Indoor cats require carefully designed environments that provide territorial expression, vertical space, and predatory behavior outlets to maintain psychological welfare in the absence of outdoor access.
Keeping cats indoors is often the responsible choice for conservation and cat safety, but it creates a welfare obligation to provide adequate environmental complexity. Cats without sufficient territorial expression, predatory outlet, and vertical space develop behavioral problems including aggression, inappropriate elimination, and stress-related illness. The enrichment needs of indoor cats are substantial and require active management rather than passive provision of space. A rich indoor environment with daily interactive play, varied perching opportunities, and appropriate scratching surfaces can fully meet behavioral welfare needs and support positive emotional states in indoor-only cats.