Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Introduction
In the year to March 2024, nearly 1.6 million cats were acquired as pets in the UK [ 1 ], and 33 % of cat-owning households had more than one cat [ 1 ].
Research has shown that multi-cat households are associated with poorer welfare outcomes due to social tension and lack of sufficient resources and space. With the number of multi-cat households increasing, more cats may be living with high levels of stress. Despite the issues associated with multi-cat households, it is possible to create a positive environment and for cats to form social groups.
Cats rely mostly on olfactory communication through the use of pheromones, which are natural chemicals released from certain glands in the body. These glands are found in the skin under the chin, on their cheeks, in front of their ears, between the footpads, along the tail and in the mammary glands [ 5 ].
Cats mark their territory and share their scent when they rub their faces on objects or people( Figure 1). Some pheromones reinforce a sense of familiarisation whereas others may suggest that a threat is present [ 5 ].
It is important for veterinary nurses( VNs) to know how to reduce stress in multi-cat households so they can advise owners on ways they can modify the home environment to benefit all the cats in the household.
Learning outcomes
• Understand the normal social structure of cats
• Understand why multi-cat households can be stressful
• Learn how to reduce stress for individual cats in multi-cat households
Social structure among cats
Cats have evolved to be solitary creatures, particularly when it comes to their feeding habits. However, they are very adaptable and can live in groups in the right circumstances. When food is in abundance and sufficient to support a large number of cats, cats have been shown to form affiliative bonds with each other [ 2 ]; however, when food sources are limited, cats will live a more solitary life [ 2 ].
Female feral cats living in a natural environment form colonies so they can raise their kittens together. Male feral cats can also be part of a colony; however, their affiliations with other cats in the colony are more loosely connected. Cats choose their affiliates and are able to distinguish between those that are members of their colony and those that are not [ 3 ]. If an unfamiliar cat tries to join the colony or use its resources, it is met with overt signs of aggression from colony members [ 2 ].
Methods of communication
Communication between cats is subtle and uses visual, tactile and olfactory cues [ 4 ]. As cats have evolved to be generally solitary, they have not developed complex facial expressions to communicate, because it would be uncommon for them to be in close proximity to other cats in the wild [ 5 ].
Figure 1. A cat using olfactory communication.
The pheromones are detected by the vomeronasal organ, which is located inside the roof of a cat ' s mouth. The detection of pheromones by this organ activates receptors, which send signals to the cat ' s brain [ 5 ]. Pheromones can help to create a group scent and allow cats to recognise members of their social group [ 5 ].
A cat ' s body language can indicate how it feels around people and, in certain situations, around other cats. Body language can also indicate whether cats are part of the same social group. Cats that are members of the same colony or group will display signs such as allogrooming( grooming each other) and allorubbing( rubbing each other), and will often greet each other with a nose touch [ 2 ].
Why do cats often feel stressed in multi-cat households?
Cats like to feel in control of their environment and resources; this reinforces their territory and reduces their stress. Cats usually stay within their core territory and home range, which is the area that contains all their resources and where they spend most of their time. Establishing a territory helps cats avoid conflict with other cats [ 6 ], but invasion of a cat ' s territory by another cat will lead to aggression between the two individuals.
Volume 40( 4) • August 2025
27