The influence of experimentally manipulating a component of weaning on the development of play in domestic cats

Two previous studies found that simulating aspects of early weaning, starting 5 weeks after birth, increased the frequency of object play and, to a lesser extent, social play in kittens. The present study further investigated this finding, using the lactation-suppressing drug bromocriptine to simulate a component of early weaning (a reduction in maternal milk production). The experimental manipulation was started a week earlier in ontogeny than...