Data for: Domestic cat accelerometer data calibrated with behaviours

Observing animals in the wild often poses extreme challenges, but animal-borne accelerometers are increasingly revealing unobservable behaviours. Automated machine learning streamlines behaviour identification from the substantial datasets generated during multi-animal, long-term studies, however, the accuracy of such models depends on the qualities of the training data. We examined how data processing influenced the predictive accuracy of random forest (RF) models, leveraging the easily observed domestic cat (Felis catus) as a model organism for terrestrial mammalian behaviours.
Nine indoor domestic cats were equipped with collar-mounted tri-axial accelerometers, and behaviours were recorded alongside video footage. From this calibrated data, eight datasets were derived with; (i) additional descriptive variables; (ii) altered frequencies of acceleration data (40 Hz vs. a mean over 1 second); and (iii) standardised durations of different behaviours. These training datasets were used to ..., Indoor cats were fitted with neck collars to which tri-axial accelerometers recording at 40 Hz were affixed. Accelerometer data was synchronised with video footage of the cats and distinct behaviours were labelled (‘rest’, ‘walk’, ‘trot’, ‘run’, ‘collar shake’, ‘feed’, and ‘groom’) using bespoke software DDMT (Wildbyte technologies, http://wildbytetechnologies.com/software.html). Transitions between behaviours were not included in any behaviour sample.
Details
Nine adult domestic cats (4 females, 5 males; aged 6 months – 8 years) housed at Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary, Antrim, Northern Ireland in rooms (2 m x 3 m) were studied in June and July 2017. Cats were free to move to an enclosed outside area (2 x 2 m). All individuals were either neutered or spayed and were certified as healthy by a veterinarian prior to participation in the study.
Cats were fitted with quick release collars (Breakaway buckle collar, Rogz Ltd. 2002/030628/07) to which a tri-axial accelerometer (‘Daily Diary’, Wil..., , # Domestic cat accelerometer data calibrated with behaviours

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.q2bvq83sx](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.q2bvq83sx)

## Description of the data and file structure

The data is structured according to distinct behaviours demonstrated by the domestic cats. Accelerometers were set to record at 40 Hz, represented by the Time column. ID refers to individual cats. AccX, AccY, and AccZ are acceleration values in three axes. Behaviour refers to the video calibrated behaviour defined above and in the affiliated manuscript.

## Code/Software

Accelerometers were set, calibrated, and the behaviours extracted using DDMT software; Wildbyte technologies, [http://wildbytetechnologies.com/software.html](http://wildbytetechnologies.com/software.html)