You can find here answers on frequently asked questions on the project.
Don’t hesitate to contact us (zuricats@hest.ethz.ch) if you need help!
Why should I participate in this project?
Participating in the ZüriCats citizen science project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important research on diet and health in domestic cats. By joining, you’ll help shape the study, and gain insights into your cat’s diet, microbiome, and well-being!
Is there any compensation for participating in this project?
No, there is no remuneration, but your participation contributes to important scientific research. You will get access to the results of the study and knowledge about your cat’s diet and microbiome diversity for free.
How should I collect the samples?
You can check out this page to have a step-by-step guide for the sample collection. Feel free to contact us, if have any questions or need help!
I have two cats (or more). Can all of them provide a sample?
Absolutely! If you have multiple cats, each one can provide its own sample. Just make sure to collect and label each sample separately so we can tell which is from which cat, and analyze those accordingly. Also, if you have multiple cats participating in the study, we’ll ask you to complete a separate questionnaire (i.e., detailed survey about diet, health status, and living conditions) for each cat.
I don’t live in Zurich, can my cat still be part of the project?
No worries — you can still participate! However, at this time, participation is only open to cat owners residing in the canton of Zurich. We hope to expand the sampling campaign to other regions in the future, so stay tuned!