How many cats can I keep together without causing them stress?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Great question. Of course being around other cats no matter what the number is can cause significant stress if the cats don't get along, especially if one constantly torments another one. Cats are very sensitive to this and can suffer very high levels of anxiety and stress hormones but outwardly appear fairly normal. Many health and behavioral problems can develop amongst a population of cats where the relationships are not good. Everyone thinks that all of the cats or all of the dogs will get along, but in reality a significant amount of stress can be involved in certain settings depending upon the animals involved and their interpersonal relationships. Great question. I hope you can resolve what triggered you to ask this question. Good luck with Jessie.

I would not recommend raising 10 cats in one household. Here are a few reasons why: -not all cats will automatically get along together. Is your house big enough to completely separate cats that don't get along? -you will need at least 10 litter boxes. Do you have enough separate spaces so each cat can have privacy when using the box? Do you have time to scoop all 10 boxes 1-2 times per day? -you will need to have several different feeding areas for the cats. I prefer that each cat eat out of its own bowl so that you will know if one cat is ill and not eating as much as normal. -spaying and neutering 10 cats to avoid litters of unwanted kittens can get very expensive. Additional expenses include annual veterinary exams, necessary vaccinations and virus testing, veterinary care for emergencies, veterinary care for routine illness, veterinary care for senior cats or cats with long-term health issues -Some cities will have restrictions on the number of animals living in 1 house. You may have to register as a cattery and even pass inspections to be able to have 10 cats. There are lots of different cat breeds, and getting a purebred cat rather than a Domestic Longhair or Domestic Shorthair (common cat breeds) can be extremely expensive.

Unfortunately it's going to take time. That said, there are a few things you can make sure of to help reduce stress, especially in a four-cat household (which is a lot!). Making sure each cat has their own space where they can eat, drink, play, observe, etc without the other cats bothering them can help reduce territorial disputes over these items. Pheromone collars and plug-ins (Feliway) can also be placed on stressed out individuals, or in shared rooms (since everyone seems to be stressed) to help reduce inter-cat aggression. Making sure to have at least one litter box per cat will also help reduce stress and competition over them, and reduce the chances of accidents elsewhere. Otherwise, continued slow introduction of the cats is best. If anyone starts to get agitated or too excited, removing them to let everyone calm down and settle back in is best. Continued aggression and upset may also need a trainer or veterinary behaviorist's help. That said, if your home is very small, four cats may just be too much for everyone to get comfortable.

The best thing you can do is make sure that each cat has their own private space. You may keep each cat confined to their own room with food, water, and litter box for the first couple of weeks. Once they are used to the new home, you can let one cat out so that they can start to smell each other through the door. After a couple of weeks, you can do supervised time together. Pheromones may help with anxiety: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=40373&cmpid=sc

I would recommend having a plug in in every room, you can use the sprays to spray areas where the cats seem to spend the most time - beds, blankets, hideaways etc. Cats are not typically sociable creatures and tend to prefer to spend time alone rather than with other cats, so ensuring that each cat has plenty of space and areas to retreat to is important. Make sure there are places up high they can escape to and private areas auch as boxes that they can hide in. Ensure there are plenty of litter trays - one per cat, plus an extra one, more if possible and that these are in different areas around the home. Also allow for separate feeding areas so that they are able to go and feed separately when they need to and there is no competition for food.

Yes this is okay. I would try to make that room like a “cat room” if possible by making sure they have plenty of things to climb on and to entertain them. For these types of situations, I have known people who even build heavy duty shelving/walkways on the walls for them to walk on. I would also try to give them some attention for a little more than 10 minutes a day if at all possible. Some cats love affection and other don’t care so the time you spend with them really depends on their personality. At the end of the day, they are probably happier in there than stressing about the dog. Also, just make sure they are continuing to eat and drink normally. I hope this helps!

If your older cats have been together for several years, they probably have their "territories" picked out. It is quite possible that they just don't like each other. Having more than one pet is often like being placed with a roommate that you didn't choose - sometimes it is a great fit and sometimes you can't wait to move out! It is hard for me to tell you if getting new kittens will help or hurt the current situation, as it would just depend on how happy your current cats would be with new, and very young roommates. Kittens like to play, a lot, and often need to be taught the rules of the house. There will likely be a lot of fighting at the start until the kittens grow up a little. There is a possibility that kittens will help the other cats mellow out together, but my gut feeling is that this may not happen. If you do decide to get new kittens, remember that you will need a drastic increase in litter boxes (and feeding stations and water bowls). Veterinary behaviorists recommend 1 more litter box than you have cats, so that means 6 boxes! And they all need to be in different areas of the house to give a sense of privacy. You will also need additional quiet space so that everybody can feel safe in their own area.