Indoor cats need active enrichment to fulfil hunting and predatory play motivations that are strongly expressed even in well-fed individuals.
Indoor cats are frequently assumed to be content as long as they are fed, warm, and receiving some affection. In practice, the predatory motivation of domestic cats is strong and persistent, creating ongoing frustration when there is nothing appropriate to hunt, chase, or pounce on. Cats deprived of outlet for predatory play may redirect this behaviour onto owners through biting and scratching, or develop displacement behaviours including excessive grooming or furniture destruction. Providing appropriate enrichment — wand toys, food puzzles, high perches, rotating novel objects — addresses these motivations and improves behavioural welfare significantly. The welfare case for indoor enrichment is particularly strong given the growing movement toward keeping cats indoors or in outdoor enclosures for wildlife protection reasons.