How to Have Multiple Cats (with Pictures) (2024)

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Co-authored byRussell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT

Last Updated: April 12, 2023Approved

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   Provide as many litter boxes as you have cats, plus one. If you have three cats, in other words, try to provide four litter boxes.^[1] While it may seem like a lot of work, having multiple litter boxes prevents inappropriate elimination, which causes far more problems.

   • Cats can be intensely private, and they dislike sharing litter boxes.
   • Keep the litter boxes in separate rooms as much as possible. Dominant cats may claim a particular litter box as their own. Having some distance between the boxes will mean that a dominant cat can only "guard" one box, leaving the others for shyer cats.
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   Keep litter boxes clean.^[2] Cats have sensitive noses and will react strongly to litter boxes filled with waste.

   • Remove cat waste frequently, generally once per day. Scoopable litter allows you to remove feces and urine easily and top up with more litter. If you use plain clay litter, change the whole box at least once a week.
   • Don’t clean litter boxes with strongly-scented cleaners or soaps. Plain soap and water is adequate and will avoid introducing smells that are unpleasant to your cat.

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   Keep litter boxes comfortable. Inappropriate elimination often develops because there’s something about the litter box that your cat can’t stand, and so he urinates or defecates somewhere else.^[3]

   • Litter boxes should be accessible at all times. They should also be located in relatively quiet places, not in the main flow of traffic in the household.
   • Litter should be one to two inches deep. Cats may develop a strong preference for a particular type of litter.
   • Many cats dislike boxes with hoods, automatic-cleaning boxes, or boxes that are too small for them. Many like litter boxes they can step right in. Pay attention to your cats’ preferences.
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   Clean any “accidents” immediately and thoroughly. Vomit, hairballs, and the occasional inappropriate urination or defecation are a part of life if you have multiple cats. Immediate clean-up will prevent bad odors and bad habits from taking hold.

   • Use a specially designed enzyme cleaner for cleaning up cat urine.^[4] If a cat can still smell his urine somewhere, he will come to regard that spot as an acceptable location for elimination.
   • Baking soda is a great odor remover.^[5] After you’ve cleaned up feces or vomit, sprinkle baking soda in the area and leave it for a few hours to absorb odor.
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   Control the amount of cat hair in your house.^[6] Having many cats increases the amount of cat hair in circulation. This can set off allergies in your family and guests, and it also tends to cling to clothing.

   • Vacuum frequently. While your cats may not mind sleeping on a mat of their own hair, frequent vacuuming of floors, carpets, and upholstery is a good idea for you and your guests.
   • Brush your cats regularly. Use specially designed brushes to reach the thicker undercoat.
   • Cover furniture with blankets or throws that are easy to launder. These can be put in the washing machine when guests arrive.
   • Use an adhesive roller or lint remover to take cat hair off of your clothing before you go out.

   See Also

   Is It Ok To Have 3 Cats? – Vet Explains PetsIs Three Cats Too Many? - (Living In A Multicat Household)Pros And Cons Of Having 3 Cats – Vet Explains PetsWhy Having 3 Cats is Better Than Having 2

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   Rule out physical causes of “bad” behavior. If your cat develops a new behavior, take her to the vet to rule out illness that might be causing this behavior.

   • For example, urination outside the litter box can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, or other problems.^[7]
   • If you are not sure which cat is urinating outside of the box, ask your vet for fluorescein, a harmless dye that will cause the cat’s urine to glow in ultra-violet light for about twenty-four hours.^[8] Administer this product to just one cat each day, and then find and examine fresh urine in the problem areas. Eventually, you will identify the culprit.
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   Use a pheromone product to reduce tension. These products are designed to mimic cats’ own facial pheromones. They are meant to help cats to feel calm and can reduce aggression in multi-cat households.^[9] They can also reduce problem scratching and some problem spraying.^[10]

   • Pheromones can be distributed using sprays, collars, wipes, or diffusers.
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   Make sure your cats can find places to retreat and be alone. Cats are territorial, and it’s important that you have enough space for the number of cats that you have.^[11] They appreciate privacy and may feel more secure if they can hide sometimes.

   • Take advantage of vertical space your home. Clear off a space on top of upper cabinets, for example, or leave part of an upper shelf open.^[12]
   • A very shy cat or a cat showing problem behaviors might prefer their own room, at least for a while. Provide their own litter box, food, and water.
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   Defuse misdirected aggression. If a cat gets angry about something, she might misdirect that anger into aggression toward another cat who is merely an innocent bystander. ^[13] If one of your cats is getting upset, direct his focus away from other cats.

   • For example, if you have a cat who hates getting her medicine, plan to administer it when she is the only cat in the room.
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   Provide plenty of things to scratch. Scratching is an important behavior for cats. It helps them to mark territory as well as maintain their claws.^[14] If you want to discourage your cats from scratching things they shouldn’t, like your furniture, you need to provide attractive alternatives.

   • Scratching posts should be stable. Your cat should be able to lean into scratching without overturning the post. You can use weights of five or ten pounds to stabilize a small post.
   • Provide a variety of textures. Many cats like the feel of sisal rope, while others like plain wood.
   • Sprinkle some catnip on a new scratching surface to attract initial interest.
   • Discourage inappropriate scratching using scents such as mint or lemon that cats dislike. You can also tape aluminum foil over a vulnerable piece of furniture to deter your cats.^[15]
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   Use rewards to encourage good behavior. Although not as easily trained as dogs, cats learn to repeat good behavior if it associated with rewards. Use treats to teach your cat how to behave, being careful to not inadvertently reward behavior you dislike.

   • For example, give your cat a small treat every time they use the scratching post.
   • If necessary, you can discourage bad behavior by spray water near them. Use spray bottles, and don’t aim directly at the cat, but next to them. Use this method to break up a stand-off between cats.
   • You can also use spray bottles to deter cats from counters, Christmas trees, or other places you don’t want them.
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   Introduce new cats slowly. When you get a new cat, don’t just dump them into the mix. A gradual, careful introduction process can prevent problems from developing.^[16]

   • Keep the new cat in a separate room at first. Allow your cats to smell the newcomer’s scent.
   • Feed the cats on opposite sides of a door, to build positive associations and a sense of trust.
   • Allow the cats to see one another through a screen door or stacked baby gates before proceeding with the full introduction.
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   Monitor your cats’ interactions with other animals and people. Never leave a cat unattended with animals that are its natural prey, such as fish, birds or rodents. Make sure that your cats can escape unwanted attention from dogs, children, and guests.

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   Feed your cats separately as much as possible. Your cats will have different requirements in terms of how much they should eat and, possibly, what kind of food they need to eat.^[17]

   • Feed your cats in different rooms, closing the doors for the twenty minutes or so that they need to finish their meals.
   • Separate feeding also helps to prevent fights from breaking out between cats at mealtimes.
   • Make sure water is freely available throughout your home.
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   Offer plenty of exercise.^[18] It’s not always easy for indoor cats to get sufficient exercise to keep them healthy. While your cats might play with each other, you should also make sure that you have provided plenty of opportunities for exercise and fun.

   • Give your cats toys, and rotate them so that your cats always have something new to play with. If an older toy has lost favor, put it in a cupboard for a few months and then re-introduce it.
   • Play with your cats. Throw lightweight balls or toy mice for them, or dangle strings for them to catch.
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   Get regular veterinary care for all of your cats. Getting routine immunizations and check-ups will ensure that your cats do not spread disease to one another.

   See Also

   Pros & Cons of Having 3 or More Cats: Our In-Depth Review - Catster

   • Feline infectious peritonitis can be spread via feces and saliva between cats and is almost always fatal.^[19]
   • Feline leukemia can be spread by mutual grooming and, less often, through shared litter boxes and food dishes.
   • Relatively few diseases can be spread between cats and humans. However, cat scratches and bites can become infected and should be carefully cleaned and monitored for any signs of infection such as prolonged redness, pain, and swelling.
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   Neuter or spay your cats.^[20] Without fail, get every single cat you have spayed or neutered. Every year, there are far more kittens born than good homes to take them.

   • Spaying and neutering reduces the chance that your cats will mark territory with urine.
   • Spaying and neutering also reduces conflicts enormously.
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   Keep toxic plants and chemicals out of your cats’ reach. Ask your vet if you are bringing a plant or cut flowers home and aren't sure if it is toxic to your cats. Keep cleaner and chemicals in a closed cupboard.

   • Common plants toxic to cats include lilies, tulip bulbs, chrysanthemums, and amaryllis.
   • Signs of poisoning include difficulty breathing, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, drooling, diarrhea, and irregular heartbeat.^[21]

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