The regular visits that the friend makes to his mother can't be pleasant. "My mother does her best, but the place smells bad," he says.

I know what he means. This lady is not alone in her avid collection of felines.

The homes of breeders and other people who have opened hospitality suites to throngs of cats also have this pungent, offensive smell. Can they themselves smell it? Or have they simply accepted the fact that when you stock up on cats, aroma comes with the territory? I don't know.

You don't have to accept the smell. Breeders don't have this option, but for the rest of us, the power of the smell can be somewhat reduced if the cats are neutered. After the operation, the cats, no longer feeling the need to claim territory, should spray less. I'm told that the strength of the urine is also reduced.

To be effective, however, all feline residents, both male and female, have to have the operation. Cats are not stupid. They know who's been neutered and who has not. In the feline pecking order, those who have not been neutered are on top of the heap.

The problem is that the neutered cats may not accept this scheme of things and start spraying in a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo. Stress increases, raising the pungency level, and although you may think you have a peaceful kingdom, the cats will feel otherwise - and the strong smell will remain anyway.

Since moving to the townhouse, I've learned another interesting fact about cats.

Although it had just two rooms and a patio, my former flat was huge by Bangkok standards, and I assumed it was large enough to keep my feline herd stress-free.

Maybe it was, but in the much bigger townhouse, the cats have relaxed a lot more. In the flat, Pan-pan and Yoyo squabbled constantly, but now the two boys actually sleep next to one another. In the flat, shy Malee would spend most of her day hiding under sofas and inside cupboards. In the townhouse, she loves exploring, coming downstairs regularly to tell me about her discoveries.

I know they're relaxed for another reason. When the cats first arrived, I had to change their litter trays once a day. Otherwise, the smell was unbearable. Now their stress levels have apparently reduced, as has that terrible odour.

We're not completely peaceful, though. For some reason, Yoyo has decided that he owns the entire house. He's not spraying, but he hassles any cat who goes to any floor without his permission. He's the junior member of the herd, and I'm hoping that eventually one (or more) of his seniors will teach him some cat manners.

We need to live together in peace, which is the answer, whether you have one cat or, like that lady, a herd of 20.

Questions about your pets? Fax (02) 751 4446 or e-mail laurie@nationgroup.com.

By Laurie Rosenthal