Greenbriar Animal Hospital

Do you have a cat who doesn’t always get along with your other cats, and/or a cat who doesn’t always use a litter box? Or a nervous cat, who rarely seems settled, calm, or relaxed? These are often symptoms of stress. You may read this handout and say “I don’t do any of these things and my cats get along OK!” But do they really? Try our suggestions for 30 days and see how much difference it can make! Especially if you plan to add another cat to your household, as these tips can make the transition much easier.

Major tips for providing your cat(s) needs:

Cats need their own resources. When you have multi-cat households, lots of choices are the key to happy feline family life! Resources need to be physically separated; it is best if they are in different rooms. At the least they be more than several feet apart (out of sight of one another). These are the four primary resources for cats:

Food bowls:Even if cats often or occasionally share food bowls, you should have at least one food bowl per cat, and the bowls should be out of sight of each other. This way cats can choose to eat when and where they want to, without other cats bullying them. Divide up the total ration between the bowls.

Water sources:at least one per cat. Offer your cats multiple water sources and they’ll be both healthier and happier! Consider a cat water fountain as one source. Water sources are best positioned away from food bowls.

Litter boxes:A common issue in many cat households. Have one litter box per cat OR one litter box per floor of your home, whichever is more. Locate your boxes in separate areas in different rooms. It is best if they are large, not covered, and in bright, easy-to-get-to areas. Also, they should be in low-noise, calm areas (not in the laundry room or next to the door the kids go in and out of all day long). See “Litter Box Tips” for more details.

Perches:The last of the important cat resources. Cats live in vertical as well as horizontal mode – they need to be able to go up and down. Perches, in various rooms and at various heights, are vital! You should have at least 2 or 3 perches per cat. They can be easy and inexpensive to create (see below).

Miscellaneous helpful things to know about supplying
resources for your cat(s):

Make perches out of an 18” section of a sturdy shelf, cleared off and with a folded towel or cat bed on it. If you have several shelves or bookcases, do this at different heights and stagger the locations. Or add window shelves, easily attached or mounted at or just below a window so the cat(s) can look out. Or make a pyramid of boxes or milk crates, covered with a blanket or throw. Tape them d together so they don’t fall when cats jump on or off, or fasten them to the wall or to furniture. Add a carpeted cat shelf or two, mounted on the walls at various heights (they should be roughly 18” long and 10” deep). You can also purchase ready-made perches – Google “cat furniture”. A single large piece of cat furniture does count as one set of 2-3 perches, but you will need more than this unless you only have one cat.

Cats tend to drink more if at least one of their water sources is a wide, flat dish (like a saucer or plate). As far as litter boxes go, don’t use mechanized boxes and use the largest uncovered boxes you can fit in your home. If you need more places for litter boxes, consider a piece of furniture that has a box inside. If it is large and light inside (you may have to paint the inside white), this is OK for most cats. Scoop litter boxes daily.