Cats that do not go outside may need extra opportunities to play and exercise indoors.
However, some cats, especially those that live outdoors, may be less sociable with people and other animals.
Cats sleep for many hours of the day, but when they are awake they need opportunities to exercise and play. Cats enjoy resting in high places where they feel safe. Cats are intelligent and capable of suffering boredom so need opportunities for mental stimulation. Additionally, all cats need an appropriate scratching place, high enough to allow them to stretch out fully, to scent mark their territory and condition their claws. Cats experience a range of emotions including happiness, anxiety, and fear. How they behave and their body language can help you understand what they are feeling and whether they are physically and mentally fit and healthy. Any change in behaviour such as changes in activity and hiding behaviour may indicate that your cat is distressed and needs help. If concerned please seek advice from your vet. (You will find more information in section “How to keep your cat healthy and protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease”). Kittens need to get used to be carefully introducedto the many noises, objects and activities in their environment. They also need tobe adequately and carefully introduced to many different animals and people so that they learn how to interact appropriately and behave normally as adults.

What you should do:

• You should ensure your cat receives enough mental, social and physical stimulation to satisfy its individual behavioural needs.
• Provide your cat with safe toys and regular opportunities to play with friendly peopleand by itself.
• Ensure that your cat is able to rest undisturbed and has somewhere to hide when it wants to.
• Make sure your cat has opportunities to exercise each day to stay fit, happy and healthy. If your cat does not go outside, provide suitable indoor activities to keep it active such as high places to rest and toys.
• If you are unsure how much activity is right for your cat, take advice from your vet or other suitably qualified cat care specialist.
• Provide your cat with somewhere to scratch, such as a sturdy scratching post.
• Make sure that your cat can reach all the things that it needs (e.g. bed, food, water, litter or outdoors) without having to get too close to things, people or other animals that may scare it. You should know how your cat behaves when fit, healthy and happy and be able to recognise and interpret your cat’s body language.
• Never shout at or punish your cat. It will not understand and will just become more nervous or scared. You should only use positive reward-based training

If your cat’s behaviour changes or becomes a problem it could be distressed, bored, ill or injured and you should seek advice from a vet or other suitably qualified cat behaviour expert who should have a combination of appropriate qualifications, up to date knowledge, skills and experience and who treats cats in such a way that their welfare is protected.