who has the most cats on the forum? - Page 2

I have four which is very comfortable and down right easy... Yes ,I make payment s on vet bills but some of that is Having to PTS 4 animals in 3.5 yrs and dealing with several chronic illnesses...

I had 10 at one pt( fostering kittens ) and learned that 8 is my max ... So I am happy with four who tolerate each other ... And happy knowing if someone is in need I have room...

I vaccum alot .. no less than three times a week... My house does not smell , they are all spoiled with attention ( yes including the semi ferals), have decent food and they get the meds and care they need...
I would not trade a single one but if I had it to do over likely I would have just two..

I have 5 cats living in a 4 cat household.

Four was our "limit" but we had a recent foster failure. The only reason we crossed our own line was that our kitty Spitty is so sick and mysterious ailment-laden that we don't know how long we will have her, and she is very much our son's cat, and he took quite a liking to our recent adopted boykitty. He is certainly not a replacement, but he is definitely working to fill the void that she leaves when she is not feeling well and doesn't do the things with our son that she normally does.

I foster for the local HS, so we have a fluctuating number of temporary cats and kittens. But five (permanent) is just right for us. They are all on a good wet food only, water bowls throughout the house, including fountains....litterboxes we have in our basement with a 'cat door' on the basement door so they can get to it (they love our nasty unfinished basement, go figure)

I, too, have a house that does NOT stink, is NOT covered in hair, we have nice furniture, cathair-less meals, pee/poop-free floors.... I love my kitties, but they live in my house, not the other way around. So we expect some manners (as many manners as you can expect a cat to have, anyway lol) I enjoy having company over, and enjoy a clean home. I admire those that can accomplish those things with many cats, as I don't know that I could keep up with too many more to my liking.

6 is definitely my limit. I currently own 7 cats and 4 kittens (OK owned by)...BUT the 7th cat is on a trial home although she has been there for 9 days now so maybe she will stay there (ex breeding queen, Fluffy). I'm thinking of keeping one of the kittens but that will take me over my own personal limit *sigh* decisions, decisions. Although I am working full time now as of November, I may not have time for 7.

I have 11. I was down to only seven seniors. Then there was construction on our road and it was closed for 8 months. Well the ferals started living on the machinery and I knew they would get hit once the road opened. So, I adopted Spot and her son.

The seniors have their own apartment that we put in for my dad years ago. Spot and Beeb lived with us. Then Spot passed away, so Beeba lives with us.

Then, the last female barn cat, Slick was pregnant. I could finally put an end to the ferals by bringing her in and adopting the kittens out. Adopted four out, but Slick and her two, Fetch and Beeshee Marie remained unadopted.
Beautiful black and whites. They live in their own apartment.

It's a lot of work, but I love them and my house is clean.

It happened before 2008, and sadly, it will continue to happen.

We have 8, and being primarily responsible for everything, if we didn't work from home, I think 3 or 4 would be the most I could comfortably manage.

I don't know whether 8 is a ton of cats or not, but if your cats are healthy and you don't volunteer at a shelter or don't foster (so you aren't at risk for bringing things home with you they could catch), I imagine vet bills really aren't such a problem. We take ours every year for annuals, and two need dentals every six months, but plenty of people with just one or two cats only take them to the vet on an "as needed" basis.

As to the cat hair - the way we manage it is no different between 2 and 8 cats, and I don't think another 10 or 20 would make a difference. We vacuum a lot, and use throw blankets on our stuff. We don't like visitors, but when we lived in a house, it was a simple matter of folding up throw blankets and there was cat-hair free furniture ready to go.

In the house, we had litter boxes in every room (except the kitchen). If you don't like cats, you're not coming over, so what does it matter that there are litter boxes out, or bowls of food or water out and cats around?

Ideally, I would like to get back to my core of ten. But in this area, no one cares about the strays except to find horrific ways to hurt them. I have issues with two strong alphas who collide every so often but we are here to break up the tension.

I recently placed six to various homes and it was a joy to make phone calls after the holidays and find out each cat and or kitten are doing well. My latest two and last rescues are 3 months old and I have found a home for both of them right after they get neutered (Jan. 7). The people have adopted from me before and they want both Puzzle and Riddle so the two of them will be together. They are very bonded.

Cat hair, I use a horse grooming tool to remove hair from my chairs and sofas plus I groom all the long and short hairs at least once a week. I just don't have time to do it more. Litter box scooping is a neccessity and I do it several times a day- my litter boxes aren't normal litter pans but kiddy size pools and large rubbermaid containers.

I have a patient, wonderful vet who takes payments but my vet bill is still one major concern for me. The last two older strays that arrived here had to be euthanized. They were pretty sick and hung on for about two weeks before their systems broke down and it was time.

If these cats weren't here with us, they would be dead or worse. So I just keep keepin on and we are never short of being entertained by this bunch.

We have three. While we could afford more comfortably, my husband says 3 is the limit, and I mostly agree. Every now and again I'll get the urge for another one (like 5 year old Andy I fell in love with at PetSmart), but know that 3 is pretty comfortable. It's the most I've ever had at one time, and took some convincing to get the 3rd. We also have 2 ferals outside about to be TNR'd, and a small black kitten that just appeared (looks to be about 6 weeks old) we also want to catch in hopes it can be rehomed.

Sometimes I feel bad we don't have more since we can afford it and could give another cat or two a better life, but I also don't want strain on our marriage (he's told me he'd leave if I came home with a fourth, and I'm sort of sure i believe him!)

Kind of like when a man wants 2 kids and the wife wants 4 ... better to come to an agreement rather than strain on the marriage.

DH and I both have full time jobs, including night meetings sometimes and DH has business trips for his union from time to time as well.

There are five litter boxes for the six cats. I scoop twice daily and sometimes will scoop three times if I'm home during the day. The cats get their main meals in the morning and at night and, again if I'm home during the day, they'll get some dry kibble for their lunch. There is one large water dish in the kitchen, which gets fresh water twice a day. There are several containers of Sip in the fridge because all of the cats enjoy their Sip at night. They also get their bedtime treats. The cats line up at the foot of the bed and I give them all a couple treats.

I vacuum as much as I can, but sometimes cat hair can be an issue. Each cat does get a really good brushing once a week. Most people who know us know that we have six cats and they deal with them when they visit. Or they wouldn't visit....simple as that. We really do love having guests and entertaining and the cats aren't a problem at all. After saying hello to our friends and doing their "Oh, aren't we just adorable?" routines, they'll usually just go to bed.

As far as vet bills, our four geriatric cats go to the vet twice a year and more, if we feel it's needed; last year Whisper was at the vet four times because of teeth issues. And when Banshee was alive, she made so many vet visits that it wasn't even funny because she had feline asthma, a heart murmur and thyroid issues. We dealt with it. Mollipop has had all of her kitten shots and her rabies boosters and has had her spay, too, so she's good now for awhile....she'll go back to the vet in February, unless something happens that we feel she needs to go sooner. The only cat who has not been to see a vet in awhile is Amber who gets completely psychotic when she thinks she's going to the vet. I told DH that if she goes, he is taking her. I refuse. He tried a couple times this past summer....she gets completely spastic. And I simply won't even try anymore.

We don't feel that our furkids lack any attention at all. We sit down on the couch or on a chair and they come to us. We go to bed to watch tv and they're right behind us as we walk back the hallway to the bedroom. We share our bed with all six cats and it's OK....although it would be better if BooBoo didn't hiss at DH when he tries to roll over in bed! You have to understand, too, that with four geriatric cats who sleep a lot, it's hard to really pay them a lot of attention. They get cuddles and caresses when they want them. Always. Right now Mollipop is just a kitten, so she's awake (and into a lot of trouble!) more often than the other cats. She's always with me, maybe not on my lap, but she likes being in the same room with me whenever she can....even if she's napping on the chair next to me at the computer.

So it all works out. And has been working out for many years. It's just our life with the furkids.

Tara, DH has often told me that if I bring one more cat in the front door, he's heading out the back door. And I do believe him. But like I've said, I know that six is our limit and I respect that. I'd rather be a good Mom to six cats than to have to just deal with more than that. It wouldn't be fair to the cats nor to us.

I agree I know for sure we can handle our three well, we are very happy with our three, and they are spoiled to no end They have enough toys for 50 cats here, and enough treats for 100! Luckily they get along pretty great themselves, and its always a risk dropping in another cat on them as well as ourselves. We are great parents to three, and dont see a reason to push our envelope. I really dont have a reason to push, because hubby cleans the litter box!

My friend who fosters (I've posted pics of some of her sets of kittens before) just got five fosters. Four of them are all black I think I need to avoid her house for awhile

The group of 15 I had to deal with was in 2003-2004. Back then the housing market (at least here) was still booming and people voted Bush back in - the economy hadn't completely went in the hole at that point. That's what I was referring to.
As for further back, it was 87-93 until we moved. Of course it will continue to get worse in the future, the same mistakes are being forced to be repeated.

I have one cat. Two would be ideal. I regret not adopting another kitten to be a friend for Lex when he was adopted. I wonder sometimes if he's lonesome for a playmate. However, 9 years ago, I was a poor student living in a tiny efficiency and a first-time cat owner. Wasn't sure if I can handle 2.

Now that Lex is 9, I think it's best for him to be an only cat. He's entering his senior years and I want to have enough resources (i.e. disposable income) to pay his medical bills should he become ill. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to keep him healthy and well.

I have a friend who has spent a small fortune on vet bills for the past 3 years to keep her 19y/o CRF cat alive.

Two would definitely be our upper limit because of my cat allergy. We have Jamie (full-time indoor) and share Miezi (part-time indoor-outdoor) with a neighbor because she and Jamie don't get along at all. Both are senior cats now and averaging around 6 vet visits a year each, primarily check-ups and dental cleanings.

We have 2 VERY large Rubbermaid tote bins for our cats which easily equal 10 regular sized litter boxes. They are scooped out at least twice if not 3 times a day.

Surprisingly, cat hair is not a huge issue as none of my cats have a bad shedding problem. I find as long as they're fed a decent quality food, they don't shed so much. We vaccum frequently though and pick up furballs as we see them.

As for love and attention, they NEVER lack that. I make it a point to make sure they each get lovin' every day. Some seek it out more than others which makes it easier as well. Some of my babies are more independant than others. Those who won't seek it out, I seek THEM out for "love time". I mostly work from home, which helps with this.

Financially both Dana and I have fulltime, decent paying jobs. Aside from that I have a savings bond set up specifically for the kitties and their medical care, as well as an RRSP that I can dip in to ONLY if need be. The kitties and their wellbeing will always come first, it's as simple as that. I have never had to go without to provide for the kitties, but I would if it ever came to that.