Research overview: substrate, flooring and their welfare effects in captive cats

The surfaces captive cats stand, walk and rest on affect comfort, health and behaviour, yet substrate is easily overlooked. This overview surveys substrate welfare for felids: the problems of hard, abrasive concrete flooring, including pressure sores, foot pad injuries and contributions to arthritis, and the benefits of natural, varied and yielding substrates such as soil, grass, sand, mulch and deep bedding for comfort, foraging, scent-marking and behavioural variety. It examines how soft, warm resting surfaces matter especially for heavy big cats and geriatric animals, the role of substrate in enrichment and natural behaviour, and hygiene trade-offs. It discusses platform and bedding design. The synthesis frames appropriate, varied substrate as a foundational comfort and health consideration in felid enclosure design.