Cat Sociology- Cat Pecking Orders

Just like in the cat litter and cat food commmercials, cats in "multiple cat households" develop a pecking order. It's usually based on who was there first, but physical size differences may enter into play.

In February 2003, our household consisted of my husband and myself, and our dog and cat, Stardust. I had lost my beloved cat Raven, whom I'd had since her birth and continuing for the nine years of her life, a few months before. Her premature demise, from suspected poisoning, left a hole in my heart that Stardust couldn't fill. Stardust was, and still is, a "Daddy's girl". I was ready for a kitten, black like my Raven was, who would love me and sit on my lap, etc.

So, down we went to the Humane Society. A beautiful black cat caught my husband's eye, but she didn't give me the time of day. Then, I saw a little black male kitten, who had been abandoned at three weeks of age. We ended up taking him home, re-naming him "Frey" after the Norse god of prosperity, and within 24 hours, he had the run of the household, relentlessly chasing poor Stardust, who had settled into a nice sedentary routine.

A year passed, Frey grew up and got neutered, and settled into a nice sedentary routine himself. A friend of ours called us in distress, as they were having a pet explosion- their female cat had become pregnant again, and one kitten remained - a special little gray tiger-striped guy who slept with them, seemed to know their moods, but couldn't stay. So, my husband picked him up. He had another stop to make. A small frog had gotten into the back of his truck, and when my husband returned from his errand, he found the frog freshly killed on the front seat, as a gift. Hence, the name bestowed upon this cat-Gravedigger!

Frey immediately took the little fellow under his wing,licking and grooming him. He soon became Frey's sidekick. Stardust kind of tolerated him, not exactly happy about his presence, but certainly not hissing, spitting and clawing at him, as she did with Frey, and does to this day.

To have a happy multiple cat household, each cat needs a space that they can call their own. Our cats seem to stake their claims in separate rooms- Stardust rules the dining room; Frey steals my seat in my office, and Gravedigger likes to hang out in the TV room. Frey and Gravedigger are indoor/outdoor cats, and spend much of their time outside, while Stardust stays in the house 99 percent of the time.