Indoor cats denied natural behaviors including hunting, climbing, and territorial expression require active enrichment provision to prevent boredom, frustration, and stress-related behavioral problems.
Indoor cats require active welfare management to compensate for the behavioral opportunities denied by indoor living. The hunting drive remains strong in domesticated cats regardless of whether they need to hunt for food, making hunting simulation through interactive play essential rather than optional enrichment. Cats deprived of appropriate enrichment develop stress behaviors including over-grooming, aggression, and attention-seeking that signal welfare deficits. The provision of vertical space, hunting simulation, foraging enrichment, and hiding opportunities transforms the indoor environment from a behavioral desert into a complex habitat that supports positive welfare.