Girl Relaxing on the Couch with Cats

About this drawing

A girl with three cats could tell you that each one has its own personality. Cats have a reputation for being loners, but many of them do fine in company. Outdoors, related females often live in colonies and even help look after one another's kittens.

Friendly cats have plenty of ways of showing it. They sleep in a pile, lick each other's heads, and walk up with their tails in the air to say hello. They also rub their cheeks together. That spreads a shared scent around the group, sort of like wearing the same team jersey.

Still, a home with several cats takes some planning. Cats do not like to compete, so each one needs its own bed, bowl and hideout. A good rule is one litter box for every cat, plus one extra, placed in different rooms. High shelves help too, because cats can use them to share a room without getting in each other's way.

Adding a new cat should be a slow process. It starts with a separate room, then trading blankets so each pet learns the other's smell, then short visits. Rushing can lead to hissing and hurt feelings that last a long time. With patience, though, many cats end up as real pals, and a family couch can become the most popular napping spot around.

• girl
• cats
• couch
• pets