Avoiding Cat Fights in a Multiple Feline Household
Avoiding Cat Fights in a Multiple Feline Household - Multiple cats in a household can be very enjoyable for both the owners and the cats. Unfortunately, problems can also arise such as cat fights, spraying, depositing feces outside the litter box, stress and anxiety. This article is intended to help you avoid the cat fights and achieve peace and tranquility within your multiple cat household.
As all cat owners know, it is very easy to end up with multiple cats in a house. Sometimes we believe that our one cat is lonely and needs a friend. Sometimes a poor little stray cute cat meows at our door just before winter. We move in with other cat owners; we inherit cats; we take them over from our children; we rescue cats; etc., etc.
When we take in another cat, we hope that all goes
well and everyone gets along fine, but sometimes it doesn't’. The problem is that
cats are instinctively territorial. In the wild (or even the urban wild) they
usually have enough room to roam, source food and manage territorial conflicts.
A cat within the same house as another cat, however, may feel it does not have
enough space and may feel competitive for food, water, resources or attention.
In addition and just like people, it may simply not like the other cat. The
result can lead to problems such as cat fights, spraying, or depositing feces
outside the litter box. Stress and anxiety is also common for both the cats and
the owners!
The following tips should help you to structure your home to hopefully achieve peace and tranquility.
1) Litterboxes - – the rule of thumb is one litterbox for each cat, plus one. This reduces the potential for litterbox competition and provides an opportunity for each cat to choose their own.
2) Avoid closed or covered litterboxes. With a covered litterbox a cat can feel trapped by only having one entry/exit route, or can actually get trapped by another cat. Open litterboxes allow the cats to escape in several directions, or provide the feeling that they can escape if needed.
3) Place the litterboxes in different areas of the house, not beside each other. This allows them to choose their favorite location and provides a measure of privacy.
4) Place the litterboxes in open areas, not in a dead end closet for example. Again, the cat doesn't want to get trapped.
5) Create vertical space. Climbers, perches and cat trees allow cats to get away from each other. They also provide a vantage point for viewing the room which gives them a sense of security.
6) Use multiple feeding and watering stations. This reduces competition for food and water.
7) Provide multiple beds. This also reduces competition and allows them to choose their favorite.
8) Hiding is a natural coping skill for cats. Provide many places for them to do so with boxes, paper bags, open closets or products such as cat tents.
9) Put out multiple scratching posts of various configurations and textures. Cats scratch to sharpen their claws, mark territory, and to relieve frustration or stress. Provide secure horizontal, vertical and slanted surfaces that will not topple when the cat uses them. They should be long enough to allow the cats to extend fully and stretch which they like to do. Also provide a variety of scratching textures. Some cats prefer sisal scratching surfaces, some prefer cardboard or carpet. Ample scratching posts with a variety of configurations and textures will increase the chance that each cat will find a preferred scratching surface of your choosing. Finally, place the scratching surfaces near sleeping and feeding areas as a means of encouraging appropriate marking through scratching.
10) Promote positive relationships through play. Interactive cat toys, feather boa wands, toy mice, etc., provide entertainment and exercise for the cats. Ideally they will play with the toys rather than beating up on each other. Provide many toys to reduce competition for a particular one, and if the cats all like the same toy get several.
11) Promote positive relationships through treats. Just as dogs can learn that if they behave a certain way they can earn a treat, so can cats. In the multiple cat household where there have been problems, or where there could be such as when bringing a new cat home, use the treats to encourage a positive feelings when the cats are together. For example, when you bring a new cat home you will want to keep them separated for the first while. When starting the introductions use treats to reinforce a positive environment when the cats are together.
12) Use the Pet-Ease Natural Calming Mist & Diffuser or the Pet-Ease Natural Calming Spray to relax your cats and to induce calm. These products contain natural herbal extracts that calm your cat and reduce instinctive urges to mark and scratch.
13) Trim the nails regularly. This will help to keep playful swipes from escalating.
14) New Introductions – when introducing a new cat to a household that already has a cat use all of the tips provided above. In addition, keep them separated in different rooms for an initial period. They will smell and know another cat is present but the different rooms allows time for them to adjust to the idea and start the process of establishing territories. After an initial period (up to 2 weeks) start the introduction process by letting them meet for short periods in a third room with you present. Allow them to sniff each other and get acquainted. Use the treats as above and if a confrontation starts, separate them and try again another day. Keep doing this for brief meetings over the next 1-2 weeks and gradually increase the time spent together. Mid way through this period, let each of them check out the others room as a way for each of them to better get to know the other.
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