Indoor cats require carefully designed enrichment programmes to meet their needs for predatory play, territory control, social interaction and sensory stimulation that outdoor access would otherwise provide.
Indoor cat welfare depends heavily on owner provision of environmental complexity. Cats deprived of hunting opportunities, vertical territory and hiding places develop chronic low-level stress that manifests as over-grooming, inappropriate elimination and inter-cat conflict. A structured enrichment programme addressing all five welfare needs is essential, not optional.