Keep the first attempt simple. Let your pet choose whether to engage, and use their response to decide what to try next.
Set it up
Sketch your rooms and mark food, water, litter trays, beds, hiding places and scratching surfaces. Look for resources clustered in a single area or reachable only through a narrow doorway.
Make it work for your pet
Spread useful options across different places so cats can meet their needs without passing each other closely. Watch for blocking, staring or one cat waiting for another to leave. Add escape routes and separate comfortable resting areas.
Keep it comfortable and safe
Do not make cats share space to “sort it out”. Persistent conflict, toileting changes or hiding need professional advice. Resource changes are a starting point, not a guaranteed solution.
A quick review afterwards
Notice what your pet chose, what they avoided and what made the task easier. Keep one useful observation for next time rather than trying to perfect everything in a single day. A routine you can repeat calmly is more valuable than an elaborate setup that becomes another chore.
Further reading: Cats Protection: cats and play. This is broader background reading; the checklist above is Pawno’s own editorial guidance.