Evidence-based indoor enrichment for cats addresses the five domains of welfare, with specific interventions shown to reduce stress-related disease, behavioral problems, and improve positive welfare indicators in indoor-only cats.
The science of indoor cat enrichment has advanced substantially and now provides a clear evidence base for interventions that genuinely improve cat welfare. Feline idiopathic cystitis illustrates the direct health consequences of inadequate enrichment — a painful bladder condition triggered by environmental stress that resolves in many cats when enrichment is improved. The most important welfare interventions combine predatory play, vertical space, foraging enrichment, and resource distribution across the home. These interventions are low-cost, effective, and can be implemented incrementally. The welfare case for indoor enrichment is both ethical and practical — enriched cats have fewer behavioral and medical problems.