Companion Animals

Companion Cat Behavioural Needs and Welfare

Understanding and meeting cats' innate behavioural needs is fundamental to companion cat welfare across all living situations.

Key Facts

Cats have five core behavioural needs: predatory behaviour, social behaviour, communication, senses, and territory
Unmet behavioural needs manifest as behaviour problems and stress-related health issues
Individual cats vary significantly in their social needs from solitary to social
Environmental enrichment addresses multiple behavioural needs simultaneously
Understanding cat behaviour prevents miscommunication that damages human-cat relationships

Welfare Considerations

Cat welfare goes beyond physical health to encompass the full expression of natural behaviour in appropriate form. Indoor cats that cannot express predatory sequences, mark territory, or choose their social interactions experience behavioural frustration that affects both welfare and health. Meeting feline behavioural needs requires understanding and respecting cat nature - including the choice to be alone and the need to feel in control of their environment.

What You Can Do

Learn about feline behavioural needs and how to meet them in your living situation
Provide outlets for all five core cat behavioural needs in your home environment
Consult a feline behaviourist for cats showing unmet behavioural needs through problem behaviours