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Once we have more than one cat, we have Cat Town. As every Western movie fan knows, towns need someone to maintain order and keep the peace.

As humans, we have the power, the knowledge, and the motivation to make sure every cat gets what they need. Sometimes, what they need is for us to step in and make sure they are treated with fairness and consideration by the other cats.

We are the Boss of Cat Town.

Proper policing is as much a matter of avoiding disputes as it is dealing with them when they appear. If we don't allow a particular cat to hog the food or drive other cats away from prime spots, we won't have to deal with the other cats stress over having their food and nap spots being a source of anxiety, instead of being a source of pleasure.

This will encourage the obnoxious cat to create new behaviors to get what they want. This will reassure the timid cats that they are equally important, and has a nice side benefit of helping them hold their own.

Timid cats truly benefit from their people backing them up. We can't "leave it up to the cats" because this will create imbalances in the cat's relationships. Timid ones will be better able to assert themselves if they feel this is what we want them to do. Leaving them alone to fight their own battles will not build their character; it will make them think we want them to be bullied, so they will be more likely to give in.

Reminding the more assertive cats that we want them to get along will encourage them not to throw their weight around. They want to please us; our ignoring the bullying will just let them feel bullying is something we don't mind. And, after all, we do mind.

We don't need to be bullies ourselves to accomplish our goals. Putting the offending cat into a time out, making them eat alone in a room, or moving them out of a spot we know they've nudged another cat out of to get; these are all ways we can make our wishes known without being mean or frightening. Cats will respond to appeals to their better nature, once they know what is expected of them.

We can also avoid conflict by making sure there is enough for everyone. Separate dishes and separate spaces at mealtime won't let anyone feel threatened. Widen out preferred spots so everyone can enjoy them if they share. Make the effort to draw in quiet ones during playtime, or make sure we include them before playtime is over.

This is how everyone feels treasured, and in turn, affectionate.

This is how we make a Happy Town.

Learn more about this author, Pamela Merritt.
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