Indoor cats face increased risks of boredom, obesity, and behavioural problems without adequate environmental enrichment that meets their physical and cognitive needs.
Domestic cats are obligate carnivores with natural hunting repertoires that persist regardless of whether they are fed commercial diets. Indoor environments that fail to allow hunting play, climbing, and scratching create chronic frustration and boredom. Cats cannot communicate dissatisfaction easily, so welfare deficits often manifest as behavioural problems or medical issues before owners recognise the underlying need. Strategic provision of climbing structures, puzzle feeders, interactive play, and window perches significantly improves indoor cat welfare at low cost.