Cats are among the most popular pets and are close everyday companions for many people. But how do we actually know whether they are really doing well? Is it enough if a cat eats, plays and likes to be petted? Researchers have now examined the extent to which owners’ assessments correspond to scientific assessment methods of cats’ quality of life.
Purring, stretching with pleasure or giving the head: it seems easy to tell at first glance whether a cat is really doing well. In everyday life, cat owners rely primarily on their observations and their gut feeling. But are there aspects of cat welfare that go unnoticed?
A research team led by Andrea Sommese from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna has now examined this in more detail. In the study, over 400 cat owners in Austria and Germany rated the quality of life of their four-legged friends. They were asked about their cats’ behavior, health, living environment and relationships with people in the household. Participants were asked to give their cat an overall quality of life rating. These personal assessments were then compared with a structured assessment based on 54 different indicators, including energy levels, mood, physical condition, appetite and the quality of human-cat interaction.
Subtle signs of well-being
The result: The participants rated the well-being of their cats with an average score of 89 out of 100. The decisive factor for this were visible and direct signals. A cat that is curious, attentive and active is perceived as happy. Conversely, signs of anxiety, illness or discomfort lead to a lower rating. We therefore tend to notice what is immediately visible – such as a cat that greets us at the door, eats well or sits comfortably on our lap. And she could actually be happy. However, many factors that influence quality of life are less obvious in everyday life.
“Cat owners are really attentive to their cats, but our results suggest that the very things that are most likely to go unnoticed are the ones that quietly accumulate over time,” explains
Sommese. This includes the cat’s body weight: The negative effects of obesity are difficult to recognize in cats’ everyday lives, although it is well documented that obesity reduces activity levels and shortens lifespan in cats. The same is true with age. Older cats, which may be less mobile and vital, were often rated just as positively by participants as younger animals – presumably because the changes are gradual and less noticeable.
The researchers describe this as a form of “evaluation blindness”. Because of this, many cat owners miss out when their pet gains weight, moves more slowly as it gets older, or no longer shows the full range of behavior typical of the species. “Although none of these factors typically raise alarms, they are all important for well-being,” says Sommese.
What’s good for cats
What cat owners also often overlook are relationship and environmental factors, for example how intensive and regular social interactions take place or how stimulating the environment is. Even though cats like to be perceived as independent, for them loving attention such as petting, sitting together or talking to the cat is just as important as an environment that allows climbing, exploring, hunting and playing. “The silent bond between cats and their people, their environment and subtle age- or weight-related changes all play a role,” says Sommese’s colleague Ines Wind Schnurer.
The researchers are already working on developing practical tools that will help cat owners better assess the well-being of their four-legged friends – and thus correct problems earlier. Until then, owners can take action themselves by regularly carefully observing their cats’ living conditions and ensuring they get enough exercise, stimulation and social interaction.
Source: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna; Specialist article: Applied Animal Behavior Science, doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2026.105395