Research overview: One Welfare, staff wellbeing and the human dimension of felid care

The One Welfare concept recognises that animal welfare, human wellbeing and the environment are interconnected, a framing increasingly applied to those who care for captive cats. This overview surveys the human dimension of felid welfare: how keeper and shelter-staff knowledge, training, workload, morale and compassion fatigue affect the quality of care animals receive, the safety considerations of working with dangerous carnivores, and the emotional toll of euthanasia and caring for animals from poor backgrounds. It examines evidence that supporting caregivers, through training, resources and psychological support, improves both staff wellbeing and animal outcomes, and how positive human-animal relationships benefit both parties. It discusses the role of organisational culture. The synthesis frames sustainable, high-quality felid welfare as inseparable from the wellbeing and competence of the people providing care.