Precerpt from Raising Happy Cat Families (Norwood): Harmony
Harmony Is Learned People who visit often comment on how peaceful our cat household is. That didn’t happen by accident. It came from deliberate effort—naming, teaching, signaling, listening, and enforcing just enough boundaries to keep everyone safe and sane. Because here’s the truth: You don’t have to be a cat dictator. But you do have to be the grown-up in the room. Harmony isn’t a passive state—it’s a practice. It’s the quiet choreography of resource placement, tone of voice, and knowing when to intervene and when to let cats sort things out themselves. It’s recognizing that each cat has a different threshold for stimulation, a different rhythm of trust, and a different way of saying “I need space.” Resource Placement by Cat Behavior Where and how you place resources—food, water, beds, litter boxes, scratchers, and toys—depends on the personalities and social habits of your cats. Shy or anxious cats do better with hidden resources in quiet corners or on elevated perch...
