Cats express stress through subtle behavioural and physiological signs that owners often misread or miss entirely, with significant welfare consequences.
Feline stress is chronically underrecognised because cats do not display distress in obvious ways. Unlike dogs, stressed cats rarely vocalise prominently — instead they withdraw, reduce activity, alter toileting patterns, or develop physical illness. Owners frequently interpret hiding as normal cat behaviour, or over-grooming as a quirk, missing that these signal genuine psychological distress. Veterinary visits themselves cause significant acute stress in most cats, complicating examination and potentially masking normal health baselines. Recognising feline stress indicators enables earlier intervention, preventing the cascade from psychological distress to physical illness. Regular environmental audits of resource provision are more effective than reactive treatment.