Environmental enrichment for indoor cats is essential for meeting their natural behavioural needs and preventing the boredom, frustration, and stress that cause chronic welfare compromise.
Indoor cats that lack adequate enrichment experience chronic under-stimulation that, in prey-driven animals with strong hunting instincts, represents genuine welfare deprivation. Providing enrichment that engages the hunt sequence — stalk, chase, pounce, catch — is the most important welfare intervention for indoor cats. This requires interactive play sessions using prey-like toys, puzzle feeding that slows consumption and provides mental challenge, and environmental variety through rotation of toys and novel items. Social enrichment through positive human interaction supplements but does not replace the need for independent exploration and hunting behaviour. Enrichment requirements are highest in single-cat households where cats lack feline social stimulation.