Chronic stress is one of the most common and underrecognised welfare problems in domestic cats; identifying stressors and modifying the environment or management significantly improves quality of life.
Chronic stress in cats is often manifested indirectly through health problems rather than obvious behavioural signs. Cystitis without infection, overgrooming, and recurrent respiratory infections can all have a stress component. Identifying and modifying environmental stressors — inadequate litter provision, inter-cat conflict, inappropriate feeding arrangements, or lack of hiding opportunities — provides welfare benefits that medical treatment alone cannot achieve.