Cats are semi-solitary animals that experience significant stress in multi-cat households when resources, space, and social dynamics are poorly managed.
Multi-cat household welfare requires honest assessment of whether the cats actually want to live together. Cats forced to share space with incompatible individuals experience chronic stress that affects their physical and psychological health. The key welfare question is not whether cats tolerate each other but whether they actively choose positive social interactions. Providing adequate resources, space for vertical separation, and hiding places gives cats the ability to manage their own social environment - the foundation of good multi-cat welfare.