Behavior problems are a leading cause of owner relinquishment and euthanasia in cats, but thorough welfare assessment and intervention can resolve many cases before the ultimate outcome.
Behavioral euthanasia for cats represents a failure of welfare in most cases, though it occasionally becomes the most compassionate option for animals causing serious injury or whose welfare cannot be achieved in any realistic home context. The welfare assessment before considering behavioral euthanasia must be comprehensive: has medical pain been excluded? Has the behavior been accurately diagnosed? Have appropriate environmental modifications been made? Has behavioral medication been tried? Have rehoming options including specialist sanctuaries been explored? Only after these avenues have been genuinely pursued can behavioral euthanasia be considered a welfare rather than convenience decision.