Cat — environmental enrichment & exercise (indoor safety, hunting-instinct toys, meal-scatter feeding)
Source: first-hand Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner text, saved to source_file; every claim below is a C1 byte-substring of it.
Claims
It’s much safer for cats to stay indoors than to be allowed outside.Cats that don’t get enough exercise can become overweight and develop health problems.you can encourage activity by providing toys, like feather wands or balls, that stimulate cats' hunting instincts.You can also divide a cat's meal into several smaller meals in multiple bowls spread out around the house to encourage the cat to get up and move to find them.Does My Kitten Need Toys or People to Play With? Cats learn how to socialize with other cats from their mother and littermates.Playing with your cat and providing interactive toys can help develop a close bond, as well as decrease destructive behaviors.You might also consider using a water fountain to encourage your cat to drink more, because cats are often attracted to, and like to play with, moving streams of water.Owners often make the mistake of hiding the box away in the basement or garage.Will My Cat Need Exercise? Cats that don’t get enough exercise can become overweight and develop health problems.It's harder to exercise a cat than a dog, but you can encourage activity by providing toys, like feather wands or balls, that stimulate cats' hunting instincts.
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Source: pdf-raw/companion-care/cat_providing_home.txt · https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/selecting-and-providing-a-home-for-a-cat