Do your fur babies engage in a little (or a lot of) sibling rivalry? Who doesn’t cringe at the clawing, hissing, etc., which inevitably comes with adorable but demanding kitties living in close proximity?
Studies have shown that about 20% of house cats experience long-term anxiety, with multiple-cat households a major reason. Why? The cause makes perfect sense: our solitary-loving BFF’s are easily stressed when they have to share a home and resources.
If you’re part of a multiple-cat household, here are a few tips for de-stressing everyone’s nine lives!
According to Dr. Sarah Heath, there are three significant changes you can make to harmonize your home. First off, maintain separate feeding, sleeping, and toilet areas. Cats are private creatures, and letting each feline have its own “reserved space” goes a long way toward reducing anxiety levels.
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Next, provide plenty of cat toys so that your moggies can vent their physicality appropriately. If your cat gets plenty of stimulating play and exercise, chances are that pouncing on his brother’s back or face for fun is greatly diminished!
Lastly, consider the use of natural pheromones (that only kitties can smell) to restore the peace. Have you ever used aromatherapy to relax? This is a similar concept, with stress-busting natural pheromones (emitted through a plug-in socket) taking the place of, for example, lavender-scented oils! According to Dr. Heath, the naturally occurring chemicals have the power to reduce stress, helping kitties to feel more safe and secure.
Related: How to Read Your Cat’s Different Moods
What’s the takeaway lesson here? There definitely are ways to try and alleviate the stresses and anxieties that come with feline sibling rivalries. But if you have a single cat, you might want to think twice before getting him or her a kitten to keep it company.
Cats are capable of getting along together like gangbusters, but it generally isn’t in their nature to herd together like dogs and puppies do. Maybe you should ask your cat beforehand if he really wants a little brother or sister?!
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Amazing tips – thank you. We’re a household with multiple rescue cats and having been using a pheramone plug-in diffuser. It seems to really be working!
I know my MIA has anxiety around other cats. That is why we will always be a one cat household. She is fine with the dog, she just ignores him for the most part. Thanks for sharing this so we can help our fur babies live better lives.
I have never owned cats so I wouldn’t have even realised cat anxiety was a thing!! But I have a good friend who has multiple cats so I’m sending her this article ASAP!
Amazing tips – thank you. We’re a household with multiple rescue cats and having been using a pheramone plug-in diffuser. It seems to really be working!
I know my MIA has anxiety around other cats. That is why we will always be a one cat household. She is fine with the dog, she just ignores him for the most part. Thanks for sharing this so we can help our fur babies live better lives.
I could see cats fighting each other just like kids would. Giving them plenty of toys sounds like a good idea.
I have never owned cats so I wouldn’t have even realised cat anxiety was a thing!! But I have a good friend who has multiple cats so I’m sending her this article ASAP!
I could see cats fighting each other just like kids would. Giving them plenty of toys sounds like a good idea.
This can be so hard to deal with if you are unaware. I had a dog with anxiety and overtime we were able to figure it out but it was difficult at first.
I had two cats a few years ago, it took them a bit to get used to each other but it helped that one was a kitten.
I have cute little cat and you have shared great tips. I can easily correlate them with my cat. These are the helpful tips. Thanks for sharing.
This can be so hard to deal with if you are unaware. I had a dog with anxiety and overtime we were able to figure it out but it was difficult at first.
I had two cats a few years ago, it took them a bit to get used to each other but it helped that one was a kitten.
I have cute little cat and you have shared great tips. I can easily correlate them with my cat. These are the helpful tips. Thanks for sharing.
[…] Related: Tips for Spotting Feline Anxiety in Multiple Cat Households […]
Thanks for sharing this. I have 2 dogs at home but this is such helpful info and I definitely need to share it with my friends who have cats.
[…] Related: Tips for Spotting Feline Anxiety in Multiple Cat Households […]
Thank you so much for this information! I have two kitties in my house, with one being recently introduced, and I will definitely have to watch for signs of anxiety.
Thanks for sharing this. I have 2 dogs at home but this is such helpful info and I definitely need to share it with my friends who have cats.
I’ve never owned cats before but it’s nice to know what to do in case we decide to adopt more than one in the future. I think they are more private than other house pets and it’s important to give them the space that they need.
Thank you so much for this information! I have two kitties in my house, with one being recently introduced, and I will definitely have to watch for signs of anxiety.
I’ve never owned cats before but it’s nice to know what to do in case we decide to adopt more than one in the future. I think they are more private than other house pets and it’s important to give them the space that they need.
Our furry friends do need their space. We have just dogs at this time, but that can change at any moment.
Our furry friends do need their space. We have just dogs at this time, but that can change at any moment.
I am not a big fan of pets but I’m sure these tips will be useful….
I am not a big fan of pets but I’m sure these tips will be useful….
We don’t have pets here in our house but I really love all these tips so helpful.
We don’t have pets here in our house but I really love all these tips so helpful.
I guess I never realized that cats can have anxiety too! These are great tips!
I guess I never realized that cats can have anxiety too! These are great tips!
I didn’t know about cats ansiety, really good to know because we planning to have a cat soon. My daughter loves them.
I didn’t know about cats ansiety, really good to know because we planning to have a cat soon. My daughter loves them.
OOkak, I suppose cats can get anxious too. Just never thought about it
OOkak, I suppose cats can get anxious too. Just never thought about it