How many cats is best?

[FatherReboolaConundrum]

We currently have two who get on pretty well. They're both rescue cats and I'd quite like another one - I'd like to adopt an older cat, since they struggle to find new homes. DP is less keen, thinks two is best and that it might not be fair on the two we already have, or on the newcomer, who might get bullied. Our house is large enough for them all to have their own spaces, if we did have three, but obviously that's not the only consideration. Does anyone have experience of having several cats and if so, how has it worked out?

[NotWankinginaWinterWonderland]

I have 3 just now but have had many when I bred them, it comes down to each cat ime, you can help things along with the cats you have getting the scent of the new comer,then gently introduce then via a crate, or room, then eventually try feed them close together, some cats just never get on.

I had to take a few cats back when I bred them as they just didn't get on, on saying that my moggy has been here longest - has to be separated from the Pedigrees at night (bulling issues) but then sleeps with them all day.

I had 3 another time, pre breeding, first came the tortie from a rescue, then a little white boy from a shop then another boy from a rescue, they all got along fine!

[cozietoesie]

I'm going to be real unhelpful FatherReboola and say - depends on the cats, in my experience. You can have a huge house but if you have one domineering cat who thinks his territory extends as far as he can look/walk, you might have trouble. Or they might all be firm friends from the get go.

You can, as above, adopt strategies for introduction and they often work. But sometimes they don't and people have problems. It's a bit of a lottery really in my experience - at least with adult cats.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

It really really depends on the cats. First I had the beautiful moggy girl she was a delightful cat who accepted anyone, she was then joined by the well born street urchin who worshipped the moggy girl, but hated all other cats. The urchin died leaving moggy girl alone again until the posh arrogant boy joined her she tolerated him he hates everyone else as they are all clearly beneath him. Still I brought the tailless wonder into the mix whilst I had 3 it was pretty much a hissing spitting fest atrial times. Sadly the moggy girl is no longer with us the posh arrogant boy sometimes beats up the tailless wonder who is frightened of her own shadow. Will I bring another into this mix currently no way.
So ate the cats that walk alone, some love company and some tolerate other cats just.
If you have two that run alone well together I would stick with that,

[Fluffycloudland77]

We've had 4 at once, a half brother and sister, the sisters mum and a stray tortie we took in as she was being abused.

We had a large house so they all had their own little areas but they mainly ignored each other. None of our cats were particularly feisty so there wasnt too much trouble, back then their was no advice about introducing new cats so we just put them all in together and let them sort out new hierarchy over the following days. No one ever got injured and it was mainly swearing and snarling followed by resignation that the newcomer was staying.

I wouldnt risk it with our current cat as he is highly terrotorial (sp?) and doesn't back down in fights which is a shame as I'd love an older rescue cat too.

I think it's a lovely thing to do op. Everyone wants kittens but my god they can be pita!.

[bureni]

I had 8 at one stage but a friend has over 100, he takes in all the strays that are either too old to be rehomed /disabled or a bit aggressive to find new homes. I have found that if the cats are of a similar age they tend to be a lot less territorial and friendly.

[issey6cats]

as you can guess from my name i had 6 cats at one time, a ginger girl who bossed everyone around, the others just avoided her, a grumpy 16 year old who hissed at all the others they just avoided him (these two no longer with me) the four who are left are brother and sister 6 yrs old who adore each other but do spat every so often, a boy rescue who was a kitten when i adopted him hes now 5yrs old and another rescue who is 2 years old and most of the time they all huddle together on one chair as i said the odd spat but generally they rub along together and have fostered kittens for a rescue ok and like the above poster said i just put newcomer in the room and let them sort out whos going to talk to who and it seems to work out ok

[FatherReboolaConundrum]

Thanks everyone for all your replies. We'll have a think about it over Christmas and take a bit more time to see how our current two get on. If we do get another, it will definitely only be one more - I could probably cope with 8 but I think DP might leave home

[NagooHoHoHo]

I had two, then got another two older ones. They didn't like each other much, but there was no fighting.