Indoor cats have the same hunting instincts as their outdoor counterparts but lack the outlet for these behaviours, making enrichment a welfare necessity rather than a luxury.
Indoor cat welfare depends substantially on the quality of enrichment provided. A cat that receives no outlet for its predatory motor sequence will find outlets that owners typically dislike - attacking feet, excessive play aggression, destructiveness. These behaviours are not personality flaws but expressions of unmet welfare needs. The solution is straightforward: regular interactive play sessions that complete the hunt sequence (including a 'kill' and then eating), environmental complexity with vertical space, and foraging-based food provision. These enrichments cost little beyond time investment but transform the welfare of indoor cats.