Enrichment for senior cats requires thoughtful adaptation to declining mobility and sensory function, providing cognitive stimulation without physical demands that exceed capacity.
Senior cat enrichment welfare requires the same individualization as senior cat medical care — understanding what each cat can and cannot do physically and designing enrichment accordingly. Enrichment that requires jumping, fast movement, or sustained exertion excludes arthritic cats from engagement. The welfare failure of unadapted enrichment is not just that it is unhelpful — it may cause pain if arthritic cats attempt to participate despite discomfort. Ground-level, low-exertion enrichment that emphasizes scent, gentle visual stimulation, and food puzzle interaction provides cognitive challenge appropriate to senior welfare needs.