Shelter cats face significant psychological stress from confinement, unpredictability, and social isolation — well-designed enrichment programmes are essential for their welfare and adoptability.
The shelter environment presents a profound welfare challenge for cats — solitary hunters who value predictability, territory, and control over their environment. Even well-resourced shelters can inadvertently create conditions of chronic stress. Fear and frustration are not always visible to staff: a cat sitting quietly at the back of a cage may not be relaxed but frozen in a state of learned helplessness. Assessment tools like the Cat Stress Score (CSS) and Cat Wellbeing Score help staff identify subtle signs of suffering and tailor enrichment to individual needs. Treating each cat as an individual with distinct social preferences is central to ethical shelter management.