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Current statistics on U.S. cat-owning households (there are about 90 million today) show that nearly one half (49%) of these households own more than one cat. (source: Armandhammer.com) Those multiple cat households must have somehow figured out how to achieve feline harmony in their homes.
Basically, the way to a peaceful feline home is to make sure that there are enough resources and space for your cats. If your cats know they have options on where they can eat, sleep, play, and use the litter box, all the better. If all of your cats have only one option, that’s an ideal setting for territorial disputes and added stress among them. We have a few pointers on how to create and maintain harmony in your cat household.
The initial introduction of cats to each other should be gradual and stress free. If possible, keep the new cat in a separate living quarters in your home, with their food, litter box and toys. Your “incumbent cats” will know about the new cat, but not have the stress of direct contact. After a couple of days, gradually allow your “incumbent” cats to approach the new cat, keeping their contacts short and sweet. After a few more days, you will have achieved a successful introduction.
Our strongest recommendation: invest in vertical play spaces. Cat trees, shelves and window perches are ideal solutions for giving your cats privacy in an off-the-ground location. Cats like height, so it’s an ideal solution.
Your cats needs outlets for exercising and scratching. Leave plenty of scratching devices around your home. Whether they are horizontal, vertical or slanted pads, they will protect your furniture as well as your sanity!
Allow each of your cats a separate food bowl . If you have common water bowls, have several in different areas. A water fountain designed for multiple cats is a great way of managing this, just make sure to keep the fountain and the water it holds clean and fresh.
Keep as many litter boxes in your home as the number of cats. One of the worst problems can arise when cats have the use the same box. Territorial issues may arise, causing them to “spray” the litter box, which signals to the other cats to stay away. No one needs to have cats depositing in undesignated areas of the house. Once that “out of box” behavior starts, it’s hard to stop it.
Finally, monitor your cats’ interactions. It’s better to observe body language and catch an early warning signal so that you can diffuse any tension and avoid an out-an-out battle. One great technique for diffusing attention is to pull out a wand toy that immediately draws their attention away from one another and on the moving object (the toy on the wand).
Congratulations on your multiple cat household. May you and they live harmoniously over all of their nine lives!
If you’ve ever tried to trim a cat’s nails, you know that it’s a task that’s not for the faint of heart. But it is possible to make these necessary nail-trimming sessions an enjoyable time for both you and your kitty.
The first step is to develop a routine. If you and your cat can get into a rhythm of clipping the nails every ten days to two weeks, you’ll have established an ideal schedule.
Next, make sure your cat is comfortable with the sound of the clippers before you attempt to trim her nails. The ASPCA recommends putting kitty on your lap and putting a piece of uncooked spaghetti into the clippers. While massaging your cat’s toe, gently press her toe pad extend her nail, and then clip the spaghetti with the clippers. Do this a few times and the cat will come to associate the sound of the clippers with the gentle massaging of her toes.
See the rest of the ASPCA’s recommendations here.
Most of all, throughout the entire nail trimming process, it’s important for you to stay calm. Your kitty will be more inclined to relax and not become scared when you maintain a gentle demeanor. When you’re laid about the process, she’s more likely to be, as well.
Do you trim your cat’s nails? We’d love to hear about your experience in a comment below!
For cats, claws are more like fingers than fingernails because a cat can expose and retract her claws at will; she may not have opposable thumbs, but her little round paws are quite nimble when the claws are put to use. Sometimes she’ll use them to dig into a surface to hold on or to propel herself, not intending to claw the surface itself, as you would use your fingers to grab something if you slipped or were climbing. Cats actually use their claws like fingers in everyday activities, helping to dig around in the litterbox, grasping toys in play and in helping give themselves a deeper stretch or flex by holding on to a horizontal or vertical surface with their claws. Being able to use their claws in all these ways helps them to keep in shape as they flex each of their muscles every day as they bathe, walk around and play.
