How many cats are too many?

ziggy'smom

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I've been on other forums where people who have more than a few cats are being accused of being hoarders. I've been called a crazy cat lady for having several cats, especially by my husband's family. Since I foster the amount varies but I currently have ten cats. At the most I had 17 at one time when I had two litters of kittens. Our place is not that big but we have two spare bedrooms that have been made into cat rooms so they have a decent amount of space.
I'm wondering what people think is too many cats for one home though? Is ten cats too many? Is 15 or 20 too many or does it depend on the situation? What do you think?
 

denice

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I think that the number that is too many depends on the situation. I have heard that a good rule of thumb is 200 sq ft per cat but I don't think that would apply to a litter of small kittens. Even that rule of thumb is just a real general idea. Fostering is a temporary situation that is a better situation than a shelter. If the cats are well cared for including vet care and are given the attention they need and the house is kept reasonably clean than it isn't too many cats. Hoarding is something that is currently on a lot of people's minds because of TV series about it and some people are just being really quick to label a situation as hoarding even when it isn't.
 

aprilyim

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I think it definitely depends on the situation. If all of the animals needs are being met and the caretaker is not neglecting themselves in order to provide for their animals, that is the right number of animals for the caretaker.

"Animal hoarding involves keeping larger than usual numbers of animals as pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability."
 

ducman69

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On a cat forum, the correct answer is "more than you can properly care for".

For society at large to avoid the "cat person" label, the correct answer is anything over three.
 

kittkatt

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Originally Posted by Denice

I think that the number that is too many depends on the situation. I have heard that a good rule of thumb is 200 sq ft per cat but I don't think that would apply to a litter of small kittens. Even that rule of thumb is just a real general idea. Fostering is a temporary situation that is a better situation than a shelter. If the cats are well cared for including vet care and are given the attention they need and the house is kept reasonably clean than it isn't too many cats. Hoarding is something that is currently on a lot of people's minds because of TV series about it and some people are just being really quick to label a situation as hoarding even when it isn't.
Originally Posted by aprilyim

I think it definitely depends on the situation. If all of the animals needs are being met and the caretaker is not neglecting themselves in order to provide for their animals, that is the right number of animals for the caretaker.

"Animal hoarding involves keeping larger than usual numbers of animals as pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability."

As long as they're being properly taken care of with an adequate amount of space, I don't think having a lot of cats means you're necessarily a hoarder.
 

catsallaround

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I think it depends on the person and whats going on-I am stay at home mom to these guys so I feel its a bit different then anyone who works a ft job. I have had a vet over my house to examine a cat who was staying for medical treatment(my friends cat who it would have been a strain for her to medicate the cat due to her life situation at this point with her health and job situation) she saw about 10 of my cats hanging around.

When we got married had 19 cats and 4 were recovering from neuters(2 were 2-3 months 2 were 5-6 months as hectic as it was even my brother made the comment 19 in here-seems alot less, IT DONT SMELL. My brother is known to be to honest.

I guess I should not wander far from TCS or I may be in serious trouble if I say ever 1/4 of what I have!!!
 

pookie-poo

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Cleo and Maggie think 3 is too many (Lola.) Lola also thinks 3 is too many (Cleo & Maggie.) I always say that I'm at my emotional and financial limit with three.
 

mom2-3furbabies

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I think it all depends on the amount of time you have for them and your financial means so you can properly care for them. A hoarder IMO would be someone that is very sellfish (sp?) Someone who has too many to give them the care they need. You yourself know how much you can handle
 

kittkatt

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Geronimo would say any are too many. He's such a jealous thing!


Winchester would let them ALL in if he had his way! He's such a lover-boy!
 

tink80

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Agree with everyone who said as much as you can properly care for.

The word hoarder is one of those words that gets incorrectly thrown around without people understanding the definition.

Some people never had a life with animals. They'll call you crazy even if you only have one
My point being you have to look at who you're talking to..
 

motoko9

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Originally Posted by Tink80

Some people never had a life with animals. They'll call you crazy even if you only have one
My point being you have to look at who you're talking to..
You're right about that. I have three, and I know I have friends who think that's too many (they're too polite to say so, but I've seen their faces when I say "three"!).
 

kailie

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When people hear that we have 10 cats, as well as having 2 rooms in which we foster cats, they often insinuate hoarding and NOTHING upsets me more. My cats are cared for better than most children. Do they really think the shelter would ALLOW us to foster if we were hoarders? Not to mention we have numerous people in and out of here all the time who are potential adopters and constantly comment on how well cared for our cats are and how clean our home is.

Bottom line is you have too many when you can no longer provide the proper amount of care for your pets including food, vet care, AND attention.
 

my4llma

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It doesn't matter how many cats a person has, all that matters is if they take good care of their cats.
 

white cat lover

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Originally Posted by My4LLMA

It doesn't matter how many cats a person has, all that matters is if they take good care of their cats.
This topic comes up often - how many is too many? I can guarantee I've had many looks & have heard comments from people calling me a "hoarder". I have 12 permanent indoor cats, plus one foster kitty. I also have 5 outdoor/farm cats.

Honestly - I wouldn't have the time for that many if there weren't other members of my household. I also have three indoors who rarely, if ever, care for me to touch them. In fact one would be happiest if I would quit trying to be her friend!


My cats have had many health issues (just select few), expensive surgeries, etc. I can't say I'd ever have this many again, but my house is clean, their boxes were just scooped, they're all fully vetted....I guess I'd say I'm far from a hoarder (although I will admit I suck at letting fosters get adopted, then again several fosters I had no interest from anyone to adopt for 6+ months).
 

trouts mom

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Originally Posted by Ducman69

On a cat forum, the correct answer is "more than you can properly care for".

For society at large to avoid the "cat person" label, the correct answer is anything over three.


Yep.
 

parsleysage

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I definitely got some stares and "wow"s when I said we had five. I did bow to social convention by quickly adding, "They live outside, though," which generally calmed the listener down.

Frankly, two or three dogs (or even ONE dog in some cases) stink waaaay more than a whole passel of cats, even when well-cared for in both instances. Walking into a "dog-person" house is like walking into a snowglobe of fur, in my experience, lol. Anytime it's disturbed a bunch of hair goes floating around the room.

But then, I'm a cat person.
 

cosabella

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Originally Posted by Ducman69

On a cat forum, the correct answer is "more than you can properly care for".

For society at large to avoid the "cat person" label, the correct answer is anything over three.
I like this answer best. There's cat people standard and society's.

I have one cat. Since I am the sole caretaker, I wouldn't be able to handle more than 2 cats.
 

tara g

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I have 3, and think 3 is a perfect number. For me. Four would be my maximum. It all depends on the situation and how many you are comfortable with and can properly care for.
 
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