Precerpt: Raising Happy Cat Families (Norwood) - Conquering the Toileting Issues
Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication) from Raising Happy Cat families by Luna Norwood.
Welcoming a new cat into an already thriving feline community can feel
like adding a wildcard to an otherwise predictable deck. And if there's one
thing that can cause drama in the kitty kingdom, it's litter box politics.
So, should the new cat get their own litter box? Yes! (At least at
first.)
Why a Separate Box Matters in the Beginning
- Territorial
Security: Cats are big on personal space, and introducing a newcomer
straight into the communal litter box can trigger territorial disputes.
The new cat deserves their own spot to settle in, build confidence, and
avoid unnecessary confrontations.
- Familiar Scent
Integration: Instead of a brand-new litter box, consider using one that
belongs to the existing cats. This helps the new cat absorb the household
scent while still having the comfort of their own safe zone. It’s like
giving them a cheat sheet to the house rules without throwing them
straight into the deep end.
- Health &
Hygiene: Stress can lead to litter box avoidance, and sudden changes in
environment may bring about accidents. Providing an individual box at
first helps monitor habits and ensure there are no underlying health
concerns.
What Happens When the Newcomer Joins the Herd?
Once the new cat is out of isolation and mingling with the crew, things
can get trickier. In a big cat family, keeping multiple litter boxes might be
unrealistic—especially if space is tight. Here’s why transitioning to shared
boxes might be the best move:
- Cats Learn from
Each Other: When the newbie sees how the resident cats confidently handle
their bathroom business, they pick up on habits quickly.
- The Great Space
Crunch: Unless you live in a sprawling mansion with ample bathroom real
estate, accommodating individual boxes for everyone might not be feasible.
- Natural
Adjustment: Cats are incredibly adaptable. Once they’re comfortable with
their new family, many will adjust to a shared litter system, choosing
favorite spots based on scent preferences and convenience.
The Tale of Bear & Moo: Brotherly Bond
And then there’s the beautiful exception—the kind of story that makes you
love cats even more.
When tiny kitten Moo (or affectionally, Moo Cow), so named because he had
and still has the coloring of a Holstein cow, was brought in by a rescuer after
being deemed "unadoptable," the universe had other plans. Bear, the
resident big boy, who happened to be in the cat room, which we planned to use
for separating Moo from the other cats, adopted him immediately. So, Bear stayed
with Moo during the period of isolation.
Not only did Bear take Moo under his paw, but he also helped him overcome
one of his biggest hurdles: the litter box. Moo had struggled with litter box
issues at the shelter, which contributed to him being cast out as
“unadoptable.” But Bear, ever the patient and wise mentor, led Moo into the
litter robot in the cat room and showed him how it’s done. Like a gentle
teacher, Bear demonstrated the process, giving Moo the confidence to figure
things out. Over time, Moo learned that while buddying up was great at first,
privacy was also a thing. And so, he eventually let Bear have his space,
developing his own litter box preferences along the way.
Cats have an incredible way of working things out, sometimes better than
we expect. If you’re integrating a new cat, start with their own litter box
(preferably one with familiar scents), but don’t stress about keeping it
separate forever. Cats adjust, rules evolve, and sometimes, a surprising
friendship might just take care of all the potty-training worries. Because
let’s be real—sometimes it takes a Bear to teach a Cow (a Moo Cow, that is).
Learn more about cats. See our many Caturday posts.
Be entertained. See all our posts about cats.
Be inspired. See posts by and about Sula, parish cat, and her books.
Have a chuckle. Read posts by and about Jeremy Feig's award-winning book (book of the year finalist, Kops-Fetherling Lagacy Award for Humor), How My Cat Made Me a Better Man.
Watch for Luna Norwood's forthcoming book, Raising Happy Cat Families.
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