Psychoactive medications can significantly improve the welfare of cats with anxiety, compulsive disorders, and fear-based problems. Understanding appropriate use maximises welfare benefit.
Psychoactive medication for cats with significant anxiety or compulsive disorders represents an important welfare intervention that remains underused due to cultural reluctance to medicate pets for behavioural conditions. When anxiety is severe enough to significantly impair quality of life, cause physical health problems, or drive behaviour that cannot be managed through environmental means alone, medication offers genuine welfare benefit by reducing the physiological and psychological burden of chronic anxiety. The welfare of cats with urine spraying, compulsive over-grooming, or severe phobias is substantially improved by appropriate medication combined with behaviour management. Medication should be considered a welfare tool alongside behaviour modification rather than a last resort after extended suffering.