Anxiety disorders are common in domestic cats and cause significant suffering that is frequently misinterpreted as personality rather than recognized as a treatable medical condition.
Feline anxiety is a significant and underdiagnosed welfare problem. Cats in chronic anxiety states experience ongoing psychological suffering that owners frequently normalize as shyness or standoffishness. The triggers — inter-cat conflict, inadequate territory, unpredictable human behavior — are often addressable with environmental modification. When behavioral approaches are insufficient, veterinary intervention with anti-anxiety medication can dramatically improve quality of life. Recognition that anxiety is a medical condition rather than a personality flaw is the first and most important welfare step.