Behavioral enrichment for cats is grounded in their natural ethology. Evidence-based enrichment programs address the full range of feline behavioral needs, improving welfare across all housing contexts.
Evidence-based cat enrichment applies knowledge of feline ethology to create environments that allow expression of the full behavioral repertoire. Cats are obligate hunters whose predatory sequence (orient, stalk, pounce, catch, bite) must be engaged whether they hunt real prey or toys. Frustration of the predatory sequence is linked to redirected aggression and over-arousal. Scatter feeding and puzzle feeders that require problem-solving match the cognitive demands of foraging in the wild. Appropriate social interaction on the cat's terms — not forced interaction — builds human-cat relationships. Environmental complexity through vertical space, hiding spots, and novel objects sustains exploratory motivation. The totality of these provisions determines whether a cat is merely surviving or genuinely thriving.