How to Keep the Peace Among Household Cats
“…Because cats can be territorial, it’s impossible to predict how groups of cats will get along once living in the same home. And while cats with aggression problems might never be friends, with time & commitment from owners, problems between cats can be resolved according to experts at the Animal Welfare Association of New Jersey (AWANJ). Depending on the severity of the problems, families may need to seek the assistance of a veterinarian &/or animal behaviorist to restore peace to the household.
Lynn Cancro, founder & president of Caring About the Strays (C.A.T.S.) rescue group in New Jersey, believes that how well cats get along in a multi-cat household very much depends on the manner in which they were introduced to one another.
‘Introducing cats is a science—you can’t just bring a new cat into a home where you already have a cat or cats & expect they will all just get along,’ said Cancro, who has been introducing rescued cats to one another for more than 20 years. ‘The original cats see the home as their territory & now all of a sudden a stranger has entered their space.’
This sudden introduction can create a lot of unrest in the household. In fact, the cats may never get along for the rest of their lives. So, it’s essential to allow whatever time is necessary for cats to acclimate to one another.
‘That could take a few days or a few weeks but it’s really important not to rush the process,’ Cancro said…
Bring the new cat into the home in a carrier & settle the cat into a safe room separate from the resident cats…
Put towels under all of the cats & switch them around every few days to continue helping the casts to adjust to the new cat’s scent. Eventually, the cats will get curious & start playing footsies under the door of the new cat’s room.
If all is going smoothly, the next step is to put the new cat in a carrier & take him into the room where the other cats are hanging out… Alternately, you could allow the resident cats to come into the new cat’s room but always keeping the new cat in his carrier for safety.
Be sure to show lots of affection to the resident cats during these introductions so that they don’t feel like they are being replaced by the newcomer.
It’s safe to let the cats meet face-to-face when there’s no more hissing or aggressive behavior & when they seem relaxed & curious about one another. It’s important that human family members remain relaxed during cat introductions.
‘At C.A.T.S., I’m always setting the tone & I believe the cats pick up on that,’ Cancro said. ‘When I bring in a new rescue, I tell our resident cats that they are all here for the same reason—to find loving homes—& they have to get along with one another.’
…Since it’s possible that one cat in a multi-cat household might be a bully, it’s important to:
Disperse food bowls, water dishes, & litterboxes throughout the house. This allows all cats to eat, drink & use a litterbox in peace.
In her blog ‘Keeping the Peace in a Multi-cat Household,’ Dr. Lorie Huston advises providing at least one litterbox for each cat in the household, plus one extra. Failing to provide enough litterboxes, she writes, may result not only in confrontations but also unwanted behaviors such as peeing or pooping outside the litterbox.
Huston also recommends a scratching post for each cat…
Cancro stresses the importance of providing numerous private spaces so that each cat can retreat if he/she needs some quiet time.”
Vera Lawlor
Sept. 7/2017
Care2.com
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