Shelter cats frequently develop behaviour problems from the stress of confinement. Understanding shelter behaviour welfare enables interventions that improve both cat welfare and adoption outcomes.
Shelter behaviour welfare is both an individual welfare issue and a systemic welfare challenge. Cats in poor welfare conditions — high-noise, social exposure, inadequate hiding, and insufficient space — develop stress behaviours that then reduce their adoption prospects, trapping them in the welfare-compromising environment. Breaking this cycle requires shelter design that reduces stress, enrichment that enables normal behaviour expression, foster programmes that remove cats from shelter environments, and behaviour assessment approaches that account for stress-related behaviour changes rather than treating them as permanent traits. Cats that appear aggressive or withdrawn in the shelter due to stress may be relaxed and friendly in home environments — this distinction is welfare and adoption-critical.