My bf and I care for over 20 feral cat colonies a day (around 143 cats) and what I see in the colonies is much more peaceful than what is going on in my packed condo. I do see some scuffles perhaps at larger colonies or those in problematic spots, but most cohabitate pretty well though their preference would be to each have their own feeding dish or pile of food which is not always possible. That's mainly when we see scuffles, or if an unneutered male shows up (until they are done).
Of course once they finish eating, they've got all the room in the world to spread out and ignore each other if desired so that is probably the key. My place is a battle zone but it's definitely an issue of too little space. On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 1:14 PM, Bonnie Hogue <[email protected]> wrote: > Wow, Lorrie, good for you for taking in 14 felines! > I often wonder how these "cat colonies" one reads about manage, for I've > never seen a totally peaceful group. In my experience, "everyone finds > their spot" where they are comfortable and secure, then that's it. One > furry body out of place and the whole bunch get in a tizzy. But, as I told > my little clan this morning while it was pouring rain outside, "At least you > guys are warm, dry, safe and don't have to hunt for your next meal." So it > beats the alternative! > ~Bonnie > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lorrie" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 8:11 AM > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats not getting along > > > > None of my cats sleep together either. They are affectionate with me, >> but not each other. They either ignore each other or have hiss, spit, >> yowling arguments along with a few well placed swats at each other. >> >> I wonder if this is because all 14 of my cats were rescues who all >> arrived here at different times. None of them were kittens who grew >> up together, tho some were kittens when I took them in. The kittens >> are accepted better by the others, and the most difficult cats to >> introduce are grown males who remain a threat to my other males even >> tho they've been neutered immediately. Our house is large, and they >> have plenty of room, toys, climbing trees, cat condos as well as port >> holes to three outside enclosures. You'd think this would make them >> happy, but the tension in our household is ongoing, unless all 14 >> happen to be sleeping at the same time :-( >> >> Lorrie >> >> On 12-15, Bonnie Hogue wrote: >>> Beverly >>> Oh, how I long for a home like yours! I agree about the intro, and >>> I've tried to "do it right" with everyone. The most recent one was >>> Lucky, and he's doing well and seems accepted by all. But there are >>> tensions, especially between Stormy and the other girl, Miya Chan >>> (she's a rehabilitated feral). I think boy cats are mellower, more >>> accepting. I would love to see everyone curled up together on the >>> couch or my bed, or playing together. Sigh. Thanks for another >>> perspective! Bonnie >>> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beverly >>> >>> >Hi Bonnie, >>> > >>> >I must beg to differ that most cats prefer to be the only! I have >>> >five male cats (aged fifteen years to six months) in our small >>> >apartment and they are all best buds. They rumble and tumble and >>> >play, and curl up and sleep together when they get tired. I don't >>> >think any of them would do well as an only cat. Most of my >>> >friends and family also have multiple cats that are great friends. >>> > >>> >It's all about the introduction - a slow, careful introduction of >>> >a new cat to the resident cats can lead to a very happy >>> >relationship. >>> > >>> >Just my two cents. >>> > >>> >Beverly >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > [email protected] > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
