How to Have Multiple Cats - Providing Good Care for Multiple Cats

1. Feed your cats separately as much as possible. Your cats will have different requirements in terms of how much they should eat and, possibly, what kind of food they need to eat.[17]
- Feed your cats in different rooms, closing the doors for the twenty minutes or so that they need to finish their meals.
- Separate feeding also helps to prevent fights from breaking out between cats at mealtimes.
- Make sure water is freely available throughout your home.

2. Offer plenty of exercise.[18] It’s not always easy for indoor cats to get sufficient exercise to keep them healthy. While your cats might play with each other, you should also make sure that you have provided plenty of opportunities for exercise and fun.
- Give your cats toys, and rotate them so that your cats always have something new to play with. If an older toy has lost favor, put it in a cupboard for a few months and then re-introduce it.
- Play with your cats. Throw lightweight balls or toy mice for them, or dangle strings for them to catch.

3. Get regular veterinary care for all of your cats. Getting routine immunizations and check-ups will ensure that your cats do not spread disease to one another.
- Feline infectious peritonitis can be spread via feces and saliva between cats and is almost always fatal.[19]
- Feline leukemia can be spread by mutual grooming and, less often, through shared litter boxes and food dishes.[20]
- Relatively few diseases can be spread between cats and humans. However, cat scratches and bites can become infected and should be carefully cleaned and monitored for any signs of infection such as prolonged redness, pain, and swelling.[21]

4. Neuter or spay your cats.[22] Without fail, get every single cat you have spayed or neutered. Every year, there are far more kittens born than good homes to take them.
- Spaying and neutering reduces the chance that your cats will mark territory with urine.
- Spaying and neutering also reduces conflicts enormously.

5. Keep toxic plants and chemicals out of your cats’ reach. Ask your vet if you are bringing a plant or cut flowers home and aren't sure if it is toxic to your cats. Keep cleaner and chemicals in a closed cupboard.
- Common plants toxic to cats include lilies, tulip bulbs, chrysanthemums, and amaryllis.
- Signs of poisoning include difficulty breathing, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, drooling, diarrhea, and irregular heartbeat.[23]

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