Indoor cats require active environmental enrichment programs to prevent boredom, obesity, and behavioral problems that arise from confinement without adequate behavioral opportunity.
Indoor cat welfare requires active management to compensate for the behavioral opportunities absent from confinement. A cat without adequate enrichment in an unstimulating environment is not in a state of positive welfare even if physically healthy. Daily interactive play sessions providing predatory behavior sequences - stalking, pouncing, catching - are essential for behavioral and emotional health. Vertical space utilization significantly extends the functional living environment. Food puzzles engage natural foraging motivation and reduce boredom-related overeating. Window perches with bird feeders outside provide visual stimulation. Cats without adequate enrichment develop obesity, stress-related illness, and behavioral problems that indicate genuinely compromised welfare.