11 IN ONE ROOM

by Tom
(Arkansas)

We have 15 cats. 11 have to stay apart from the the original four due to incompatibility. We let the 11 into the main part of the house twice daily for 2 hours each time while the other four 'go' to other bedrooms, etc. The 11 stay in a large back bedroom converted into a 'cat' room but is still too small for this many. Ten 'kids' range in age from 11 months to 16 months plus their 2 year mother. Recently we are seeing growing minor aggression as they age. Trying the 'calming' liquids in food,water,etc has had limited success.

Even among the other four we have to even still keep one feluke cat isolated from 2 of the four and the 3rd cat has taken shots which hopefully will prevent him 'catching' anything from his feluke 'buddy'. We are in our early 60's and have a learning disabled daughter who is really good with all the cats but the stress of this many and behavior problems is taking it's toll on all of us.

Does anyone have suggestions as to coping with this in as much that we are unable to build any more room to our home. Thanks

RESPONSE

Tom:

While we can appreciate your desire to keep your cats from fighting, you are probably not going to like our response. There are really only 2 choices - Make more room or keep less cats. The problems will only get worse as the cats age. They don't have enough room!
Cats need room to move, to play, to get away from each other. Keeping 11 confined to a single room is a sure fire way to encourage fighting and aggression, even among siblings. No amount of calming essences will stop it.

Can you put up cat proof fencing in your yard with a pet door so the cats can go in and out? Can you isolate the "4" and allow the 11 the run of the house for the majority of the time?
There should at least be lots of elevated places and cave like places so individual cats can separate themselves from the others a little. There should also be lots of litter boxes of different types and styles so they can feel a little more secure when eliminating.
While not our preference, you can confine them all to individual but roomy cages and allow them out in small groups several times a day for play and attention. In the short term, it may help prevent injuries from fighting. But, all of these suggestions are only short term answers.
The bottom line is, the cats need more room. If more room is not possible, consider adopting them out. Perhaps there is an animal sanctuary that would be willing to take some of them.
I know that is not the answer you wanted to hear but as they age, keeping them confined to such a small territory will become torture for you and them. It may be time to make the hard decisions that, in the long term, will be better for you and the cats.

Donna
House Full Cats Mom