Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Grooming Behaviour and Welfare

Grooming behavior in cats serves vital social, comfort, and health functions, with changes indicating health or welfare problems.

Key Facts

Cats spend approximately 30-50% of waking hours grooming themselves and social partners
Over-grooming causing hair loss indicates stress, pain, or skin disease
Under-grooming with unkempt coat indicates ill health, pain, or obesity
Mutual grooming between bonded cats strengthens social bonds
Assisting grooming in areas a cat cannot reach maintains coat health and provides positive interaction

Welfare Considerations

Grooming behavior is a sensitive welfare indicator in cats. Changes in grooming frequency or completeness often precede illness, pain, and stress before other signs develop, providing early warning that supports timely welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Monitor your cat's grooming patterns as a baseline health and welfare indicator
Seek veterinary assessment for any cat showing changes in grooming behavior
Provide assistance with grooming in areas obese or arthritic cats cannot reach