In western countries the cat has become one of the most popular pets, with its traditional role of rodent catcher being replaced by that of companion animal. Nevertheless, many situations remain where the welfare of cats raises concerns.

This book, written by experts from the United Kingdom, the United States and Switzerland, presents up-to-date information on a broad array of topics. It covers recent developments in our understanding of cat behavior, considers the ways in which cat welfare is assessed, and addresses the successes and failures of the relationship between cats and humans, including feline behavior disorders. It also deals with the ever-increasing problem of stray and unwanted cats in shelters, the feral cat population, and the effects of housing, disease, nutrition, and breeding on cat welfare.

Although the focus is largely on cats in developed countries, this book should also be of relevance in developing countries, where issues affecting the welfare of domestic animals - not only of livestock but also of companion animals - are beginning to be identified and addressed.

From the reviews: "This is the third volume in the series Animal Welfare by Species, edited by Clive Phillips, and the first on a companion animal species. In her Foreword, editor Irene Rochlitz claims that this volume was written with researchers, animal welfare organizations and cat owners in mind, and it certainly will be useful to all of those and more. I would like to commend the editor and all of the contributors for producing an extremely readable, up-to-date review and interpretation of our current knowledge about domestic cats, and how it applies to all aspects of cat welfare in all situations in which they live and are housed. Without a doubt this book represents a significant contribution to the domestic cat literature, and as the first (and only) book on cat welfare, will find a wide audience amongst both professionals and lay persons alike." (Dennis C. Turner, Animal Behavior, Institute of Zoology, University of Zurich and Institute of applied Ethology and Animal Psychology, I.E.A.P., Switzerland) "This is the third volume of a series that addresses animal welfare from a species perspective. ! it will be of particular interest to veterinarians, cattery and shelter managers, anyone involved with cats used in research, and policymakers responsible for cat populations and their impacts on society and the environment." (Julie Levy, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 82, June, 2007)