How to prevent tension among cats in a multi-cat household.

These aren't situations where a new cat joins the household. These are cases where the cats have lived together as tolerant roommates for a time, and the owners have now noticed staring, hissing, stalking, and other avoidance behaviors. 

Prevention is key, in my professional opinion. Notice the stalking, staring, and escape behaviors before the cats progress to hissing and fighting.

Cat relationships have a wide spectrum, from two bonded buddies that sleep together and don’t take a step without the other to tolerant roommates, who sometimes sniff each other's faces or butts and then go their separate ways again.

If you own more than one cat, make sure you observe where your cats are on that spectrum. I highly recommend the book “Kitty Language” by Lili Chin. It is well-written and researched, and the beautiful drawings are very detailed. Learning about cat body language is the first step to becoming aware of inter-cat tension in your home.

Notice the first signs of subtle tension before you come home to one cat hiding under the bed, one cat on top of the shelves, and fur and blood on the floor. 

The American Association of Feline Veterinarians has published the five pillars of cat welfare. https://catvets.com/resource/aafp-isfm-environmental-needs-guidelines/

Let's go through these five pillars and see what they mean for your situation and how they can help prevent tension from arising.

·      Safe spaces.

·      Multiple and separated key resources.

·      Opportunities for play and predation.

·      Positive human interaction.

·      Respect for the cat’s sense of smell.

Providing ample safe spaces is the first step. If you have multiple cats in one home, make sure to offer plenty of places to hide, nap, and observe. Safe spaces can include beds, shelves, cat trees, or window perches. Many cats prefer elevated locations. In small apartments or homes, use this knowledge by installing some shelves and perches. If your landlord does not permit this, look for options that can be installed in front of windows, or simply move the cat tree from a dark corner at the back of your home to the window. 

The second pillar is multiple key resources. Key resources are:

·      Food

·      Water

·      Litter boxes

·      Scratchers

·      Access to owners

·      Play

In many homes I visit, I notice one food bowl shared by two cats, with the water bowl right beside it. Imagine having to eat from the same plate as your partner or drink from the same glass. It could cause tension and issues, even though there's no real need for it. Adding a second food and water bowl doesn't require much more space, and it’s a simple way to prevent conflicts between cats. 

The third pillar is providing opportunities for play and predation. If you have multiple cats, you need to give each one adequate playtime. If done improperly, this can cause issues. I often see people play with two cats but only use one wand toy. Play shouldn’t be a competition. Playing with your cats isn't like basketball or golf. One cat won’t wait patiently until the other finishes playing. They will both try to catch the toy and might run into or on top of each other. Use two wand toys, one in each hand, and keep the cats as far apart as possible. Alternatively, play with one cat in one room and give the other a food puzzle in a different room. 

Opportunities for play and predation are:

·      Wand toys

·      Feathers

·      Food puzzles

·      Mimic predatory behavior

One of my favorite books, “Play with Your Cat” by Dr. Mikel Delgado, is on my list of recommended cat products. There are many ways to play appropriately with your cat. If you want to learn more, I highly recommend reading the book. MY most important key takeaways from this book are: 1) Even slow play is still play. 2) Cats are ambush hunters; they observe and then jump on their prey. Try to mimic this. Don’t move the toy toward the cat; prey would naturally move away, not toward the cat. 

The fourth pillar is providing positive human interaction, and there's much to say about that. Cats are often described as low-maintenance. This is a big mistake and often the cause of tension. Bored cats will find things to do, and sometimes that means stalking and chasing the other cat in the home. As a cat owner, it's my responsibility to interact with my cats, not just add food into the automatic feeder once a day. Don’t force interactions; let your cat initiate them. Dog owners often see their dog bring a toy to start play. Cats do similar things; we just need to notice. Does your cat sit in front of the door where the toys are hidden? Does your cat wait patiently, sitting in front of you? 

Cats do very well on a schedule and crave routine and predictable interactions. Play at the same time in the morning or evening. Five minutes is better than nothing if you don’t have much time. Take a handful of treats and hide them around the house, letting them work for their food. 

Finally, respect your cat’s sense of smell. Cats communicate through pheromones, which are species-specific hormones. Avoid disrupting their sense of smell with scented candles, litter, or cleaning supplies. Don’t wash all their favorite blankets at once, or bathe them with perfumed soap.

A few tips at the end, and some questions that seem tricky. 

Are my cats playing or fighting?

Many cat owners find it difficult to tell the difference between play and fighting. Sometimes, it's hard to tell. Usually, watch out for MARS. 

M – meta signals that indicate play. In dogs, it’s the famous play bow, but cats show it through body language.

A – activity shifts. Play involves changes in activity, speed, and intensity. Pauses follow play bouts.

R – role reversal. Play alternates between cats. Each cat takes turns chasing and being chased. During fights, usually one cat is attacked and then hides. 

S – self-handicapping. You often see this in adult cats playing with kittens.

Also, be aware of the overall context and vocalizations. Play is usually quiet, with the cats taking turns. Growls, hisses, and loud vocalizations mark fights. 

Don’t feed cats next to each other.

Cats are solitary hunters and eaters. Forcing cats to eat next to each other is not helpful and oftentimes makes things worse.

Do I really need that many cat beds/trees/bowls/litter boxes?

Catification and resources are essential in a multi-cat home. Think about your own home. Would you be okay with only one recliner in front of the TV? Or one chair at the dining table?

If you live with two cats, consider how many litter boxes, food bowls, and napping spots you need. When I visit a client's home, I can tell whether the cats there have enough resources. Adjusting isn't easy, but if you want to keep peace in your home, this is an important step that shouldn't be ignored.