How many is too many??? :)

With my ever growing fur family I constantly get quips from friends and family that "jokingly" call me a hoarder or crazy cat lady... Now I feel like I have plenty of room for my cats since it's usually just me in the house... my 16 yr old daughter is here half the week... and the oldest lives away. All are well fed, litter boxes are cleaned daily... they are all spayed and neutered, vetted when needed and so on... so what do you think (even though as cat people you may not be the best to ask ) How many IS too many??

I think one is too many when that one is not cared for properly. if your babies are happy and healthy, I think you have exactly the RIGHT number!

People tell me I have too many children as well. (I have 4) well, they are all well adjusted, healthy, and have fairly passable hygiene habits.

They have all their shots, physicals and clean clothes. My daughter and older son use deodorant, and shower when appropriate. (and what is that AXE stuff he likes? he smells like a cheap cathouse)

I think unless you cannot take care of the numbers, you are doing great!

Originally Posted by resqchick

(and what is that AXE stuff he likes? he smells like a cheap cathouse)

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Nothing like a teenage boy and his attempts to attract girls

First of all, HI to a fellow West Virginian!! What part of WV?

To answer your question, it's too many if you can't take care of them or give them the attention they need. People think I'm crazy too because I have 6 cats indoors (although most are allowed outdoors if they want) plus the barn cats. During the summer, there are usually only 3-4 inside at a time but during the winter it's a full house (really bad weather we allow some of the barn cats in to get warm). I may be crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! People who don't love cats just don't understand.

However many you can care for properly and that you want is fine. For me as far as care if the litter boxes are clean and there are enough litter boxes so they all are using them then you don't have too many. As far as finances go if they all get vet care, have enough food, and the other bills are all paid then you don't have too many.

We have 6 cats, well 5 now since Cleo passed, and 2 dogs (one is fat at 53 pounds, the other is about 12 pounds). While I adore each and every one of them in their own special way and wouldn't give any of them up, for ME, that number is a little high. We will not be replacing the big dog when he is gone and as the numbers of kitties begin to go down, we will probably hold steady there as well.

For me, 3 cats and 1 dog seems to be the right balance. For others that are taking good care of their pets, vetting them, feeding them, loving them, however many you can handle is the right number for you.

Whenever I'm challenged with "Wow, are you a hoarder", I immediately explain that all my animals are spayed/neutered, receive proper vet care and for the most part, were throw away kitties that someone considered too old, too much trouble, not exactly what they wanted, etc. I then explain to them what a real hoarder is and make them realize the rudeness and insulting comment they just made.

Originally Posted by calico2222

First of all, HI to a fellow West Virginian!!

What part of WV?

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Parkersburg... And Hello... I've been a member for a while, I just get away and don't post sometimes for long periods.

Originally Posted by morningrl

With my ever growing fur family I constantly get quips from friends and family that "jokingly" call me a hoarder or crazy cat lady... Now I feel like I have plenty of room for my cats since it's usually just me in the house... my 16 yr old daughter is here half the week... and the oldest lives away. All are well fed, litter boxes are cleaned daily... they are all spayed and neutered, vetted when needed and so on... so what do you think (even though as cat people you may not be the best to ask

) How many IS too many??

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I would say you have too many cats when you can not give them basic care like food, water, scooped boxes, on a daily basis. Or if you no longer enjoy your cats and consider them to be a burden.

Of course if you can not take them them to the veterinarian as needed, can not afford basic needs like food and litter then you also have too many cats.

From what I can gather you have the right amount of cats ?

Exactly as the others said, as long as they are all looked after then it's fine! Enjoy your fur family!

Everyone has a different idea of what is too many for them

For me, 5 is too many! I have 3 of my own and am fostering two currently. I'm ready to be back to just three!

A coworker of mine has 28 indoors, and 5 outdoors. I couldn't even fathom that. But they're all cared for, fixed, vetted, etc and it works for her.

The correct amount of cats is eight so you're good.

Oh wait a second, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8... NINE... tsktsk. I'm going to have to write you a ticket ma'am.

no such thing as to many I say have as many as you can pay for to keep healthy and love and that number is diff for everyone if I had the room and the money I would have more

Originally Posted by resqchick

I (and what is that AXE stuff he likes? he smells like a cheap cathouse)

Originally Posted by morningrl

Nothing like a teenage boy and his attempts to attract girls

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Hey, maybe I like how that stuff smells...

There is no one answer to your question, like others have said it's how many you can properly care for (maintain adequate/sanitary housing, afford food/litter/vet bills, S/N, etc).

I am "down" to 12 indoors, with my foster kitty getting adopted. Although I do have 17 cats total, & trust me I get a lot of flack for having that many. I have 2 farm cats who will likely have to come in this winter due to health issues, I am not confident they would survive outdoors during winter. For me, I feel I am pushing the limit bringing the two extra inside, I was pushing the limit with the 1 foster kitty.

I have begun making accommodations to make it work, though. Adding in cat boxes in different places, picked up Feliway spray, and just ordered three new cat trees to make more vertical space should kitties need to get away from each other.

My number of indoor kitties got so high when several of them were no longer surviving outdoors, thus became indoor only kitties.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

The correct amount of cats is eight so you're good.

Oh wait a second, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8... NINE... tsktsk. I'm going to have to write you a ticket ma'am.

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...dang, I was thinking that maybe I should go for 10.. an even number! Oh, and did I mention I have two shih tzus and a bunny too? And a almost 16 year old daughter that is more work than any of the others!

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I am "down" to 12 indoors, with my foster kitty getting adopted. Although I do have 17 cats total, & trust me I get a lot of flack for having that many.

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Wow... that is a lot of work, I know just these 5 keep me scooping litter! But bless you for taking them in when they needed it most. I am searching for winter shelter for my feral family as they are still too wild to be house pets.

This is a double-edged sword around here.

4 cats and a dog inside plus two cats outside is a lot for us. My dh has a hard time having 5 animals in the house - even though we have a large home. I am okay with 5, but sometimes, when I am cleaning up fur balls or picking cat hair out of my food (dog doesn't shed), I realize that maybe 4 cats inside wasn't the greatest idea. LOL However, I have other times when I would like to bring in the other two cats and have a total of 7 animals in the house! We will see what winter brings. Momma is such an outdoor cat - through and through. And we give her the garage with doors shut at night for shelter. She is happy. Heated beds in the garage in the winter and I think she and Percy will be fine.

The rule around here is that once an animal comes to live inside our home, it doesn't leave until it dies. So, even on the days when I am picking cat hair out of my food, I still wouldn't consider giving up any of by babies.

I have watched Animal Hoarders and I have to say that seeing 30 and 40 cats in a house makes even me a little claustraphobic! Wow... And really, it is the fact that, with that many cats, most of the "hoarders" just let them pee and poo all over the place and tear the house down. If your animals are using your house as a litter box and tearing it apart...you have too many animals. If you can't afford vet care and they all have mites and are not spayed/neutered...you have too many animals. If you neglect to pay your bills and are about to lose your home, but your cats eat top grade food...you may want to re-think the animals. LOL

Originally Posted by BlueRexBear

I have watched Animal Hoarders and I have to say that seeing 30 and 40 cats in a house makes even me a little claustraphobic! Wow... And really, it is the fact that, with that many cats, most of the "hoarders" just let them pee and poo all over the place and tear the house down. If your animals are using your house as a litter box and tearing it apart...you have too many animals. If you can't afford vet care and they all have mites and are not spayed/neutered...you have too many animals. If you neglect to pay your bills and are about to lose your home, but your cats eat top grade food...you may want to re-think the animals. LOL

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I AGREE!!!

I agree with everyone else and want to add that it also may depend on the personalities of your fur family. For instance, when I adopted my Holland I was told that she would most likely do well as an only pet. I am planning on adopting another one soon, so I hope she doesn't totally freak out on me, but as long as I have her, I probably will never go over two.

Right now two would be the max I could have anyway, because my apartment only allows for two, I have a small place, and I wouldn't be able to afford more. Now, if I ever manage to tear myself away from working in non-profit and someday have a big house and lots of disposable income, I could see myself with maybe 5 or 6.

I think 4 cats is almost too many for our family. I also have 3 dogs. We can afford it no problem, feed quality food, vet care. I clean litter boxes, and keep our house clean.

When we adopted Zelda, her and Vivi totally clashed. I think Zelda has been here for 2 years and we have just enough space that they don't get in each other's way very often. I think Vivi is just very territorial and wants to be the boss cat, but Zelda isn't a submissive enough for her. Adding another cat would probably have a negative affect on their quality of life.

So, besides the cost and work involved, I think the quality of life of other people and pets in the house is a factor.