Providing cats with appropriate enrichment addresses their behavioral needs as predators and prevents the boredom-related problems common in indoor-only cats.
Indoor cat behavioral health depends on providing opportunities for natural behavioral expression in an artificial environment. The most important enrichment dimension is predatory behavior: cats that cannot hunt become frustrated and may redirect this energy into human-directed play aggression, destructive behavior, or depression. Daily interactive play sessions with wand toys that mimic prey movement, combined with puzzle feeders that require problem-solving, address the cognitive and physical needs that outdoor environments would otherwise meet.