Inter-cat aggression is one of the most common welfare problems in multi-cat households, causing chronic stress for affected individuals and often leading to relinquishment.
Chronic inter-cat aggression causes significant stress for both aggressor and victim in ways owners often underestimate. Victim cats show physiological stress responses including immune suppression, urinary disease, and behavioral changes including hiding and reduced feeding. Many owners misinterpret normal cat asociality as aggression or fail to recognize subtle intimidation that prevents victims from accessing food and litter. Household design providing adequate resources per cat, multiple escape routes, and vertical territory dramatically reduces conflict. Forced proximity between incompatible cats without escape options is a welfare failure requiring management intervention.