Companion Animals

Cat Environmental Enrichment Science

Environmental enrichment is essential for indoor cat welfare, addressing natural behaviours including hunting, climbing, scratching, and hiding that must be expressed for good mental health.

Key Facts

Indoor cats live longer on average but face higher risks of obesity, boredom, and stress
Feline Five Pillars of a Healthy Environment provide a framework for indoor cat welfare
Scratching is essential behaviour for claw maintenance and stress relief, not destructive
Hunt-catch-kill-eat feeding sequence supports mental health using food puzzle feeders
Social needs vary enormously between individual cats requiring individual assessment

Welfare Considerations

Indoor cat enrichment requires understanding each cat's individual personality and needs. Providing opportunities to express natural behaviours including hunting, climbing, hiding, and scratching prevents behavioural problems and stress-related disease. Enrichment is not optional for good indoor cat welfare.

What You Can Do

Provide vertical space including cat trees and shelving for climbing and resting
Use food puzzle feeders to extend feeding time and mental engagement
Create multiple hiding places and elevated lookout spots throughout your home