How many cats is too many?

darra

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Hello TCS family. We have had our resident cat for about 7 or 8 years. She wasn't always the only cat. However she had been for about 2 years. We recently adopted two kittens that are 2 months a part in age. I am toying with adopting one more. We have a 2200sf home and it's just me and my husband and our two dogs.

My question is. How many cats is simply too many? Would 4 be pushing it? Would we then become crazy cat people? [emoji]128522[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji]
 

catpack

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How many is too many is only moderately dependent on space (and how well you catify that space); but, is hugely dependent upon the personality of each cat.

For my cats who are fairly laid-back (including the ones I foster) 12 is the magic number. Anything over that (even just 1) and there is tension, personality issues and scuffles. We have a 2400+ sqft home.

If you are wanting another cat and you can afford to feed and properly vet it and your current cats (as well as pay for the unforeseen emergency illnesses/injuries that may pop up) and you have the time and energy to properly integrate everyone...I say go for it!

There are so so many animals in need of homes and not enough homes to accommodate. So, one more out of the shelter and adopted into a loving home is certainly a win in my book!
 
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darra

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Don't lunching having 3 females and 1 male would lose a problem
 

catpack

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Having 3 females may or may not cause a problem. It really depends on personality. If all 3 females are the submissive type, it will likely be ok. However, if you end up with 2 or more dominate or "I am the queen" types, you are likely to have some issues.

I have 2 females, one dominate and one submissive. They get along very well. If I were to bring in another female right now, it would have to be an adult with a submissive disposition. In my experience, the pecking order isn't really challenged until a kitten reaches 1.5 to 2 years old.
 

catpack

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I've just had a chance to read your other thread regarding the new additions.

I actually would suggest waiting to bring in any other new kittens until Ajax and Gemma are fully integrated with Gracie. Especially since Gracie's appetite has been affected.

Doing too much too soon can negatively affect Gracie's health and you certainly don't want that to happen.

Give Gracie a few months to see how she adapts to Jax and Gemma and get to know the two kittens' personalities. If you still want another cat once everyone is settled in, then that's fine.

Also, if you have had the kittens for less than 2 weeks, I highly suggest confining them to their room and keeping them there for a full 2 weeks. It is normal for kittens coming from shelter environments to break with an upper respiratory infection within the first 2 weeks of going to a new home.

Plus, this 2 weeks would give Gracie time to acclimate to the kittens' smells and adjust to having them in the house before an actual introduction.
 

red top rescue

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In my experience with fluctuating numbers of cats over the years (due to being actively in rescue), having fewer females than males works much better, although of course all these situations do depend greatly on the personality of the cats.  When bringing in kittens to a family with adult cats, I highly advise bringing the kittens in pairs of like age and disposition, because they will play with each other and not bother the older cats.  One lone kitten will want to play and chase and have attention from another cat, so best it be one who can be a friend and buddy.  Male cats (in my experience) are more likely to play with kittens and females (unless they are actively mothers themselves) do not want to be bothered.

I do think if you take on a large totem pole of animals, you need to pay attention to the pecking order.  Often the one on the bottom, if it is a cat, will develop litter box problems, refusing to either pee or poop in a box.  It is not usually a problem if animals are kept in separate rooms with like spirited others, but if a meek or timid animal is grouped with other stronger, more self assured animals, often the one on the bottom of the heap develops these problems, and it is totally a psychological and not a physical problem.
 
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darra

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You make some good points. Gracie has finally started coming around. She has jump on my desk to hang out and demand affection. That is very much her personality and typical behavior. She's back to sleeping on my husbands side of the bed. She even began licking and grooming him in the middle of the night. This is something she has always done. She has been eating the last two days as well. She watches the kittens play. And this morning I found her sitting about 4 feet from the bedroom door where we keep the kittens at night. Everyone's health has checked out well. Gracie is still cautious but I've found all three cats laying near one another and just watching each other. Jax and Gemma are great mates too. Jax wants to play with Gracie but she's put a stop to all of that none sense. LOL
 

suzannef

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Hi Darra, CatPack has given you great advice. The question you pose is a good one and one I ask myself regularly. :-) Seven was perfect, but we recently added kitten #8. It's too early to tell exactly how that's going to work out. In the meantime, when ever people ask how many cats I have, and I say 8, I imagine that they see Eleanor Abernathy from The Simpsons standing in front of them instead of me:


I've been following your other thread and am thrilled to hear that Gracie is doing better! It sounds like you've made a lot of progress!
 
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darra

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Hi Suzanne,

I love the picture of Eleanor. It's classic.  I have friends who joke and call me a crazy cat lady and we've only got 3. I can't imagine the dynamics with 8 cats. Do they all get along?  It is good news that Gracie is coming around.  She still keeps her distance from Gemma and Jax but at least she's not staring out the window in a depressive state.  And she's eating regularly and talking to us again.  The biggest move in the right direction wth Gracie is that she's coming up into our bedroom at night. My husband and I are relieved. It appears that our little tiny Gemma is quite dominate. From what I am reading about Tortie's we'll likely have our hands full of tortietude as she gets older. She over powers Jax who's twice her size when the play gets too rough. It's fun to watch them play.  I am anxious in both a good/bad way to see how Gemma and Gracie work out the alpha status between the both of them. I have a feeling Gemma will become top cat.  And Jax is our clown as you can see from the photo below. 


   
 

mrsty

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When my first and only cat passed away at 15 years old back in 2000, I was certain I wanted 2 cats next time to keep each other company. I got 2 kittens a month apart from each other the first one became the dominant queen, the second was more passive but stuck up for herself and they were buddies. Then I got it in my mind to foster after seeing how overrun rescue groups are. Well, my third female was also passive and integrated very well so I adopted her. Then I thought I was safer to just go help out the rescue on weekends at adoption days. Ended up bringing home #4 female. Ok, they all got along pretty well and knew who was boss (#1). Then I found a feral cat in my driveway trying to kill a snake for dinner, so I fed her. She brought me 2 of her 8 week old kittens that night for supper and I got into doing TNR of neighborhood strays/ferals. While trapping one of the cats that showed up...she still lives in the front yard to this day (12 years later!) but we can still barely touch her. While mom cat and other kitten are long gone, one of them I was able to tame and she is our indoor/outdoor cat now 12 years old. So 6 females at the maximum and it was a very delicate balance that I realize I was extremely lucky to have achieved. The indoor/outdoor got along with the passive ones inside but not so much the other 2, but she understands pecking order. Now as time has gone by 2 indoor cats have gotten sick and have passed on, but I still have these 4 senior to elderly cats. With the 16 year old who is quickly nearing her end, the most important thing to consider with multiple pets is vet bills, especially as they get old. I have always taken all the cats in to the vet regularly, had teeth cleanings done frequently, etc., but when you have a bunch of pets all getting old at the same time the vet bills can become overwhelming. I've tried to always give everyone a chance near the end but now retired and living on fixed income I see how I did not think clearly about having this many pets earlier on. Try to figure out where you will be financially when these animals are hitting their senior years and understand that the veterinary costs will be much higher at that time then regularly scheduled health visits and vaccines.
 

mrsty

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As I thought more about my experience of having 6 cats, a couple more thoughts come to mind. When our area was struck by hurricane Irene, then hurricane Sandy a few years ago, I was in a panick about what I would do if we had to evacuate. I swore if it happened I wouldn't leave them and thankfully it did not, but I realized that even if I had enough carriers for everyone it might have been nearly impossible to get them all in one car. Now a days, the threats against our country and even Mother Nature have brought this sort of fact to the forefront. Will you even be able to evacuate all your pets if you had to?

Obviously you have a big heart and want to give as many animals as you can a good home, I did too. But, I have to admit, with only 2 laps in the house I truly do not feel everyone got the full attention they all deserved. "They" might say animals to do not feel jealousy, so then I call it simply competing for attention. It was difficult to try to make sure everyone got their fair share, and I often wonder if the ones that seemed to "prefer" being alone would have been a bit different if they were the only one, or one of two in the house. I guess I'll never know. But after looking around to move into retirement communities we found that only a few will allow pets, and the maximum is two. So for many reasons from here on out, that will be our number.
 

basscat

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One cat:  You have a cat
Two cats: You like cats
Three cats: Your friends and relatives take notice and your cats are in your conversations more-so than not.
Four cats: Officially Crazy Cat Lady (even if a guy, or a couple). Friends and relatives stop visiting.
Five to Ten cats: You're running a sanctuary, have no friends, and relatives not only won't visit, they won't invite you over to their house for holidays.
Eleven and up: People you don't know worry about you.
 

fearlessbenjamn

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Well, I am glad I am not the only crazy one here. I have decided to adopt a 4th cat.  I currently have one male and two females..All are just a few months apart in age and all recently have turned a year old.  I am perfectly happy with my little kitties (or as I like to call them my "rotten eggs")  It just seems like we have room for one more.  My husband and I adore our cats and we would feel the same way about a new kitten.  I have been reading about how a kitten may do better with my "rotten eggs" than a cat that was their age.  I will follow the same procedure of setting up their own little safe room and slowing introduce them when they seem ready.  I sure hope I am not tempting fate by bringing a newbie into my bunch.
 
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