Domestic cats are among the most popular companion animals globally, yet their welfare needs — particularly their ethological and spatial requirements — are frequently misunderstood. Evidence-based cat care is transforming what good welfare looks like.
Cat welfare is complicated by a widespread cultural assumption that cats are low-maintenance, largely self-sufficient companions. In reality, domestic cats have specific, often unmet needs: adequate territory and hiding spaces, the ability to express hunting behavior, appropriate social arrangements (not all cats want feline companions), and vertical environmental complexity. Stress in cats manifests in subtle ways — over-grooming, urinary problems, reduced play, hiding — that owners often miss or misinterpret as personality rather than welfare indicators. The science of feline welfare has advanced significantly in recent years, providing clear guidance on enrichment, multi-cat household management, indoor-outdoor tradeoffs, and recognizing fear and pain. Making this science accessible to cat owners is one of the highest-impact welfare interventions for companion cats.