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Know the Facts of Multi-Cat Households
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Nearly one half of cat-owning households (49%) already own two or more cats.
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The average household has 2.1 domesticated cats.
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35.4 million U.S. households own at least one cat. 1
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Regionally, cat owners keep more cats per household in the south (3.2 cats)
than any other region; New England (1.9 cats) and Midwest (2.4 cats). 2
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46 percent of cat owners consider their cats to be members of their family. 2
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Despite community efforts, less than 20 percent of owned cats are adopted from
animal shelters. 1
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More than 75 percent of cats that enter animal shelters will not be adopted. 3
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And the Benefits
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If you are getting a kitten, get two! Multiple cats are just as easy to keep as
one and allow for a smoother transition when cats need to adapt to additional
life changes. 4
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Cats that are raised with other cats are more accepting of newcomers than those
who are raised in social isolation. 4
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Cats living in a one pet household are more likely to cause mischief while left
alone due to the lack of activity and feline companionship. 4
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Felines from a Multi-cat household are less likely to suffer from either
depression or separation anxiety. 4
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Major symptoms of feline separation anxiety syndrome include inappropriate
elimination, destructiveness, and aggression. 4
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Show Your Cat How Much You Care
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Try to provide playful interaction with you cat twice a day! Tempt your cats
with fun toys to avoid inappropriate mischief.
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Stay positive! Encourage good behavior with praise and attention. Correct bad
behavior by providing positive alternatives such as a toy or scratching post.
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If you have more than one cat, make sure to have more than one litter box.
Place the litter box in a relatively quiet spot to provide privacy.
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Let your cat act out its natural predator instincts! The best toys are those
that allow cats to be interactive with jumping and pouncing. (Don’t substitute
a hand or finger as a play object.)
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Provide your cat with a clean, dry place of their own. A cat bed can provide a
private safe haven for your cat to escape to.
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1 American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA)
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2 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook (AVMA)
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3 National Council of Pet Population Study and Policy
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4 Dr. Stefanie Schwartz, Dr. Cookie’s Guide to Living Happily Ever After with
Your Cat |