Hello one and all, and welcome back to another wonderful edition of Whinny’s Wisdoms! One of these days the blog will actually be about mice (the very coolest species), but today, we’re talking about maybe the second coolest: cats. Specifically, cat cohabitation.

This probably won’t surprise you, but 40-70% of cat homes across the world have multiple cats. It’s easy to want to collect them once you see how warm and fuzzy they are. But there can absolutely be issues with welfare and stress if multi-cat homes are not managed properly. You know what I’m squeaking about: fighting, spraying, scratching up the furniture, even medical issues like urinary blockage or diarrhea.

More important than single cat vs multi cat are probably handling and husbandry styles, environmental disruption, socialization history of cats towards humans and other cats, and social stability of cat groups.

Most of you know we have a new Clinic Cat, Wednesday, who has been with us for a few months—I’ve been showing her the ropes—but if you’ve been to the clinic recently you may have also seen a little fluffball kitten who is starting to make his name known. Pugsley is the newest member of Springhill Equine, and is in Clinic Cat Bootcamp at the moment.

Our team has been careful to make the transition to cohabitation a peaceful one for our supurrrvisors, so you could say I’m just the expert you need!

Key Information and Tips

Always have one more litter box than the number of cats, and I’ll clarify that that should mean litter box location. Think about it: there’s still a line for the single bathroom in the stadium whether there’s one stall or ten, but if you have two to three bathrooms on different sides of the stadium then you don’t have to stand in line next to your class rival.

It should go without saying, but there also needs to be at least one food bowl per cat. Cats are big resource guarders as a species (I just try not to be the resource, you know what I mean?) so limiting the places and sources of their food is just asking for argument.

Most cats need and want vertical space in their household. Think about cat “highways” throughout the house—remember the Floor is Lava game? There should also be hiding spots for your kitties, but try to limit possible cornering zones, especially if you have a more forward cat and a more introverted one. This amazing cat wall by Catastrophicreations.com might be an extreme example of creating cat spaces, but you might be able get some ideas from it.

So you’re going to bring a new cat into the home? Well, first impressions are most important, so make sure to plan the introduction and think about potential avenues for trouble. The new cat needs their own space that the current tenants don’t have access to for a bit. Having a safe space of their own not only limits the chance for conflict but also lets them process the new smells and sounds of their home. As they spend time there and you go between their area and the rest of your home, that new smell will be spread around so your old cats “catch wind” of their new friend. You can also do things to swap scents—trading bedding or toys to start, and then eventually even swapping rooms for a spell. This will allow both old and new cats private time to process each other’s presence before meeting… like reading a resume before interviewing someone.

Speaking of smell, I’m sure you’ve heard me talk before about pheromone products. Feliway is the synthetic version of the pheromone cats secrete from their cheeks when they rub all over you and the corners of doorways and walls. That pheromone can only be smelled by them, but basically marks an area as “safe.” Well, they’ve also created a Felway Multicat which works by acting like a mother cat saying “there, there, my angels, get along now.”

CLICK HERE to order Feliway direct from our Amazon Storefront!

Of course, eventually your old and new cats have to meet, unless you plan to keep a whole separate apartment for your new cat, but that’s when questions come up so…

The first time your cats see each other should not be a surprise to either of them, and should always be safe for both. You can do this through a pet gate, sliding glass door, or just the crack of a door. It’s better to have multiple short, safe, uneventful interactions to start. This will build a neutral to positive association before they have prolonged contact with each other.

Once your cats have smelled, heard, and seen each other a few times, it’s time for them to share space. If you have multiple resident cats, it’s often best to introduce them to the new cat on an individual basis. Only allow them to share space if there’s no signs of aggression or fear from either side.

Whinny’s Wisdom: This cat is definitely afraid, and may turn aggressive. The ears are flattened, pupils dilated, and body is tucked with the tail under. Do not proceed with introductions if either cat looks like this!

It can take many months before a new cat fully integrates into a household. There are a lot of factors at play, and some cats may never become friends, but as long as they can coexist peacefully, it’s a win. Don’t ever try to force closeness or cuddles on cats who don’t want it—you’re likely to get claws!

You know your resident cats best; be sure to take their personalities in mind before bringing a new cat or kitten into the home. While I get to see all kinds in my role as Official Clinic Mouse for Springhill Equine and Companion Animal Clinic, most pets spend 99% of their time in their home with only the creatures that live there. New introductions can be scary or intimidating, and responses aren’t always predictable.

As always, if you have questions about bringing a new cat into your home, or about improving the mingling of your current crew, talk to our team of certified Cat People and we can give you some tips! And Dr. Speziok is always happy to see your pets for behavior consults, just call to schedule.

Stay Friendly,

Whinny

P.S. If you haven’t poked around my website in a while, you might want to take a minute to check it out! There are a ton of resources on here besides my amazing blog. We have books, a huge video library, a podcast, links to social media, upcoming events, and more!