Cats are territorial animals for whom multi-cat living creates social stress; appropriate resource provision and space management significantly reduces conflict and welfare harm.
Chronic low-level social stress in multi-cat households is a significant but often invisible welfare problem. Cats that avoid each other, guard resources, or eliminate outside litter boxes are signaling that the social environment is not working. Unlike overt fighting which is easily recognized, chronic tension manifests subtly in reduced activity, over-grooming, and stress-related diseases including FIC and upper respiratory infections.