Multi-cat households are a common source of chronic stress for domestic cats, whose territorial nature means cohabitation without adequate resources creates persistent welfare problems.
Multi-cat stress is one of the most common and underrecognized welfare problems in domestic cat keeping. Owners frequently interpret the absence of obvious fighting as evidence of harmonious cohabitation, while chronic stress from competition over space, food, litter, and resting spots goes unaddressed. Cats experiencing social stress may redirect anxious behavior toward overgrooming (causing skin damage), excessive hiding (reducing quality of life), or inappropriate elimination (creating unsanitary conditions and owner frustration). The welfare solution requires understanding cat social structure and providing sufficient resources, vertical space, and separate resource clusters that allow all cats to feel secure without competing. In some cases, rehoming an incompatible cat may be the most welfare-positive choice.