Step 0: Support a normal stress response

Before environmental adjustments and routine changes can fully help, some cats benefit from reaching a more stable emotional baseline. This can support exploration, flexibility, and the ability to settle as the home setup improves.

Supplements may help support a normal stress response, making it easier for cats to respond to changes in their environment and daily routine.

How supplements may be used

• Daily support: a consistent daily amount to support emotional balance in shared living spaces
• Situational support: a higher amount during transitions such as introductions, moves, or household changes

BSAVA principle:

Emotional regulation & readiness for learning

Step 1: Stop Rehearsing Conflict

Repeated negative encounters make tension between cats harder to resolve. Each chase, cornering event, or confrontation reinforces stress and reduces the chance of calm coexistence. Preventing further conflict is the first priority.

Helpful habits:

• Separate cats if conflict occurs: use separation when chasing, cornering, or repeated confrontations are observed
• Use management tools: doors, baby gates, or time-based separation can help reduce exposure
• Supervise shared spaces: allow contact only when tension is low and manageable
• Avoid “letting them work it out”: repeated exposure increases stress rather than resolving it

This is not avoidance. It is an essential step to protect emotional safety and prevent stress from escalating.

BSAVA principle:

Prevention of escalation & emotional safety — reducing repeated exposure to conflict helps keep emotional arousal below threshold and supports calmer coexistence.

Step 2: Multiply and Separate Resources

Sharing resources forces proximity. In multi-cat households, this can create ongoing pressure and competition, even when cats do not openly fight.

Providing separate, well-distributed resources allows each cat to meet their needs without confrontation.

What to provide

• Food and water stations: give each cat their own feeding areas, placed in different locations
• Litter boxes: provide at least one per cat, plus one extra, and place them in separate areas
• Resting and sleeping spots: ensure each cat has private, undisturbed resting options
• Scratching surfaces: offer multiple scratchers in different parts of the home

Place resources apart rather than side by side, and avoid narrow or easily controlled access points.

BSAVA principle:

Environmental management & resource distribution

Step 3: Increase Space, Choice, and Escape Routes

Cats manage tension primarily by avoiding each other. When space is limited or movement is restricted, conflict is more likely to occur.

Increasing usable space and providing clear escape routes allows cats to share a home without being forced into close contact.

• Vertical space: provide cat trees, shelves, or safe furniture access to increase usable territory
• Clear pathways: ensure cats can pass through rooms without squeezing past each other
• Multiple routes: create more than one entry and exit point to key rooms
• Avoid dead ends: do not place beds, litter boxes, or food in corners where cats can be trapped
  

The goal is to reduce forced interactions and allow cats to regulate distance on their own terms.

BSAVA principle:

Control, choice & spatial management

Step 4: Reduce Visual and Social Pressure

Constant visual contact or forced proximity can increase tension between cats, even when no overt conflict occurs. Reducing visual and social pressure helps lower ongoing stress.

Helpful habits

• Create visual breaks: use furniture, room layout, or partial barriers to reduce constant line-of-sight
• Allow distance choice: let cats choose how close or far they are from one another at all times
• Avoid forced sharing: do not encourage shared resting, feeding, or play areas
• Respect avoidance: allow cats to disengage without interruption

Cats do not need close interaction to live successfully together. Reducing pressure supports calm coexistence.

BSAVA principle:

Reduction of social pressure & choice-based interaction

Step 5: Allow Calm Coexistence (No Interaction Required)

At this stage, the goal is not friendship, play, or shared activities. Success means your cats can exist in the same home — or even the same room — without tension.

What this looks like

• Shared space at a distance: one cat resting on the couch while another sits on a shelf
• Neutral movement: cats passing through the same room at different times without reacting
• Relaxed presence: cats remaining in the same area without staring, chasing, or blocking
  

Nothing happening is success.

What to do

• Allow calm moments: let peaceful situations continue without interruption
• Do not encourage interaction: avoid calling cats together or prompting engagement
• Do not reduce distance: never bring cats closer “to test progress”
• Avoid luring: do not use food, toys, or positioning to create proximity

About rewards

• Rewards are not required: calm coexistence does not need reinforcement
• Use food cautiously if at all: place it quietly, at a distance, and stop immediately if tension appears
  

If tension appears at any point, increase distance, return to earlier steps, and prioritise safety over progress.

BSAVA principle:

Tolerance before interaction

Step 6: Support Calm Recovery After Stressful Moments

Even brief incidents can leave lingering tension between cats. Without adequate recovery time, stress can accumulate and make future interactions more difficult.

Supporting recovery allows emotional arousal to settle before the next shared moment.

Helpful habits

• Temporary separation: allow space after stressful events such as chasing, blocking, or unexpected encounters
• Quiet routines: keep household activity predictable and calm during recovery periods
• Continued access to safe spaces: ensure hiding spots, vertical areas, and escape routes remain available
• No forced reintroduction: allow cats to re-enter shared spaces gradually and voluntarily

Recovery time is part of progress, not a setback.

BSAVA principle:

Recovery & stress regulation

Step 7: When to Seek Additional Help

While many multi-cat households improve with consistent management and time, some situations require professional support.

Please consult your veterinarian if

• Aggression escalates: biting, repeated attacks, or injuries occur
• One cat withdraws: increased hiding, fear, or reduced interaction persists
• Litter box problems develop: changes appear despite proper setup
• Progress stalls: tension remains despite consistent application of the steps
• Safety feels uncertain: at any point for people or cats
  

Some cases benefit from medical assessment or referral to a qualified behavior professional.