As mentioned at the start of this article, cats use olfactory communication as one of their main forms of communication. It is important for owners to be aware of this, as scents and pheromones will reinforce cats ' sense of security in their home environment. Owners should avoid disrupting this scent profile by using detergents to clean areas marked by cats [ 3 ]. It is also advised to wash cats ' bedding on a rotation to retain some of their scent profile within their environment [ 3 ].
Owners considering purchasing a kitten should research breed-specific behaviours, so they can try to pick a breed that is more likely to get on well with any resident cats. Prospective owners should also ensure the kittens have been well socialised while still with the breeder, so they are better prepared to adapt to stressful situations in the future. If acquiring more than one kitten at the same time, it would be advisable to adopt a pair that are related, as research suggests they will be more likely to be part of the same social group.
Figure 2. An appropriately sized scratching post.
In addition to having adequate resources, each cat should have the opportunity to play and mimic predatory behaviour. Practising this innate behaviour reduces the incidence of obesity, boredom, frustration and stress-related problems such as overgrooming [ 3 ].
Food can be used to encourage the cat to mimic predatory behaviour, for example, through puzzle feeders, hiding food around the house and scatter feeding. There are a variety of toys on the market that also stimulate this behaviour, such as fishing-rod toys and novel objects. Cats are neophilic, meaning they like new items, so owners should rotate the use of toys and avoid leaving toys lying around, to prevent boredom [ 3 ].
The use of laser toys is controversial as they can leave cats feeling frustrated as they never feel the accomplishment of catching something; if using one of these toys, it is important to make sure the laser is pointed towards a toy at the end of the play session, so the cat feels it has caught some‘ prey’. The owner should play with each cat in the household separately and ensure toys are provided in multiple locations to avoid social conflict between cats [ 3 ].
Providing positive, consistent and friendly human – cat contact will also reduce stress in a cat, and helps to reinforce the bond between a cat and their owner [ 3 ]. The cat should be allowed to choose when they interact with people, so they feel in control, and each cat in the household should receive individual attention [ 3 ].
Introducing another adult cat into a household with one or more existing cats may cause problems. This is because the new cat has already reached social maturity and may be seen as a threat [ 11 ]. A kitten may be more readily accepted into the social group, but there is no guarantee that this will happen. A new cat should be introduced gradually; this can take a significant length of time and it is not guaranteed that the cats will get on well at the end of the process( Table 2 [ 12 ], page 31). If the introduction is unsuccessful, the owner should be advised to seek professional help from an animal behaviourist.
The use of synthetic pheromones can be invaluable when introducing a new cat to a household. FELIWAY Classic [ 13 ] and FELIWAY Friends [ 14 ]( Ceva Animal Health) contain synthetic versions of pheromones that have been proven to reduce stress and to reassure and appease cats. A plug-in FELIWAY diffuser can therefore be a helpful tool when introducing a new cat; however, synthetic pheromones should be used only as an adjunctive therapy, alongside environmental modifications, as they are unlikely to completely alleviate anxiety [ 5 ].
Conclusions
It is clear that there are circumstances in which cats can successfully live together. However, this is heavily dependent on the abundance and availability of resources within their territory. A lack of resources can lead to inter-cat conflict and stress-related behavioural or medical problems. Having particular breeds of cat or cats that are related to each other predisposes them to being part of the same social group. The introduction of new cats into a household must be done gradually to have the highest chance of success. Although multi-cat households are more likely to be a stressful environment for a cat than a household in which it is the only cat, it is possible to encourage the formation of social groups.
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