Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Indoor Enrichment and Welfare Science

Indoor cat welfare depends critically on environmental enrichment that meets natural behavioural needs in confined spaces.

Key Facts

Indoor cats require opportunities for hunting, climbing, hiding, scratching and social play
Environmental impoverishment in indoor cats causes stress, obesity and behaviour problems
Food puzzles and hunting feeders extend mealtime and engage predatory behaviour
Vertical space including cat trees and shelving significantly increases usable territory
Window viewing with bird feeders provides visual stimulation and hunting arousal

Welfare Considerations

Indoor enrichment is not optional for indoor cats - it is the primary means by which their natural behavioural needs are met. A well-designed indoor environment that allows hunting, climbing, hiding and exploration provides genuine welfare equivalence to outdoor access for many cats.

What You Can Do

Audit your cat's indoor environment against ISFM Cat Friendly Home enrichment standards
Introduce food puzzles and hunting feeders to extend feeding time and engage natural behaviour
Provide vertical space, hiding places and window views as core indoor enrichment elements