Cats in shelters experience chronic stress from confinement, unpredictability, and lack of control over their environment, making enrichment programs essential for welfare and adoptability.
Shelter environments are acutely stressful for cats, who are territorial animals with strong preferences for control and predictability. Loss of territory, exposure to unfamiliar cats and sounds, and lack of hiding spaces create chronic stress that impairs immune function and behavior. Stressed cats are less adoptable, creating a cycle where welfare problems extend shelter stays. Simple, low-cost interventions — hiding boxes, elevated resting spaces, consistent routines, and positive human interaction — dramatically improve welfare outcomes and adoption success rates.