Cat housing surface area and welfare 

Full title: FRCAW 's opinion on the impact of cat housing surfaces on their welfare
Sponsor: Direction Générale de l'Alimentation (DGAL) - Bureau du Bien-être AnimalBBEA)
Referral date: 30/01/2024
Due date: 11/09/2024
DOI: 10.17180/ghqy-aj09

For the sake of clarity and precision, FRCAW has chosen to break down the question posed by the BBEA into five more specific sub-questions. The conclusions relating to each of these questions are detailed below. 

Question 1 : In view of the consequences for their well-being, is there any scientific evidence to suggest that cats should not be housed in groups in a space offering less than 2 m² floor space per cat even for two weeks or less ?

→ The expert committee considers it highly probable to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 90%), that housing cats in groups in a space offering less than 2 m² floor space per cat, even for two weeks or less, has a negative impact on their well-being. They should therefore not be housed in such conditions, to ensure that their well-being is not degraded.

Question 2 : In view of the consequences for their well-being, is there any scientific evidence to suggest that cats should not be housed alone in enclosures smaller than 2 m² on the floor even for two weeks or less ?

→ The expert committee considers it probable to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 66%) that housing cats alone in a 2 m² floor space, even for two weeks or less, has a negative impact on their well-being. They should therefore not be housed in such conditions, to ensure that their well-being is not degraded.

Question 3 : Is there any scientific evidence that the impact on cat welfare of housing less than 2 m² floor space per cat increases with the time spent in these conditions ?

→ The expert committee considers that it is from very likely to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 90%) that the adverse effects of housing providing less than 2 m² floor space per cat on the cats' well-being (noted in parts 3.1.2 and 3.2.2: restriction of movement, reduced diversity of behavior, frustration, etc.) increase with the time spent in these conditions. Cats should therefore not be permanently housed in these conditions, whether alone or in groups, to ensure that their well-being is not degraded.

Question 4 Is there any scientific evidence to suggest that housing parameters housing parameters, other than floor areacan have an impact on the well-being of confined cats?

→ The expert committee considers it highly probable to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 90%) that the presence of sensory and/or cognitive presence of sensory and/or cognitive disturbancesthe lack of physical enrichmentand poor enclosure design for group-housed cats, poor-quality interactions with humansand/or too large a group size (greater than 12) have a negative impact on the well-being of confined cats. Similarly, the experts consider it probable to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 66%) that lack of access to the outdoorsa poorly designed enclosures for single cats and the presence presence of unfamiliar congeners have a negative impact on the well-being of confined cats. The FRCAW therefore recommends that, whatever the size and duration of the accommodation, it should feature hiding places, a complex and stimulating three-dimensional space, access to the outdoors if the structure allows, good management (minimal disturbance, provision of a routine, etc.) and positive interactions with humans, so that the cats' well-being is not degraded. It is difficult to envisage providing all these elements in a space with a floor area of less than 2 m². The FRCAW further recommends that more research be carried out solely on the consequences of different surface areas available per cat on cat welfare.

Question 5 : Is there any scientific evidence that certain factors inherent to factors inherent to cats have an impact on their their ability to adapt to restricted space ?

→ The committee of experts considers it highly probable to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 90%) that the absence or inadequacy of tolerance to other cats, lack or insufficiency of familiarization with humansthe temperamenttemperament stage of lifeand reproductive status have an impact on their ability to adapt to restricted space. Similarly, the experts consider it probable to almost certain (degree of certainty estimated at over 66%) that the breed has an impact on their ability to adapt to limited space. Finally, the experts consider it more likely than not (degree of certainty estimated at over 50%) that the cats' previous cats' previous living conditions (have an impact on their ability to adapt to restricted space. The FRCAW therefore recommends that floor space for housing cats should take into account inter-individual variability.