The Contented Multi-Cat Household
How to Achieve Harmony when Many Cats Live Together
Left to themselves, cats would be unlikely to live in large groups, and friction between individuals is common. But with a little knowledge and care, peace is possible.
Many cat lovers do not set out to have four, five, six or more cats. They gradually acquire more, without any definite plans. If they are lucky there will be no problems. But in many instances tensions develop, sometimes without the owner realising...
The Pitfalls of Having Too Many Cats
At first everything may seem fine. However, cats are independent animals, and gradually signs of friction may appear. There may be inter-cat aggression between more dominant cats, as each strives to be top cat in the pecking order. Meanwhile the more nervous and retiring cats may hide, or even refuse to eat. Such cats may become stressed, and this may manifest itself by urine spraying, or a refusal to use the litter tray in a formerly house-trained cat. Eventually relationships may break down completely, with the owner being forced to re-home one or more of the cats in order to restore at least a semblance of harmony. So what can be done about this?
An Appropriate Number of Cats for the Environment
For a person in a two bedroom flat, trying to have five or six cats is probably asking for trouble. While there is no specific area which an individual cat needs, common sense should prevail. If an owner has a larger house and garden, and the cats will be allowed outside, there will be more chance of success with many cats living together. But even in such a case, certain precautions should be taken.
Have Plenty of ‘Cat Resources’
The owner should ensure that there are plenty of litter trays, feeding bowls, and places to hide. In a multi-cat household, more dominant felines may limit access to these, and this will cause the more nervous cat to refuse to eat, or to use the toilet in an inappropriate place. Litter trays in different locations is a good idea, and it may be helpful to have the same number of litter trays as there are cats, plus one more…an aggressive cat cannot guard all of them! Retiring and less sociable cats should have access to high places such as the top of wardrobes, to ensure that they can escape if they are being bullied or just want to be alone. Dishes of dried food in different locations throughout the house will ensure that every cat gets a chance to eat in peace.
Choose Compatible Individuals
Kittens who are litter mates are likely to get on, although this is not necessarily the case once they are mature. Siamese and Burmese cats will probably get on with others of the same breed, but can be very dominant and bossy, and cause problems for other types of cats in the household. Persians, Ragdolls and Maine Coons, on the other hand, tend to be quite easy-going, and will be unlikely to cause trouble – although there are always exceptions. If you are taking on an adult cat, try to avoid extremes - of nervousness, confidence, or activity. Such cats may be difficult for others to live with.
An owner who follows the above rules will hopefully find that her cats can live together in at least relative harmony. They may merely agree to disagree, but they may even become friends! However, there is a limit in every household, so one should refrain from increasing the number of cats because things seem to be going well, since ‘just one more’ could cause a complete breakdown of feline relationships.
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Further Reading
Cat Confidential, Vicky Halls, Bantam Press, 2004
Cat Detective, Vicky Halls, Bantam Press 2005
