Indoor cats that lack appropriate enrichment are at risk of boredom, frustration, and stress-related illness, making enrichment provision essential for welfare.
Cats confined indoors without appropriate enrichment develop frustration behaviours including aggression, overgrooming, and destruction that indicate chronic poor welfare. Simply providing food and safety is insufficient for a behaviourally complex predatory species. Enrichment that mimics natural hunting, climbing, hiding, and exploration behaviours satisfies core motivational needs and produces measurable improvements in welfare indicators.