Cat Vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat

Yeah, yeah, you think you have a handle on this stuff until you get that one last cat who throws your whole house into chaos. Ask me how I know this. Still, some fascinating stuff on cat body language at the beginning, and mostly good advice on introducing new cats to the household. Until you get that one superfreak cat, and then all bets are off. Harriet, I'm looking at you.

The title is a bit misleading. As a general guide for cat ownership and behavior, this is a fine book. But I didn't get as much info as I'd have liked about helping multiple kitties coexist peacefully. Also, sometimes I felt like this book was one big advertisement for Feliway (which we've tried, but doesn't seem to work) and other commercial cat products.

This book made me see my cats in a new light. I originally picked it up because our first cat (Shadow) has never accepted our second cat (Parker), and it's not a passive kind of rejection unfortunately. Shadow was relentless in attacking Parker, and Parker could never relax while both cats were out and about in the house. We were planning a move, so I picked this book up thinking we could take advantage of the change in territory to give the cats a fresh start, and I'm very glad I read it. Every person with a cat in their family should read this! I actually developed more respect for their cat-ness because of this book.

While we're not quite doing everything the author suggests (it's a struggle to fit in just one interactive play session show more on weekdays let alone multiple), we're still learning. We plan to get a cat tree to increase vertical territory and maybe some nice window perches since our new home doesn't have windowsills wide enough to sit on.

The good news is that the new home has served as a more neutral territory, and I think our daily play sessions have helped stimulate both kitties so they're not so anxious. We haven't had any fights in the new home, and I'm crossing my fingers that it'll stay that way! show less

This cat behavior book focuses on the special problems that can arise when you have a multi cat household. Cats adapt to living together despite not being pack animals, but they do have a hierarchical social structure that is invisible to many humans. Awareness of this structure, and the various cats’ places in the structure, helps immensely in keeping things peaceful. While knowing general cat behavior modification techniques is necessary when you have multiple cats, knowing the signs of dominance and stress, and how to recognize the cats’ territories within your house, is not something addressed in most cat behavior books. This book emphasizes making sure that each cat is secure in their territory, whether they are the top cat or show more the bottom, and how to keep common areas peaceful. I’m looking at our house differently now! show less

Lots of good advice that has been useful as I introduce a new cat into my home. However, the book didn't address all of the situations that arose, or provide much guidance for dealing with some situations. The author assumes that the new cat will be shy and timid in a new environment, but my new cat (being a young kitten) is totally fearless and wants to explore the whole house. Johnson-Bennett didn't address what to do if your new cat (who is supposed to be in a sanctuary room until the previous cats get used to its presence) yowls and cries and scratches at the door all the time (which has really upset my previous cat). Also, she constantly recommends some very expensive toys and products, and I wish she would discuss cheaper show more alternatives, or at least not make her reader feel like a bad owner for not spending $300 on a nice cat tree.

Despite these complaints, though, Johnson-Bennett's advice has been very useful in integrating a new cat into my household! show less

This is a great companion to Ms. Johnson-Bennett's Think Like a Cat. Cat vs. Cat adds to the cat owner's understanding of cat behavior by explaining how cats relate to each other. This helps tremendously when you have more than one cat living in your home.

My husband and I have five cats who get along quite well. Cat vs. Cat has helped us understand our cats' hierarchy and their schedule, and allows us to respect and appreciate them.

One thing I love about Ms. Johnson-Bennett's books is that she expects cat owners to dedicate some time to their pets each day. It's why we have pets in the first place - for companionship - and she makes a great case for the good it does the human and the cat.

I highly recommend Think Like a Cat for anyone show more who has a cat, and if you have more than one cat, this book is a great next step. The writing is clear and entertaining, the examples are easy to relate to, and the advice is terrific. show less

An absolute must-read for any cat owner! I've had cats all my life but this book has taught me how to truly understand them. This book covers many helpful tips, from reading your cats body language to offering solutions to any problems that may arise in your home. Not just solutions, but insight into why your cat behaves the way they do.