Cats are not naturally social with unrelated cats, and multi-cat households frequently create chronic social stress that owners often fail to recognise.
Multi-cat household welfare is one of the most commonly misunderstood companion animal welfare issues. Owners interpret the absence of fighting as social harmony, when cats may be in chronic low-level conflict expressed through stress behaviours rather than direct aggression. Over-grooming, hiding, inappropriate elimination, and reduced play are all signs of social stress that are frequently attributed to other causes. The solution is environmental management: separate feeding stations, multiple litter trays in different locations, elevated perches to increase perceived territory, and separate safe spaces. Where stress is severe, reducing cat numbers may be the kindest option.