Indoor cats need environmental enrichment to meet their behavioural needs and prevent boredom. Effective enrichment strategies can transform indoor life quality for domestic cats.
Indoor cat welfare depends on owners providing an environment that meets feline behavioural needs for hunting, climbing, scratching, and social engagement. Cats in impoverished environments develop stress-related behaviours including overgrooming, aggression, and inappropriate elimination. Simple, low-cost enrichment strategies including food puzzles, interactive play sessions, vertical space, and window access to bird feeders dramatically improve indoor cat quality of life.