Indoor cats have lower accident and disease risk but may lack stimulation. Providing appropriate enrichment dramatically improves welfare for cats kept inside.
Indoor confinement without enrichment causes chronic behavioral frustration in cats. Predatory behavior -- stalking, chasing, and catching -- is a fundamental feline need that must be expressed regardless of hunting necessity. Without outlets, this drive manifests as redirected aggression toward owners, boredom, or apathy. Enrichment strategies that address all five pillars of good feline welfare (safe places, multiple resources, opportunities to play and hunt, positive human contact, and control over environment) dramatically improve indoor cat welfare. Outdoor enclosures (catios) provide outdoor access without free-roaming risks.