Environmental Enrichment for Indoor Cats

Laurie Anne Walden, DVM

Photo by Anastasiya D on Unsplash

Indoor cats need a cat-friendly environment with features that support their mental and physical health. Many behavioral and medical problems of cats, including fighting and urinary tract blockage, are linked to stress and anxiety. Environmental enrichment reduces stress for indoor cats, making them happier and healthier.
 
Cats are inquisitive animals that need to be able to do cat things like hunt and scratch. (Animal welfare experts call this the ability to express normal species-specific behaviors.) By nature, cats are predators who hunt alone. Pet cats who lounge all day on the sofa have the same solitary hunting instinct as their wild counterparts.
 
Here’s how to make sure your home meets your cat’s environmental needs. These five features are from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association’s 2025 position statement on meeting the needs of indoor cats:

• A safe place
• Multiple, separated key resources
• Opportunities for play and predatory behavior
• Positive, consistent human-cat interaction
• An environment that respects the cat’s sense of smell

 
A Safe Place
Each cat in the household needs a personal retreat, somewhere to rest and feel protected. Examples are cat perches, cardboard boxes, and cat carriers. The home should have at least one retreat per cat, spaced far enough apart that cats don’t have to interact with each other if they don’t want to. A retreat should be sized to fit only one cat and should have more than one entrance/exit so the cat doesn’t feel trapped. Cats tend to prefer retreats that have sides and are raised off the ground.
 
Multiple, Separated Key Resources
Key resources for cats are food, water, litter boxes, scratching posts/pads, play areas, and sleeping areas. The home should have enough of these resources for every cat, separated so that each cat has free access without having to compete with other cats. For litter boxes, the usual recommendation is to have more than one litter box per cat (for example, three litter boxes for two cats) and to scoop them out daily. Cats need to have safe access to these resources without being blocked by dogs or other hazards. Cats with mobility limitations might need steps, ramps, and litter boxes with side cutouts for easy access.
 
Opportunities for Play and Predatory Behavior
Play with your cat using interactive toys that simulate prey behavior. Examples are toy mice pulled across the floor, flirt poles like feathers on a wand, balls to chase in a (dry!) bathtub, and food puzzles. Let your cat catch the “prey” sometimes to avoid frustration. Be safe: avoid loose strings that your cat might swallow, use objects and not your hands to avoid being bitten, and never aim a laser pointer toward any animal’s or person’s eyes.
 
Positive, Consistent Human-Cat Interaction
For a cat, “positive human-cat interaction” means the cat gets to decide how much and what kind of interaction to have. Some cats are cuddle bugs and love being petted; others would rather stay in their own space. Respect your cat’s preferences for human contact and be sure everybody in the home, including visitors, knows not to force interaction if your cat doesn’t want it. Side note: a change in this behavior can be caused by pain or other medical problems. Contact your veterinarian if your cat has started avoiding petting or is hiding more than usual.
 
Environment That Respects the Cat’s Sense of Smell
Cats mark their territory with scent by rubbing their face and body on objects. They are also sensitive to odors. Don’t clean your cat’s scent off of marked areas, especially if you are bringing in a new cat or if there are other changes to the household environment. Scented cleaners, cat litter, and candles can be sources of stress for some cats (and might also worsen asthma signs for the many cats with this condition).
 
For more information

• Indoor Pet Initiative, Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
• Your Cat’s Environmental Needs, Feline Veterinary Medical Association (PDF): https://catfriendly.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FelineVMA-Environmental-Needs_Web.pdf

 
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-cat-on-a-leash-0mg7-DHCHuo

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