Evidence-based environmental enrichment for indoor cats addresses hunting motivation, vertical space needs, and social complexity to prevent behavioral problems and promote positive welfare.
Indoor housing protects cats from road traffic, predators, toxins, and infectious disease, but creates an impoverished environment for animals evolved for a complex, active outdoor lifestyle. The welfare challenge is not just preventing negative states but enabling positive experiences — the satisfaction of hunting behavior, environmental exploration, and appropriate social interaction. Environmental enrichment science has moved beyond simple toy provision to systems thinking: how does the physical environment support or impede the full range of feline motivations? The five pillars framework provides a structured approach to assessing and improving the indoor feline environment.