Dealing with many kitties at home means being courageous enough to tackle multiple risks. Watching many wiggly fluffy furballs all over the place can be a treat to your eyes; however, the fun can quickly transition to petty quarrels and serious fights before you even realize what happened.
Every cat has a unique personality, so in a multi-cat household you must pay attention to every cat’s antics and more during group activities and playtime. Aggression must not be tolerated in any case, and you should make sure all your cats are safe despite the presence of some notorious cats inside the house.
Also, consider being prepared with cat insurance in NZ. With so many unpredictable creatures’ health to be taken care of, you can be easily financially burdened without kitten insurance during unanticipated health scenarios and emergencies.
Contemplate purchasing a pet policy to cover your cat army. In the meantime, read on to learn how to do damage control during the tyrannical reign of a ruthless kitty.
- Intervene as soon as you notice an altercation developing in the house.
- Survey the environment and work towards reducing aggression-inducing scenarios and provocations. (For instance, add more water bowls if there is no one bowl for each cat, don’t place food or water bowls too close, provide private hangouts for each cat, etc.)
- Give cues to other cats about the aggressive cat’s arrival. It could be a hand gesture, ringing a bell, or playing out a sound bite to alert the rest of the cats sharing a space.
- Offer high-value food, treats, and toys to all cats when they are together to promote positive associations.
- Pick the aggressive cat and allow it to spend time in a quiet place equipped with basic cat supplies, including food, water, a litter box, toys, treats, and a plush bed. Reintroduce the aggressive cat into a social situation only after it has calmed down.
- Monitor your feline fur babies’ interactions. Allow them to mingle only during multiple brief periods. Separate them right away if you notice misunderstandings or heated discussions brewing.
- Feed each cat in a different place; if the catfights are about who eats food first. Let each cat have its food bowl because sharing can cause a lot of unwanted troubles.
- Provide one litter box for each cat and maybe two or three extra outdoors. Consider keeping the boxes uncovered so a kitty can be prepared for sudden attacks by the cat brethren when it is busy doing its business in the box.
- Don’t discriminate; love all your cats equally. Allocate time to bond with every cat so no cat feels abandoned.
- Consider spaying or neutering the aggressive cat. These procedures can help lower its aggression.
- Many times, boredom and frustration can make cats act in unfavorable ways. Provide opportunities for exercise and enrichment to satisfy the aggressive cat’s physical and mental needs.
- Check if it is a territorial dispute or aggression due to provocation and take appropriate steps to resolve the matter.
- Don’t punish your cat even when it shows unacceptable behavior. For instance, don’t use whips, spray bottles, or other things to control the situation; using them can only build more fear and fury in your already stressed cat.
Learning to distinguish pure aggression, behavioral issues, or discomfort due to a physical condition is necessary to find a workable solution. Meet your vet for diagnosis and treatment.
Cat insurance NZ covers a furball’s medical care during accidents, injuries, sickness, dental, and emergencies, depending on the level of cover chosen. Kitten insurance minimizes your financial stress during unexpected vet visits, so why not consider buying a policy?
