The Way of Cats

More than half of all cat owners have more than one cat. I think there are many factors that contribute to multiple cat popularity. But there are also some serious considerations that have to enter the equation.

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The most cats I’ve ever had at one time is fifteen, and I regularly averaged ten. But this was not a hoarding situation, where mentally disturbed people accumulate cats with no regard for their well-being. This was simply the natural consequence of my love of cats, having enough room to care for them properly, and also having other people in the house who helped with their care and attention needs. Cats were often rotated out to new homes, and, unfortunately, there were plenty of new cats who needed homes.

This last is a huge factor in how many cats a person winds up with. It’s hard to turn around and not discover a heartbreaking situation that an animal lover is moved to alleviate. Kind hearts lead to full houses.

There are many wonderful reasons to have more than one cat. Once we are already serving food, refreshing water bowls, and scooping litter, adding another cat to the routine does not double our workload, but only increases it by a small increment.

Multiple cats enjoy each other’s company, prevents loneliness and anxieties, and eases our training. We communicate with the cats on the level of the cat who is best at it, since they can easily convey our wishes to the other cats. I find cat interaction to be one of the most fascinating and amusing aspects of cat enjoyment.

So the question of “How many are too many?” has to vary for each person. For people unable or unwilling to commit to a cat’s considerable needs for attention and affection, one is too many. For those who enjoy cats, they can have as many as their resources would allow.

Cats are self-maintaining, have few material needs, and spend two thirds of their life sleeping. This means multiple cats are not nearly as demanding as the uninformed might think. The important part, aside from physical needs, is making sure each cat is getting as much attention as they want.

For some cats, who are cat-oriented and have plenty of recreation opportunities, a daily petting session would suffice. Other cats, who thrive on human interaction and want a close relationship, would need a fairly constant stream of communication and exchange.

In human relationships, it is rare for one person to meet all of another person’s needs. This is also true for cats. A person’s present, only cat, might not be as interested in the kinds of interaction their human wants and needs. They can be slow to trust because of past trauma, low key by nature of their personality, or simply not around as much as the human would like. They could be a reserved cat, and their person wants more cuddling. They could be a high-energy cat, and their person needs a break. This is the cat gap, and there is only one solution: more cats!

If we take care to meet each cat’s needs, (Puffy needs support and understanding, Mr. Bond needs intense interaction and puzzles to solve, RJ needs a lot of affection and attention,) and we are able and willing to commit the proper resources to take care of their health, there isn’t any reason for us to hesitate about adding another cat, if we want one.

The least important factor should be worries about what people might say, or if we are perceived as “that crazy cat person.” Other people are not living our lives, despite any eagerness they might have to tell us how to do so. Have we ever noticed how quickly Other People will announce our likes and desires as somehow off-norm? Is there any sensible reason why we should care?

The world would be a very dull place if each of us were just like everyone else. We should devote considerable time and effort into discovering who we really are, and just what makes us happy and fulfilled. Other people collect non-living things like coins or rocks or celebrity autographs. What’s wrong with a collection of living things, which are capable of returning our attention and devotion?

I don’t see any reason to hesitate about increasing the amount of love in the world. It’s that simple.

How many are too many? It’s easy to tell. If we are making our present cats happy, but don’t think we have the time or room to add one, that one would be too many.

But if we want another cat, that’s probably a sign we can handle another cat. Choose carefully, or at least introduce properly, and we will be expanding our cat civilization. We will have more of something we already like.

I don’t see anything wrong with that.

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Even the most happy and secure cats will seek out hiding places. Perhaps something distressing is going on outside. Maybe a change in the routine has made them want to go off and think. Sometimes it’s simply a desire to have a spot where they can be undisturbed by the usual happenings in the house.

more cat pictures

Cats do “cat nap,” where they keep an ear out for changes in their environment. But for deep sleep, they might want a place where they can shut off their monitors. By lowering their sensory input, they gain serenity and can recharge their mental and physical batteries.

Mr. Bond seeks out the most out-of-the-way places he can find when he needs down time. In a small apartment, that’s not always easy. During a recent closet revamp, my desk and the bookcase behind it got blocked off by boxes. This created Mr. Bond’s latest hiding place.

The closet is getting into shape, and soon this spot will be open and no longer so appealing. Mr. Bond will then seek out another out of the way place where he can feel himself unobserved.

Sometimes, when the cat is not immediately apparent, it’s a good thing to seek them out. So we should learn their favorite hiding places. We aren’t trying to disturb them. We just want to know where they like to be at these times.

If this is a good spot for them, let them know. We can “bless the spot” by speaking quietly to them and then leaving them alone.

It’s good to know their spots.

• When noise or other distressing things are going on, we can reassure them it is nothing to worry about.
• If we have inadvertently startled the cat or stumbled over them, we know where to find them so we can apologize.
• If we suspect the cat is not feeling well, we can locate them to make sure they are getting what they need.

We are only doing it to keep tabs on them and show our care and concern. If we disturb them in their hiding spots too often, they will avoid that spot and find another. So make sure they know why we are seeing them there, and not drag them out or otherwise spoil the spot.

Shy cats have special needs for their security spots. If they are still uncertain about us, don’t go any further than discovering the room they are in. Then sit on the floor, or lie on the furniture, being non-threatening and enjoying ourselves. They will be observing. Seeing us as approachable will help with their socialization.

Different personalities have differing security needs. With RJ, it’s rare. With Puffy, it’s often. But sometimes, like Mr. Bond, it’s just trying something out. He may or may not know how long this spot will be there. But while it’s there, he’s curious about it, in his low key way.

Don’t be hurt when the cat hides. They need their solitude. Once refreshed by their little “room of their own,” they will be ready to rejoin the family.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.