Indoor cats denied appropriate environmental enrichment develop behavioral problems and chronic stress, but evidence-based enrichment strategies can significantly improve welfare for this highly adaptable species.
Indoor cats deprived of appropriate enrichment experience boredom, frustration, and the chronic stress of an inadequate environment. Behavioral problems including aggression, anxiety, and inappropriate elimination often reflect welfare compromise rather than character defects. Simple environmental modifications including vertical space, hiding places, and appropriate play dramatically improve indoor cat welfare.