Glossary

Multi-cat household

A home with two or more cats, where enough litter boxes, food stations, perches and hiding spots prevent stress and conflict.

Also called: multi-cat home, living with more than one cat, introducing cats, cat introductions

Cats are often thought of as solitary, but many live happily together, especially related cats or those that grew up together. Others tolerate each other without being close, and some cannot share a home at all. Getting the setup right makes the biggest difference.

Each cat should have its own access to the key resources: food, water, litter boxes, scratching places, resting spots and hiding places. A common guide is one litter box per cat plus one extra, in different rooms. Spread out bowls and perches so a cat can eat and rest in peace, and ensure that no one cat can block the way to a resource.

Introduce a new cat slowly. Keep it in a separate room first, swap bedding to share scent, then allow short supervised meetings through a gate or door crack, and give treats during calm moments. This can take weeks.

Signs of trouble include staring, blocking doorways, hissing, hiding, spraying, a cat that stops using the box or loses weight. Separate them and ask your vet, who can check for illness and refer you to a behaviourist.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Enrichment Giving a cat chances to carry out natural behaviours such as climbing, hunting, scratching, hiding and exploring, so it stays well and busy. Allogrooming One cat licking another, usually around the head and neck, which strengthens bonds between cats that live together. Litter box aversion When a cat that used to use its litter box begins urinating or defecating elsewhere, often because of pain, stress or a dislike of the box. Spraying When a cat stands, backs up to a vertical surface and squirts small amounts of urine to leave a scent message. Redirected aggression A sudden attack on a nearby person or pet by a cat that is highly aroused by something it cannot reach.

Related guides

How adopting from a shelter works What happens from browsing to bringing a cat home, what fees cover, questions to ask, and how to help a shelter cat settle in. How to introduce a new cat to your cat A step-by-step plan for introducing a new cat to a resident cat: separate rooms, scent swaps, first sight, short meetings, and when to slow down. Living with more than one cat How to introduce a new cat, share space and resources, read tension early and keep several cats calm in one home. Signs of stress and anxiety in cats How to spot stress in a cat, from hiding and overgrooming to litter box changes, what usually causes it, how to ease it and when to call a vet.