Cats experience the world primarily through smell and hearing. Enrichment that engages these senses provides important stimulation for indoor cats whose natural sensory environment is severely impoverished.
Sensory enrichment for cats addresses the significant mismatch between their evolved sensory capabilities and the impoverished olfactory and auditory environment of most indoor homes. A cat's world is primarily perceived through scent, and the provision of diverse, rotating olfactory stimulation addresses a sensory need that indoor environments rarely meet. Catnip and silver vine responses involve rolling, rubbing, and vocalisation that represent clear positive emotional states in cats that respond to these plants. Auditory enrichment through appropriate sound sources provides mental stimulation during the many hours owners are absent. The combination of olfactory, auditory, visual, and tactile enrichment creates a multi-sensory environment that better meets the complex sensory needs of cats evolved for an informationally rich natural world.