Living with Other Cats

When allowed to roam freely, cats stake out their own territory. It is estimated that on North American and European farms there are about 12 cats per square mile.

The densest population of free-living cats ever investigated, centered around a Japanese fish-processing plant, where the area contained the equivalent of 5,000 cats per square mile.

But this is still less crowded than two cats sharing an average human home. As comfortable as it may appear to be, living indoors with us is unusual, and crowded if it is a multiple-cat household.

What we think of as problems are bound to occur. If two outdoor cats do not like each other, one bullies the other until it leaves. When cats are locked in our homes, this simple solution becomes impossible.

One potential outcome is not only tension between the individuals but also behavior such as urine marking and increased irritability, sometimes directed at the humans of the household. If you plan to be a multiple-cat household, acquire two kittens at the same time.

If your cat has kittens, keeping one is also a simple way to increase the resident cat population with a minimal risk of serious cat fights. However, it must still be recognized that feline family disputes are not an uncommon occurrence.