Length of stay in animal shelters is a major welfare determinant for cats, and enrichment programs that reduce behavioral deterioration improve both cat welfare and adoption outcomes.
Shelter stress in cats is particularly severe because of their territorial biology. Cats depend on familiar environments for security, and the combination of novel space, unfamiliar smells of other cats, and frequent approach by strangers creates chronic high-level stress. This stress manifests as hiding, reduced food intake, and behavioral changes that paradoxically make cats less adoptable — creating a vicious cycle where stressed cats stay longer and become more stressed. Enrichment programs that provide some predictability, vertical space for security, and positive human interaction interrupt this cycle, improving both welfare and adoption outcomes simultaneously.