ATTENTION * CONTENT UNDER REVISION * ATTENTION
This article is currently being revised with regard to the vocabulary used. The advice given can be applied without any problem. Only certain very specific notions need to be reviewed throughout the site, such as territories (we prefer to talk about environment), marking, pheromones and other specific concepts that have recently been the subject of studies.
We’ve received many questions about the high-profile case of Mrs. Doucet, the Saint-Eustache woman who cares for 19 elderly cats and is being forced by her city to get rid of them. Éduchateur was not consulted on this case, and we don’t know the details. So we’re going to cover the issue in general, and only from the behavioral point of view, i.e. whether it’s possible for 19 cats to cohabit and be happy together. We’ll also look at the related problem of feline overpopulation, which is very close to our hearts.
The cat is a social animal AND a “solitary hunter”. It therefore has no need to be with other cats, and will normally prefer to live alone. This answers the question: “Should I adopt another cat to keep my cat from getting bored? The answer is no, because just as there are some people with whom we become friends and others who “get on our nerves”, so it is with cats. Compatibility of character between cats is not guaranteed. So don’t adopt a cat for this reason.
Nevertheless, colonies of cats form spontaneously in the wild, and dozens of cats can voluntarily associate when resources are in sufficient supply. It is therefore possible for a cat to live with several other cats, be perfectly happy and even benefit each individual. This does not mean, however, that this model is easily transposed when cats are confined to a restricted space such as a house. The space must be suitable for the cohabitation of several cats. The number of high surfaces, places to hide, the division of rooms, the number of resource points (litter boxes, food bowls, etc.) are all very important aspects. In a normal home, fitted out with a minimum of things for cats (a good number of litter boxes, a cat tree, interactive bowls), our experience shows that problems of cohabitation between cats often start when the 4th or 5th cat is introduced, and grow exponentially with each additional cat. That’s why Éduchateur advises not to exceed 4 to 5 cats in a household.
That said, in the case of this lady from Saint-Eustache who has 19 cats, as in the case of many shelters, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, we need to determine whether these cats are better off staying with this lady who has spayed or neutered them, rather than living outside, in her neighborhood, contributing to cat overpopulation and facing the dangers in the area. Individual compatibility also plays a major role. According to our information, the cats here are all very old and seem to have been living together for a very long time. We’d have to visit the lady, see the environmental enrichment and evaluate each cat to see if this group forms a homogeneous one, but if so, these 19 cats could very well live together and be happy. The next step is to determine this lady’s ability to care for so many cats, both financially and in terms of the time required. We know some animal lovers who manage to do this, but it has to be said that those who do it without reproach and whose cats don’t suffer are exceedingly rare.
Finally, obtaining a permit from MAPAQ to own so many cats (which includes all the health standards to be met), having the premises inspected regularly and complying with municipal by-laws in a way that respects the neighborhood are all criteria to be considered. Obtaining a permit from MAPAQ is no mean feat, so if you’re successful, it’s probably because you respect the above-mentioned points.
Éduchateur believes that municipalities have a major role to play in controlling cat overpopulation. Their citizens are the cause of the problem. Very few municipalities take the time to properly inform themselves and take an interest in this growing problem. We believe that if a municipality can find people among its citizens who are willing and financially able to contribute to solving this problem, and that they do so within the rules established by MAPAQ, that they show no symptoms of hoarding and that they ensure that the cats live in an enriched and adequate environment, then these municipalities should work with them rather than waste money on lawsuits, money that would be much better invested on the real problem. to sterilize stray cats and put an end to the problem at source.
Daniel Filion
President, Éduchateur inc. – Cat behaviorists.