Indoor cats require structured enrichment programs addressing hunting, climbing, social and exploratory needs to prevent the behavioral and welfare problems associated with barren indoor environments.
Indoor cats live longer but not necessarily better without active welfare management. Their behavioral needs are identical to outdoor cats — they need to hunt, climb, scratch, have safe elevated spaces, access multiple litter boxes without competition, and control their environment. Failing to provide these things causes genuine psychological suffering expressed as stress-related disease, overgrooming, aggression and elimination outside the litter box. These are not behavioral problems requiring correction — they are welfare problems requiring environmental modification. A well-enriched indoor environment can meet cats needs as well as outdoor access, with significantly less mortality risk.