This is such an interesting thread and thanks, everyone, for sharing. Four cats seems like it would be a good, manageable number. And I do remember a time in the very, very distant past when that is the number I had. The reality is that we have 7 inside the house, 3 on the sunroom, 5 that live in the Cat Castle and 12 that are allowed outside during the day but get kenneled at night. Obviously, it was never our intention to have this many cats, but either they found us or we came across them in such a bad situation or state that we couldn't turn our backs on them. Most of the house cats ended up as house cats because, at some point, each of them were so sick and/or needed so much care it was easier on me to have them inside. I guess the door only opens one direction because once they recuperate they end up staying in.
@luciafernanda asked about house size: honestly, it doesn't matter how big the house is, it's more about how big your bed is, that's where all of the cats are going to be most of the time anyway! Really, our house is large enough for those in it and all of the confined cats have access to screened porches, lots of vertical space, and hiding places. Like you, @Tammat, I never tally the annual costs (vet, food, flea meds, housing). I really didn't want to retire anyway!
@luciafernanda asked about house size: honestly, it doesn't matter how big the house is, it's more about how big your bed is, that's where all of the cats are going to be most of the time anyway! Really, our house is large enough for those in it and all of the confined cats have access to screened porches, lots of vertical space, and hiding places. Like you, @Tammat, I never tally the annual costs (vet, food, flea meds, housing). I really didn't want to retire anyway!