Indoor cats depend entirely on their owners for environmental enrichment. Providing adequate stimulation prevents boredom, stress, and behavioural problems.
Indoor cat enrichment welfare is often underestimated by owners. A cat that appears 'fine' lying on a sofa may be experiencing chronic understimulation that manifests as subtle welfare harms: reduced activity, over-grooming, excessive sleeping, or occasional destructive behaviour. Cats are obligate predators with strong hunting drives that need outlet even in a domestic setting. Puzzle feeders, wand toys for interactive play, window bird feeders, scratching posts, climbing structures, and cardboard box rotation provide the environmental complexity that an indoor cat's psychology requires. The welfare gap between an enriched indoor cat environment and a bare flat is substantial - and easily addressable with modest investment and daily time commitment.