Cats in animal shelters face increasing welfare deterioration with prolonged length of stay, making adoption throughput and welfare monitoring critical management priorities.
Cat welfare in shelter environments deteriorates progressively with time. The combination of novel environment, proximity to other cats and dogs, variable human interaction, and disrupted routine creates chronic stress that manifests in behaviour and physical health. Upper respiratory infections spread rapidly in shelter conditions. The welfare-optimal approach combines rapid adoption throughput, foster care programmes for sensitive individuals, and environmental enrichment to support cats who must remain in shelter housing. Shelters that invest in behavioural assessment, targeted foster placement, and enrichment programmes significantly improve individual outcomes and reduce euthanasia by maintaining welfare-compatible conditions for longer.