increased activity and vocalizations in response to a brief nest separation compared to mother-reared kittens. This effect was still present after over two weeks of maternal separation, suggesting that maternal separation may lead to long-term changes in stress responses. Future research should explore if such effects of maternal separation are present in older kittens or adult cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study identified a plurality of coping responses, which provides a spectrum of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral strategies, both adaptive and maladaptive to combat the stresses of racism. These identified coping responses reflect a cognitive-contextual perspective, coined by the authors of this paper. This perspective reflects a combination of coping strategies that omit previous research which suggest mostly anger, depression, and anxiety as a possible response to perceived racial discrimination. These negative emotional responses are suggested to result in chronic physical and mental health risk. Current findings also support the need for examining these racism-coping phenomena from a biopsychosocial perspective. It would allow health practitioners information to treat individuals impacted by cultural stress from a holistic perspective and could be included as part of both mental and physical healthcare.