Managing households with cats and other animals requires understanding species-specific needs and stress indicators. Well-managed multi-species households support good welfare for all animals.
Multi-species household welfare requires understanding the prey species status and stress responses of each animal. Cats as predators cause chronic stress in prey species including rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and small reptiles through their mere presence. Even without physical access, the scent and sight of predators causes chronic fear responses that significantly compromise prey animal welfare. Dogs and cats can coexist when introduced carefully and managed to prevent resource competition and provide cats with dog-inaccessible spaces. Owner attention to all animals welfare indicators in multi-species households, not just overt conflict, identifies chronic stress that requires management intervention.