Indoor cats need environmental enrichment to express natural behaviors and maintain physical and psychological health.
Domestic cats retain powerful instincts shaped by millions of years of evolution as solitary hunters. Indoor environments, while protecting cats from outdoor hazards, often fail to meet these behavioral needs. Insufficient enrichment leads to frustration, stress, and often redirected aggression or destructive behavior. Simple, low-cost interventions — cardboard boxes, paper bags, window perches, interactive toys — can dramatically improve indoor cat welfare by allowing natural behavior expression.