Sharing a home with cats works best when each cat has safe places to rest and hide, room to observe or retreat, and easy access to essential resources. Set up the space around your cat’s needs, give new pets time to adjust, and treat changes in behaviour as a reason to pay attention—not as a diagnosis.
1. Give your cat a quiet place to hide and rest
Choose a calm spot where your cat can sleep or retreat without being disturbed. A bed in a busy communal area may be less useful than a peaceful corner, and a cardboard box can provide a simple hiding place. Keep food and sleeping areas away from household bustle where possible. Cats Protection recommends quiet spaces and hiding options that let cats maintain some distance from activity.
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Let your cat use a retreat undisturbed. This matters especially in homes with children: teach them not to follow, pick up, or reach into a hiding place when the cat has chosen to rest.
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2. Add safe vertical space
Elevated spots let cats observe household activity while keeping some distance. A stable cat tree or securely installed shelving can provide places to perch, rest, and retreat; Cats Protection includes vertical height among the features of a suitable home environment in its Behaviour Guide 2025.
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Choose locations and furniture the cat can reach and leave safely. In a busy family home, an elevated resting place can offer a quieter alternative to floor-level traffic, but it should not be positioned where the cat could be trapped or forced to jump down unsafely.
3. Make litter boxes accessible and well placed
Put litter boxes in accessible, low-traffic locations where a cat is not likely to feel cornered or intimidated. Keep them away from food and water. In a multi-level home, provide a box on each floor; when addressing litter-box problems, the ASPCA advises one box per cat plus one extra. These are placement and quantity guidelines, not a substitute for investigating why a cat avoids the box.
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If your cat stops using the litter box, ask a veterinarian to rule out a medical cause. The ASPCA’s guidance on litter-box problems emphasizes that health issues can contribute to toileting changes.
4. Provide scratching, play, and feeding enrichment
Scratching is a normal cat behaviour, so provide a sturdy scratching post rather than expecting a cat to go without an appropriate outlet. Notice where and how your cat likes to scratch, and make a suitable resource available nearby. A post is helpful, but it cannot guarantee that a cat will never scratch elsewhere.
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Offer activities that match the individual cat’s interests. Interactive play, food-based enrichment, and safe household materials such as boxes can add variety and opportunities to explore. The ASPCA describes ideas in its DIY enrichment guidance, while Cats Protection’s guide covers play and other environmental features that support natural behaviours. Enrichment should be safe and suited to your cat, not simply added in the hope of stopping every unwanted behaviour.
5. Spread resources around multi-cat homes and introduce pets gradually
In a home with more than one cat, make key resources available in multiple locations: food, water, litter trays, resting places, and hiding spots. A single shared location can make access harder if one cat blocks or intimidates another. Cats do not all want close relationships with other cats, so allow them space and choice rather than expecting them to share every resource or become friends.
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When bringing home a cat or moving
Start a newly arrived or relocated cat in a quiet home-base room with familiar toys, food, water, treats, and a litter box. Allow access to the rest of the home gradually as the cat becomes comfortable. The ASPCA’s moving guidance also recommends pet-proofing, including checking cords, windows, poisonous plants, and leftover pest-control traps.
When introducing cats or dogs
For cats meeting cats, use a separate safe room and scent exchange, and do not rush the process. Cats Protection’s 2022 introduction leaflet notes that some cats may never become friends even after careful introductions. If an introduction goes badly, separate the animals and seek veterinary or suitably qualified behaviour support.
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For cats meeting dogs, use gradual, controlled stages. Keep an escape route available to the cat and keep the cat’s food and litter beyond the dog’s reach. If either animal reacts significantly, do not move to the next stage; seek veterinary or behaviour support. See Cats Protection’s guidance on cats and dogs or other pets.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Notice behaviour changes and get help when needed
Eating less, avoiding interaction, scratching, or spraying can be signs of stress, but they do not identify its cause. Cats Protection’s guide to spotting stress describes these as possible signs, not a diagnosis. Look at the context and whether the change persists, but do not assume that a home adjustment alone will resolve it.
Contact a veterinarian about persistent or concerning changes, or whenever your cat may be unwell. A veterinarian can assess possible medical causes; a qualified behaviour professional may also help when the problem involves the home environment or relationships between animals.
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