How to help cats get along

If you have more than one cat, it's worth watching how they get on. Cats have individual personalities: some are bold, others shy or laid-back. When cats with different personalities share a home, there may be clashes, and knowing how to respond helps.

Playing or fighting?

Cats sometimes roll around, chase and swat each other in a way that looks like fighting but is really play. It's very common in kittens but can happen in older cats too. As long as they are not hurt, and both cats seem happy to carry on, there's no need to stop them.

Cats that are still getting to know each other may play-fight in the same way as they work out their relationship.

In a real fight, you'll see teeth and claws, and hear growling, hissing and yowling. If you need to stop a fight, don't get in the middle or try to pull the cats apart, as you could be badly scratched. A loud clap or stamping your feet can distract them. Never hit a cat: it won't solve the problem and your cat will learn to distrust you.

How to introduce a new cat

A common reason cats don't get along is that one isn't comfortable with a newcomer. Putting them together straight away is rarely a good idea.

1. Give the new cat its own room. Choose a quiet room with a door, away from your other cat, with everything the new cat needs.
2. Swap scents. Give each cat a clean towel or blanket to sleep on. Once it smells of them, swap them over so each cat gets used to the other's scent. You can do this twice a day.
3. Swap spaces. When one cat is out of its room, let the other cat explore it, so they get familiar with each other's scent.
4. Let them see each other. After about a week, let them see each other at a distance, for example with each in a carrier facing the other a few metres apart. Some growling or hissing is normal. Move them closer over a few days as they relax.
5. Supervised meetings. When they're calm at a short distance, let them meet with someone in the room. If it goes badly, go back a step and take it more slowly.

Things that help cats share a home

• Give each cat their own food and water bowls, litter tray, bed and hiding places, in separate spots, plus one extra litter tray.
• Provide high perches and places to hide, so each cat can get away.
• Be careful with catnip, which can make some cats more excitable or aggressive.
• Use toys to keep cats busy and give them an outlet for energy.
• Spend time playing with each cat, and give each one a treat.
• A large cardboard box with both ends cut open makes a tunnel many cats enjoy.
• Try to give each cat a fair share of your attention.
• When you're away, ask someone to check on your cats unless you're confident they get on well.
• Plug-in diffusers that release a synthetic copy of a calming cat pheromone may help some cats.

Getting professional help

If you've tried everything and your cats still don't get on, ask your vet to rule out pain or illness, then for a referral to a qualified behaviourist, such as one registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). Some individual cats are harder to manage and need expert help.

Some cats will never live together happily. Stress and tension are bad for their health, so rather than forcing them together, give each cat their own space in the home. If things improve over time, you can try reintroducing them gradually.