MSI Press Blog

  Precerpt (excerpt from prepublication book) from Raising Happy Cat Families by Luna Norwood -- Coming in from the Cold And then there is the situation where a feral cat literally comes in from the cold (often not by request). One moment, they’re out there, surviving in the chaos of open space, and the next—they’re dropped into a world bounded by walls, filled with strange smells, expectations, and no visible escape routes. For a feral cat, this abrupt shift in territory can be deeply shocking. Outdoors, territory is fluid and layered: open air, moving sunlight, shifting alliances, and the constant demands of self-defense. Indoors, by contrast, is static and enclosed. It smells of humans and other cats. Boundaries are suddenly vertical—cat trees, shelves, window sills—not horizontal. Social rules are tighter, proximity is unavoidable, and the absence of hiding places can feel like exposure rather than comfort. Some cats take this change in stride. Many do not. While some cats thr...

  How many litter boxes should you have? Now, that is an interesting question. The general advice floating around—from cat professionals to the cat-loving masses—is one more litter box than the number of cats you have. That means if you’ve got three cats, you should have four boxes. Five cats? Six boxes. But let’s be real—when you’re living in a multi-cat household, that rule starts to sound less like practical advice and more like a logistical nightmare. If you’ve got a big cat family, are you really supposed to turn half your house into a feline bathroom? Probably not. So, how do you balance feline bathroom etiquette with the realities of space and household harmony? The “One More Than the Cats” Rule: Why It Exists This guideline isn’t just about forcing humans to find space for an ever-growing collection of litter boxes. It’s based on some solid feline logic: Territory & Privacy: Cats can be picky, and some don’t like sharing litter space, especially in a household wit...

  Bear (in litter robot) and Moo (following him in) 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 th...