Designing indoor environments that meet cats behavioral needs requires understanding their natural history as both predator and prey with complex territorial requirements.
Indoor cat enrichment design is an applied welfare science that draws on feline ethology to create environments where cats can express the full range of their behavioral repertoire. Cats in nature are both predators and prey — they need elevated hiding spots, multiple escape routes, hunting opportunities, and territory markers. Designing for these needs in human homes requires vertical structures, multiple resource stations to prevent inter-cat competition, and regular introduction of novelty. Cats in well-designed indoor environments show lower stress indicators and fewer behavior problems.