Like many people, Charlotte keeps her cats indoors. “We live near a busy highway, and there’s a woods behind us with skunks and coyotes,” she says. “We keep Nicky and Sheba inside for their own safety.” But, as Charlotte has discovered, indoor cats have their own problems. “Nicky is gaining too much weight and Sheba gets bored and restless. I sometimes wonder if I’m really doing the right thing by keeping them in.”

If you also have an indoor cat, you may have similar concerns about his mental or physical well being. Do indoor-only cats have special nutritional requirements? Are they more prone to obesity than cats that can go outside? And how do you prevent boredom? Here are some ways to help keep your indoor feline healthy and contented.

Feed meat, not grains
Several pet food manufacturers now offer special formulas for indoor cats, claiming that they crave grains and greens. But keep in mind that all cats are carnivores. Carnivores eat meat, not grain. Because of the cat’s unique physiology, animal proteins and fats provide him with a better source of energy than carbohydrates. If you want to keep your cat lean and active, feed a food that has a high percentage of meat protein and as little grain as possible.

Give him greens
Some cats do crave greens. You can fulfill that desire while keeping your houseplants intact by growing a pot or two of wheat grass. To keep your cat from digging in the pot before the grass is grown, cover it with plastic wrap and keep it out of his reach. When I grew grass for my cats, I kept one available to eat and another one growing. Using a heavy clay pot will prevent an exuberant cat from tipping it over. Some cats will vomit the grass back up. This is completely normal, as long as it is not excessive. Cats sometimes use grass as a purge.

Nix free-feeding
“Free-feeding” (leaving food available to your cat 24/7) is an unhealthy practice...