The social behaviour of cats is a subject that is still surrounded by misunderstandings. Let’s see what we currently know about cats living together and what it means for our pet cats.
Alone or not alone?
Simply put, the domestic cat is descended from the African wild cat (Felis Sylvestris Lybica) and is therefore originally solitary. Since the time of the Egyptians, the cat has slowly developed from a solitary cat to a group animal. This development however is not yet completed and therefore there are still big individual differences in the social behaviour of domestic cats. Some cats prefer to be alone, others can’t live without a buddy.
Social by choice
It is important to realize that a cat is not ‘compulsorily social’, like people, primates, whales, or other group animals. A cat is social by choice because in principle it can survive on its own.
Stray and/or farm cats often live in groups. These gather around a food source and usually also fall apart again when that food source disappears or is insufficient.
I’m off…..
Should you think that cats can therefore automatically live harmoniously in groups indoors, keep in mind that these cats have a free choice. They have lots of space and can keep their distance whenever they like. If they don’t like the group, they walk away and go their own way. Domestic cats do not have these possibilities.
Matri-eh-what?
So what does living together in groups look like? You may be familiar with the term ‘matriarchy’ for cats. That is not quite correct, because according to some definitions ‘matriarchy’ means that there is a woman at the head of a group or tribe. Think of the oldest elephant female who leads the whole herd. As a solitary animal, a cat has no hierarchy or leadership. Rather, there is a matrilineal society, in which the female line is important.
Grannies and aunts
Stray cats live in groups of related animals. Mothers allow their daughters and granddaughters to stay. Sisters, aunts, they are all welcome in one big ‘happy family’ where the animals take care of each other. Queens help each other in giving birth and they suckle each other’s kittens. They defend each other against too obtrusive males and other intruders.
Only when a group gets too big, do animals leave to start a new group elsewhere.
Hanging out
Males are tolerated within the group until they are about four months old, and then they are put out on the streets without mercy. Clever protection against inbreeding!
These males often form a group again, hanging out together until they are socially mature (somewhere between 2 and 4 years old). Then they start looking for females to mate with and challenge other males in the area.
Cats living together
So it is very natural for a cat to live with cats of the same sex. That is why it is strange that some people advise that it is better to add a cat of another sex when you are looking for a new friend for your pet. It just does not fit in with natural behaviour. I know many all-male or all-female groups that live together harmoniously. It often goes wrong when a cat of the other sex is added to such a group.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule!
Cats in space
I mentioned above that cats do need a lot of space so that they can do their own thing. That is why advice on cat-friendly homes is so focused on hiding places and working up high. The more space, the less chance of stress between the cats.
Cats also like to divide space among themselves, we call this time-sharing. One cat feels comfortable on the upper floor, the other may want to sit on the window sill in the living room in the morning.
Cats living together: tips
Even if you do not have a lot of space, these tips can help your cats to live together:
- Think carefully about whether adding a cat is such a good idea
- Choose a new cat very carefully
- Don’t make groups of cats too big
- Distribute food, drinks, litter trays, scratching possibilities, and sleeping baskets as well as possible throughout the house.
- Do not force cats to eat next to each other
- Preferably do not lock cats up together in one room (e.g. for the night)
Photo: dimitrisvetsikas @ Pixabay