Ways to Reduce Tension Between Cats

Living with multiple cats has many advantages for both us and them. Cats are social creatures, and spending time together offers them many opportunities to learn new things. They play together, form very strong bonds, and their running around largely satisfies their exercise needs. However, the statement that "there are no problems in multi-cat households" is unfortunately not very realistic. Especially during the transition to a multi-cat household, in other words, when a new furry friend joins the family, tension between cats can increase. In such a situation, one might mistakenly believe that they will never accept each other under any circumstances and that a peaceful environment cannot be created at home. Indeed, the biggest concern preventing the decision to adopt a new cat is the thought that tension between cats will always continue and that this situation cannot be prevented. In this article, you can find the opinions of animal behavior experts to discover the differences between cats and to help them get used to each other. Discovering Social Groups Among Cats Depending on how many cats live in the house, there may be different social groups among the cats in that house, and therefore, rules that are silently followed. For example, certain cats may prefer to spend time in certain areas of the house. Arguments may always occur between the same cats. Some cats may prefer each other when playing. All these examples can be multiplied. To discover the behaviors of cats and their tendencies in the social groups they belong to, their behavior needs to be closely observed. In this way, information can be obtained about cats that fit descriptions such as the most dominant, the most shy, or the most playful.

Explore Social Groups Among Cats

Depending on how many cats live in a house, there may be different social groups and therefore unspoken rules among the cats in that house. For example, certain cats may prefer to spend time in certain areas of the house. Arguments may always arise between the same cats. Some cats may prefer each other while playing. These examples can be multiplied. To discover the behavior of cats and their tendencies within social groups, their behavior needs to be closely observed. This way, information can be obtained about cats that fit descriptions such as the most dominant, the most shy, or the most playful.

Offer Options for Food and Toilet Needs

Tension can arise between cats during access to food, water, and the toilet, and as experienced by those living with multiple cats, the most common causes of tension between cats are related to access to food and the toilet. One of the most common mistakes people living with cats make unknowingly is creating a single feeding area and not determining the correct number of cat litter boxes.

Cats don't want to be close to each other while eating. Their stress levels increase when eating side-by-side, but they can tolerate this situation if they have no other options. For some, eating side-by-side is not even an option. In multi-cat households, some cats may eat first and others may have to wait. Regardless of the outcome or process, it is important that cat food bowls are not placed side-by-side and that a single food bowl is not considered an option. The same applies to cat litter boxes. It is recommended to purchase more cat litter boxes than the number of cats in the house. Usually, one extra cat litter box is sufficient. The placement of the litter boxes is also important. You can learn about the importance of cat litter boxes in our article titled "Cats Need Their Own Space Too." You can browse different types of food and water bowls for cats here.

There Should Be Hiding Places

When their personal space needs are not met, cats can become tense and stressed. Cats, who normally need their own space to spend time in, may feel this need more intensely when living with more than one cat. Therefore, in multi-cat households, hiding places should be created for cats to calm down and feel peaceful. Vertical areas will also yield very effective results in this context. Since cats newly introduced to multi-cat households may be anxious and fearful during the adaptation process, it is important not to skip this step. It is important not to overlook the fact that cats need areas where they can feel peaceful and safe, so that the new cat can observe its new environment and the other cats can get used to its presence.

Increase Environmental Richness

Cats hunt, cats move, cats play, cats push their limits, and cats explore their surroundings by following their curiosity. A decrease in environmental stimuli can cause them to become bored, unable to have fun, and exhibit depressive behaviors. It is not unexpected for cats to start interacting with each other when they have nothing to do and no stimuli to attract their attention. When one cat approaches another for playful purposes, there is no guarantee that the other cat's reaction will serve the same purpose. Therefore, it is not recommended to deprive cats of environmental stimuli. For cats to exhibit healthy behaviors, they need to be peaceful, healthy, and happy. In an environment where cats are bored, eat very quickly, are not seen during the day, spread their ears back when touched, and exhibit destructive behaviors, it can be assumed that there is not enough environmental richness.

Cats Should Not Be Punished

It is not recommended to punish cats when they don't get along with each other. This disagreement may stem from fear, feeling threatened, or environmental factors. Shouting at cats, spraying them with water, etc., can fuel their negative feelings towards each other. In addition to all this, punitive behaviors can cause cats to fear humans. The fear of a punished cat can also lead to the expression of that fear as aggression. In such a case, the relationship between the cats should be observed, and timely and appropriate interventions should be made to prevent fights.

When tensions that are likely to be encountered in multi-cat households frequently recur, the best method is to discover the cause. Many variables need to be observed, such as whether cats are fighting with each other, experiencing general fear, or reacting to punitive actions that lead to tension. Once all these observation stages are successfully completed, it becomes possible to open the doors of your home to new friends. If you also want to increase the love in your home with furry friends, you can review our adoption ads here.