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Enrichment in multi-cat homes: what changes
Duplicate the resources
Cats are territorial about the things that matter: resting spots, hiding places, food, water, litter trays. International Cat Care's rule of thumb is a minimum of one of each resource per cat, plus at least one extra, in different locations around the home, so no cat has to walk past another to reach what it needs. Treat the numbers as a floor rather than a ceiling - cats who actively avoid each other may need resources spread further apart. For beds, the guide adds a useful detail: in multi-cat households, beds with more than one entry and exit point keep one cat from blocking another inside a favourite spot.
Play separately, watch the tension
A wand toy waved between two cats often produces one player and one spectator - or one player and one ambush victim. International Cat Care's playing guide recommends factoring in time to play with cats individually in multi-cat homes, away from the group, so each cat gets real hunting practice without competition. Watch the interactions around play: the cat who hangs back is not necessarily less playful, it may just be lower in the queue.
Vertical territory is the pressure valve
In a multi-cat home, height stops being a luxury and becomes traffic management. International Cat Care notes that higher resting surfaces add a sense of security by creating distance from other animals, and their spacing logic applies vertically too: more than one high route, so a cat on a shelf cannot be trapped there by a housemate sitting on the only way down. A catio, if you have one, benefits from the same thinking - multiple exits back inside.
Puzzle feeders need space too
Feed puzzle feeders far enough apart that each cat can work on its own without being rushed or robbed. A fast, confident cat will finish its puzzle and then "help" the slower cat with theirs - which undoes the point. Separate rooms for puzzle time are a legitimate solution.