Indoor Cat Enrichment: Tips to Keep Your Cat Happy and Active

11 March 2026

^{All of the insights in this article come from experts at The Vet Connection, who run the An Post Insurance 24-hour Pet Careline.}

Keeping your cat mentally and physically stimulated indoors is important for their wellbeing. With the right environment and activities, you can help your cat stay calm, content, and entertained at home.

Resting areas

Cats typically sleep between 12 and 18 hours each day, switching between short naps and longer periods of rest. Not getting enough quality sleep can affect both their health and behaviour.

Tabby cat sleeping, curled up in window hammock

Most cats prefer having several different resting spots available. These might include areas close to their humans or other pets, warm sunny places for lounging, quiet hidden corners for uninterrupted rest, and elevated perches.

High spaces are especially valuable because they give cats a good viewing point and reduce the chance of being disturbed. You can place a bed on sturdy, tall furniture that your cat can safely access, or provide a cat tree that works for both climbing and sleeping.

Supporting natural behaviours

Cats are natural hunters — they watch, stalk, and pounce. Play activities help them express these instincts. You can make feeding time more engaging by combining food with problem-solving and movement.

Small Ragdoll cat playing with green cat tower with toy balls

Try creating a small food trail using dry kibble or treats in different rooms so your cat can search them out. Puzzle feeders are also widely available and are designed to encourage activity and natural foraging behaviour.

Homemade options work well too. Simple items like egg cartons, cardboard boxes, plastic cups, or empty toilet roll tubes can be turned into food puzzles where your cat must work to reach their reward.

Toys and play structures

Both store-bought and homemade toys can keep your cat entertained. To make new items more appealing, you can add treats or a sprinkle of catnip to encourage investigation and use.

Cardboard boxes can be taped together to build a multi-level cat tower with entry holes cut to size. You can increase interest by adding tunnels and a mix of surfaces — such as carpet pieces, securely fastened twine for scratching, and soft blankets for resting.

British Shorthair cat sitting in cardboard box, face peaking out of one corner

Another option is a wall-mounted play area. Installing floating shelves at different heights and covering them with carpet — along with vertical posts wrapped in sisal rope — creates climbing, jumping, and lounging opportunities with plenty of variety.

Rotating toys instead of leaving them all out at once can also help maintain your cat’s interest. Reintroducing toys after a break can make them feel new again. Rubbing toys with catnip can further boost their appeal.

Grooming and bonding

Regular gentle grooming and massage sessions can help strengthen your relationship with your cat. When done at your cat’s comfort level, grooming can be enjoyable for them while also helping remove loose hair and supporting healthy skin and coat condition.

Cat resting on ledge being groomed with a blue comb

Taking the time to meet your cat’s emotional and behavioural needs helps build trust and a stronger sense of security in their home. When your cat feels safe, understood, and able to express themselves naturally, it can deepen the bond you share — often leading to more affection, confidence, and those quiet moments that remind you just how much they enjoy your company.

And if you want to give your furry friends the same level of care they give you, consider protecting them with Pet Insurance from An Post Insurance.

All An Post Insurance Policyholders have access to our Pet Careline, which is open 24/7 to support you with general advice on diet, training, seasonal safety, pet travel and more. Simply call 01 913 1067.

^{An Post Insurance Pet Insurance is arranged and administered by Cover-More Blue Insurance Services Limited and underwritten by Burns & Wilcox Global Solutions Limited B.V. for and on behalf of the insurer, Zavarovalnica Sava d.d. ('Sava'), Slovenia. Sava are regulated by the Insurance Supervision Agency of Slovenia E.U. and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Cover-More Blue Insurance Services Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.}

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