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We talk a lot here about horses needing their basic biological needs met, so today I want to pivot and talk about cats. Cats have needs, and when they aren’t met, there can be a host of so-called “cat behavior problems” (which are actually, usually, owner problems).
First: cats are intelligent predators with strong instincts. Cats *must* have a way to satisfy their urge to hunt-chase-catch-kill. This means they need, at a minimum, space to exercise and something to play with. If you don’t provide those things, the cat won’t be healthy.
I’m not saying that your cat needs *actual* live prey. I’m saying that your cat needs a way to simulate the hunt. Many cats like teaser toys or play wands. Others like laser pointers. Mine like crumpled paper balls kicked around the room. Just find what yours wants to chase.
Once you find things that your cat likes, you need to actually interact with the cat to entice them to play. A chase toy isn’t very useful if it’s just sitting there. Get up and move it around. Make it stop and start, change directions, and act unpredictably—like a prey animal.
This needs to be done at least twice a day! And it’s not a huge time commitment. Most cats do great playing in short bursts—I’m talking 5-10 minutes at a time, tops. This is time that you’re dedicating to your cat’s well-being, and it’s important that you make that commitment.
Back to space—not everyone has a huge house, and that’s fine. But if always in a small place, any cat will get bored. So give them ways to have a bigger world. Give them window seats where they can look out. Provide vertical space to climb and jump. Try a cat exercise wheel.
Another way to help them get both exercise and mental stimulation is to take them on walks! No, I’m not kidding. Cats can be harness-trained and taken outside on a leash. Yes, it will likely take some time to work up their confidence. But it’s so worth it, I promise!
In addition to exercise room, cats need some space to call their own. They need places, out of the main traffic pathways of the home, they they can have some ownership over. Cat trees and/or shelves work wonders, because it allows a cat to watch the goings-on from a safe place.
Esp. if you have an anxious cat, make sure they have multiple high and low places they can escape to whenever they feel threatened. Those can include an open crate, cat tree, cat bed on a bookshelf... anywhere they feel safe. Make at least 1 of the places above human head level.
Moving on: cats have an inherent, biological *need* to scratch things. This is non-negotiable. Individual preferences play a role in how they express this need. Some cats prefer horizontal scratching, others vertical. And there are often unique texture preferences, as well.
Pay attention to both where and how your cat likes to scratch, and give them an ok thing to scratch in the location they choose (example: a scratching post near a couch they want to claw). It’s good to get creative and give your cat options until you know what they most prefer.
If your cat prefers vertical scratching they’ll probably love a scratching post as long as it’s tall enough for them to fully stretch. Horizontal scratchers might like floor rugs (get 1-2 for scratching and teach cat to use them instead of other rugs). Cardboard is also popular.
If you’re having problems with inappropriate scratching, your cat needs more acceptable scratching places to enjoy. It’s usually that simple. You can talk with a feline behaviorist for more specific help, but really, making your home more cat-friendly will likely work.
Now onto the thing so many people neglect: attention!! Cats do love and care about their humans as a general rule, and they want us to pay attention to them. Now, not all want to be held or cuddled. But you need to find out how your cat likes to spend time with you, and do it.
For a kitten, that might mean playing for 20 minutes and then rubbing their head as they fall asleep. For a shy cat, it might mean just sitting on the floor across the room and reading them a story every day. Overall, most cats like being petted as long as you’re not overbearing.
Just know that cats care about your intent, and they always know if you’re lying. They want to know that you like them and want to be with them. They desperately want to feel safe with you. So follow their lead, and interact with them in a way that helps them to be confident.
Anyway, there are a million more things I want to say, but this thread is already novel-length, so I’ll save the rest for another time. Just remember: cats have needs and feelings, and it’s up to us as their owners to provide excellent, biologically-appropriate care. 
