Environmental enrichment is a phrase many people are familiar with, but usually think of it as something only relevant to captive animals, such as those in zoos, not our pets. The actual meaning of the phrase is to provide an environment that the animal can interact with to indulge and satisfy its natural behaviours.
 
So, do our pet cats need environmental enrichment? Are our moggies basic instincts left unchallenged? Do we need to change the way we see our cat’s role in our homes? The answer would seem to be yes. More and more owners, particularly of indoor cats (1), complain of problems, such as excessive spraying, aggression and destructive behaviour, so it would appear that although our cats seem to adapt to our lifestyles, modern living doesn’t provide them with enough opportunity to indulge their natural instincts. Most cat’s in the UK have access to the outdoors which does allow them greater choice and the ability to indulge natural behaviours and wants, such as hunting, playing, climbing, and scratching. However, it depends on the quality of the outdoors environment as to whether a cat will be able to fulfil all his natural needs. Many modern gardens provides little stimulation and sometimes other dominant cats in the area can mean your cat chooses not to go out, so improving your cat’s life in your home to compensate can minimise many of the owner’s commonly concerns.
 
The pacing of polar bears, tigers and other captive animals that most of us have seen in TV programmes is an extreme form of abnormal behaviour brought on by lack of stimulation and something most people do not feel is acceptable. But any type of abnormal or problem behaviour is an indication that the animal’s basic instincts and needs are not being met and should be taken seriously. Indoor cats or those who spend a significant amount of time indoors are far more likely to fall victim to behavioural problems due to their sedentary lifestyles. Cats, as do people, will fill their time with other activities such as eating and sleeping, if the opportunity for other activities such as hunting and climbing are limited.
 
Feeding:

Cats would normally spend about six hours hunting a day with many failed attempts at catching birds or mice. Whilst it seems like a lot of hard work they would be able to indulge many of their most basic needs of predation, exercise and hunger fulfilment. Even for cats with outdoor access, having the satisfaction of tracking your dinner and retrieving it can provide an immense reward. How often, have you thrown out scraps of food for the birds only to find puss making a meal of them when he earlier turned his nose up?! You should aim to replicate the activity that a cat would do naturally and the quantity of time that cat would give to that behaviour. In our domestic cats, food is readily available and doesn’t require any catching - we’ve taken the fun and challenge out of meal times!
 
The frequency and types of food given can also be used to enhance your cat’s enjoyment. Research has shown that cat’s do like a variety of foods but that, given a choice, they will select foods that they don’t get the opportunity to eat that often. (2) So, treats like fish, prawns, tinned meat, if not given often, will always be chosen over their regular food. It’s not being finicky eaters, as many of us think, it’s just cats appreciate foods which they consider to be rare. How many times, have we given our cat a new food only for them to ‘go off’ it after a few weeks and find the next food we give them to be the new favourite. Not, unlike us, to have a delicious Chinese meal once a month is a great treat, but if eaten every day, the enjoyment and satisfaction felt during and after the meal is lessened. So keep some foods rationed and give only once a week say. My own personal experience of this, is one of my cats loves fresh prawns. However, being exceptionally cute and able to twist anybody round his little finger, it wasn’t long before he was getting prawns on demand from anyone he looked at! After a few months many of the prawns were being left uneaten and it was costing me a small fortune, so prawns were banned apart from as a Friday treat. I must admit I felt slightly heartless when he curled up and slept round an empty bowl, camped out under the fridge and ransacked every shopping bag that was brought into the house, but very quickly he learned that Friday was prawn day. So, every Friday afternoon he waits by his dish - cats have amazingly accurate internal clocks - and every scrap of every prawn is eaten with gusto and the dish licked clean!
 
Water and food would be sought in separate foraging trips – as mice don’t carry water bottles and are usually be found in dry places such as barns, etc. it’s not natural for a cat to find his food and water requirements close together! Most owners provide food and water in the same place, but how many times have you seen your cat eat his food and then go outside to drink from the pond or a dirty puddle, or from a dripping tap? With the exception of young kittens, place your cats water bowl in another room or if you have an outside fountain or water feature make sure it is accessible to your cat, by providing a secure platform or step for them to reach the water safely. Indoor pet fountains or decorative water ornaments are all popular with many cats, just make sure the water in ornamental features is kept clean and fresh.
 
Companionship:

By far the majority of cats appreciate company of their own kind and many shelters actively encourage people to take pairs of cats or kittens. If you have a single cat consider another to keep him company. Adult cats can sometimes be hard to integrate but even the grouchiest of single cats will generally tolerate kittens and younger cats under the age of six months very well. It is particularly important in the case of kittens to have a play mate and feline companion. Kittens that come from single litters experience less social play than kittens with siblings (3) which is essential in forming bonds and learning skills. Single kittens can benefit from an older cat and quite often inject a new lease of life into a sedentary older moggie! Kittens that came from a litter with brother and sisters may miss the continued interaction from another cat. With the best will in the world a human is no substitute for a friend to clean your ears, fight with and climb up the curtains with!

Play & Predation:

Cat’s also appreciate human company, can be great fun to play with and extremely amusing, but any interaction is generally on their terms. Most games preferred are of the hunting, stalking and attacking variety as play and hunting are basically the same thing to a cat. The more hungry a cat becomes, the more playful he becomes (5) This doesn’t mean to say if you’re cat is not very playful, you should starve him! But pick a time before a regular feed time or incorporate finding food as part of the play. It is also a great way to motivate fat cats into expending some energy, rather than trying to encourage them to play when they would rather be sleeping. Pick a time when your cat is feeling playful, not so much when you feel the need to play with him and make your self entertaining from a cat’s point of view. That doesn’t mean covering yourself in cat food and impersonating a mouse, but try different approaches to your cat and see what he enjoys, a game of bat the ball or hide ‘n’ seek with a small catnip toy in a paper bag is always a favourite. Make sure other non-cat savvy visitors, especially young children know not to pursue him and that play and hunting are one and the same - getting scratched is sometimes par for the course!.

Grooming & Hygiene:

Grooming is another great way to improve the bond with your cat. Cats dedicate an hour a day (4) to keeping their fur in good condition and a gentle brushing on even shorthaired cats is generally appreciated and helps to lessen hairballs too. Some cats can be tetchy, particularly, on their soft undersides, so choose a time when you and your cat are relaxing. On the sofa or your lap, is the ideal time and unless your cat is long haired, if there are any bits he doesn’t like being touched then don’t - there isn’t anywhere he can’t reach and groom for himself!

Cats are fastidiously clean creatures, not only in their grooming habits but their toilet habits as well. If your cat uses inappropriate places as his toilet, such as the carpet behind the sofa or the bath then there is always either a medical condition or stress as a factor for the change in behaviour. Excluding medical conditions, try a variety of litters as most cats have a favourite, ensure there is sufficient of it for your cat to cover what he has done. Actually relieving themselves is normally the shortest part of their toilet routine, by far the most time is given to digging out the perfect bottom shaped hole, positioning themselves effectively - no point spending all that time digging a hole only to miss it!- and covering it up. With this in mind, make sure that if you opt for a covered litter tray that it is large enough for your cat to move around in comfortably and perform the full ceremony!

Scratches & Climbing:

Scratching, particularly destructive scratching, is a common problem in many cats even those with outside access - my lounge wallpaper is testimony to this, as is the hall wallpaper when rainy days stop play! Scratching, or ‘stropping’ for it’s proper name, keeps claws manicured and removes the dead outer layer revealing a new sharpened tip. Sisal scratch posts and mats are perfect as cats prefer a surface that ‘moves’ or shreds under the claws and doesn’t snag, such as soft wood - explains why door jambs are so attractive! Cardboard is another favourite but makes an unholy mess! To encourage your cat to use a post use a liberal amount of catnip on the rope part of the scratcher or climber. Catnip is a natural substance that most adult cat’s enjoy, rubbing where it has been sprayed, sniffing and scratching. Climbers also provide an opportunity for indoor cat’s to climb, maintain and improve muscle strength that they do not have access to if the outdoors isn’t an option.

Kittens particularly benefit from the use of a large multi level climber and will take to them readily from the age of about five weeks onwards. Kittens will spend a substantial amount of their time climbing, standing and walking on the climber and at six weeks will progress to the highest levels (6) and practice manoeuvres they will need out doors when tackling larger objects such as trees. Kittens as with humans, benefit from an early education and skills practised at an early age are more easily perfected later on.


Security:

A secure cat is a happy cat. Cats love a high vantage point to keep a watchful eye over their territory - lets face it if your only 12-14 inches high you can’t see a lot from ground level can you?! It gives them a sense of security and explains why many cats cat nap on rooftops, car roofs and on top of kitchen cupboards, particularly if it gives them a good view out of a window. Rather than clear away all your ornaments or blue-tac them down, invest in a tall cat climber - even if you have several cats and are short of space - an upright floor to ceiling climber can accommodate quite a few cats and free up a surprising amount of otherwise cat-covered shelves and worktop space! Chose a place to site it that gives your cat a good outside view of something that he enjoys, such as the garden pond or if he is an indoor cat a busy view to keep him entertained.

Cats also like to have a private place to have a really good nap - many will chose the under the bed, wash baskets, even the bathroom sink! Pretty much anywhere where they feel enclosed and they feel they are likely to be undisturbed - they don’t always get it right! Some cats like to curl up together and sometimes they just like to be on their own, so an out-of-the-way place gives your cat time to relax and get some ‘me time‘. Cardboard boxes, or igloo beds or just a soft blanket in a corner behind a chair are all possibilities and each cat is individual in their preferences. Some like soft surfaces - beds during the day are a favourite, and some prefer firmer beds, providing they are warm - airing cupboards on fresh laundered sheets are also favoured by many. Give your cat a choice of several as, particularly when visitors call, they will often change to a new location away from the hustle and bustle. Many cats who have access to the outdoors will leave the house when relatives, particularly young children visit to keep out of the way, if your cat is a house cat though, make sure visitors know which areas are quiet zones for your cats and to be avoided, even if your cat is people orientated.

Fresh Air & Grass:

Two things cats enjoy and even indoor cats shouldn’t be restricted from. Cats love the great outdoors even when it’s raining - although an indoor vantage point is usually preferred on rainy days! Indoor cats can benefit greatly from an outdoor run attached to the house, or even a window grill so a window can be left open safely but still allow fresh air in along with all the tantalising scents that cats are so sensitive to. Those cats with outdoor freedom, a cat flap can be a good idea to allow them to come and go as they please but some nervous cats can see it as a point of weakness in their surroundings, particularly if other cats use it to enter the house uninvited. This can lead to spraying as your cat tries to scent its territory to deter the intruder - some pheromone sprays can help to calm and relax them but in some very nervous cats or those that have been bullied by neighbourhood moggies, it may be best to remove the flap and revert to the good old ‘I’ll done a green jacket and be your doorman’ routine.

Grass can be bought and grown indoors and helps prevent cats chewing houseplants which can be toxic. Chewing long soft grass acts as a natural cleanser to help rid themselves of hair balls and internal parasites. The outcome is always the same, a lot of coughing, hacking and a pile of unmentionable which is one distinct benefit to cats having outside access - you don’t have to clean it up!

There are few of us that can honestly say our cat has all of these things whenever their need for them arises, so if our cats do develop the odd unsavoury habit or annoying quirk, it is always worth assessing your home and garden from a cats point of view. It needn’t be hard work enriching your home for indoor cats as constant small changes to their environment can provide new challenges and afford sufficient opportunities for exercise and mental stimulation that provide a healthy and fulfilling life. While it can take a bit of brain power from us, the benefits for both can be immense, great fun and build a greater bond and enjoyment from having a cat share your home.
 
 
 
 

Ref:

(1) Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. Eva Heidenberger. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 52 (3-4), 345-364

(2) Differences in food preferences between individuals and populations of domestic cats. J.W.S.Bradshaw et al. Applied Animal behaviour Science Vol 68 (3), 257-268

(3) The effects of litter size variation on the development of play behaviour in the domestic cat. Michael Mendi Animal Behaviour Vol 36 (1), 20-34

(4) The organization and control of grooming in cats, Robert A. Eckstein and Benjamin L. Hart Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 68 (2), 131-140

(5) The influence of hunger on object play by adult domestic cats. Sarah L.Hall and John W.S.Bradshall Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 58 (1-2), 143-150

(6) The Ontongeny of locomotor play behaviour in the domestic cat. Paul Martin and Patrick Bateson. Animal Behaviour Vol 32 (2), 502-510