Indoor cats have behavioral needs that go far beyond food, water, and shelter, and inadequate enrichment leads to obesity, behavior problems, and psychological welfare deficits.
Indoor cat welfare is frequently compromised by the assumption that physical needs are sufficient for wellbeing. Cats without behavioral enrichment develop obesity from inactivity, redirect predatory drives into inappropriate behaviors, and may experience chronic boredom that manifests as lethargy or overgrooming. Evidence-based indoor enrichment that activates natural behavioral drives — hunting simulation through play, foraging through puzzle feeders, exploration through vertical space and environmental complexity — dramatically improves welfare outcomes. These interventions are low-cost but require owner commitment to daily engagement.