Temporary housing of unsocialised cats may be appropriate if the individual cat needs veterinary care such as attending to injuries, disease, or recovery after desexing. In these instances, care should be taken to minimise the time that an unsocialised cat is housed and provide for opportunities for the cat to hide and have separate areas for toileting, eating, and sleeping. Interactions with people and other animals and environmental stressors such as noise should be minimised.

Unsocialised kittens are at a greater chance of learning interactions with people can be positive, however, this will depend on the individual kitten and life experiences.

SPCA opposes the housing of unsocialised cats where their physical, health, and behavioural needs cannot be met.

Unsocialised adult cats can experiences anxiety, fear, frustration, and stress if they cannot avoid direct, prolonged interactions with people. Housing unsocialised cats can lead to physical harm such as disease and self-injury and mental harm due to long-term stress of confinement.