Environmental modification is the foundation of treatment for stress-related conditions in cats, addressing root causes rather than symptoms of chronic anxiety.
Chronic environmental stress in cats causes both direct psychological suffering and indirect physical health consequences including cystitis, over-grooming, and immune suppression. The welfare opportunity is significant because environmental modification addresses root causes rather than managing symptoms pharmacologically. Many stress-related cat health problems are effectively treated by identifying and addressing specific stressors - typically resource competition in multi-cat households, lack of hiding spaces, insufficient environmental complexity, or predictability failures. The MEMO approach provides a structured framework for environmental assessment and modification that produces welfare improvements proportional to the quality of implementation.