Indoor cats have identical behavioural needs to outdoor cats but require a stimulating environment to express natural hunting, climbing, and exploring behaviours that prevent boredom and welfare problems.
An indoor cat kept in a sparse environment without appropriate stimulation is effectively in a deprived environment despite physical safety. Cats need to perform predatory sequences daily to maintain psychological health - a toy mouse played with briefly once a day does not meet this need. Environmental complexity, multiple hiding and elevated spaces, window access to visual stimulation, and interactive play sessions address the core welfare deficit of indoor living. Cats in stimulating indoor environments show lower stress indicators than those in sparse settings.