Do cats actually get bored?

Yes, and indoor cats especially. The visible signs of cat boredom: over-grooming, excessive sleep beyond normal cat sleep levels, weight gain, destructive behavior toward furniture and household items, attention-seeking vocalization, and night-time activity. Cornell flags the lack of physical and mental stimulation as a direct contributor to behavioral problems and obesity.[1] The fix is environmental enrichment: interactive daily play, window perches, puzzle feeders, vertical space and rotating toys. A bored cat is usually a setup problem, not a personality problem.

When to call a vet: if a cat suddenly looks listless or stops engaging with anything (not even food), that’s a vet visit, not a boredom conversation.