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Original poster

Is 3 cats too many cats?

50 replies

KindergartenKop · 22/08/2019 16:46

Our beloved Dcat died a few weeks ago and we were so sad. I've seen a family of 3 cats (mum + 18mth old 'kittens') and I'm very interested! Talk to me about going from 1 cat to 3. What haven't I thought about? Obviously insurance and food costs will increase, but what else?

OP posts:
Original poster
KindergartenKop · 22/08/2019 16:47

These are rescue cats btw, before people get het up about evil breeders.

OP posts:
ISeeDeadDandelions · 22/08/2019 16:50

I've just lost one, going from 3 to 2. My house is so much cleaner (the one I lost did shed a lot though...)

You're looking at 3 times the cost for flea treatment and jabs etc too. Also if you go away you need three looked after at a cattery or with a pet sitter.

Three was great though as there was always at least one curled up with me, even if two were out catting!

But the hair... I'm definitely sticking to 2 now.

Spoonsmum · 22/08/2019 16:53

I have three cats, got two at first (kittens who I didn’t want to separate as I’m soppy) and then an ex bf’s cat had a litter and I kept one. So one good thing to come out of it I guess! Three cats are no worse than two..... and yes there’s always someone to cuddle :)
I like the story of keeping the little family together too. Although your hoover might take a battering with all the hair

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Cats
Original poster
KindergartenKop · 22/08/2019 16:55

Oh god, maybe I need to think about the hair. The one was quite hairy...

OP posts:
goldenlilliesdaffodillies · 22/08/2019 16:55

We have 3 cats. One elderly cat and 2 rescue kittens (now cats) which had to homed in pairs. The main difference (apart from higher bills for food/worming tablets and flea treatments) is lots more cat hair, but hardly any mice.Fur seems to get everywhere! However our cats are wonderful!

Georgiemcgeorgeface · 22/08/2019 17:02

I lost one of mine a month or so back so have gone from 3 to 2. Less hair, less food, less litter, less scratching of the sofa, less dead rodents intestines lying about haha. I miss him but won't be getting another.

Georgiemcgeorgeface · 22/08/2019 17:03

Meant to add. When I had 3 I never found it 'too much'.

DrSeuss · 22/08/2019 17:04

The correct number of cats is (n+1), when n represents the number of cats you currently have!

Pipandmum · 22/08/2019 17:06

Yes threes fine but anymore and you are officially a cat lady 😸😸😸🙀.

toomuchprosecco · 22/08/2019 17:08

3 is perfectly fine, I've got 5!

Sizeofalentil · 22/08/2019 17:10

We've got four and it's the litter trays that are a killer. Dh doesn't want to replace any when they pop off to Rainbow Bridge until we're down to one as we really can't cope with the poo (we have a toddler and I'm pregnant and we have 5 litter trays)

Nonstopbuttmachine · 22/08/2019 17:11

Three cats is a perfect number, means there's always at least one in the house for cuddles Wink

TrainspottingWelsh · 22/08/2019 17:16

I have two, but have sort of acquired a third. It was the local roaming one that got fed everywhere for years, and whichever one of us he was with at the time we wormed/ de-flead/ took to vets when needed. Like a community cat when the owner moved and didn’t bother to take with them. However over the last few years his territory has reduced and it’s become clear he’s decided to hang up his boots permanently and retire here.

I’ve got to say I’ve definitely noticed the food now it’s twice a day every day. And definitely the vet bills. Although to be fair that’s probably because he’s about 800 years old and still getting into fights.

walnut87 · 22/08/2019 17:41

We have two, a mother and her daughter. Got them when they were 2 and 4, they are now 7 and 9.

The mother hates the daughter.... apparently this is quite common in cats - I think the mother is tying to get the daughter to leave home (genuinely). They are both lovely on their own but together, the mum is constantly hissing at her daughter and swiping at her. It’s better now that we are in a big house, but still not exactly what you’d hope for! I would look into it certainly.

I love having two cats and would happily have 3 but I don’t know if I’d get a mum and daughter again.

Cost wise altogether per month - £25 per month insurance, £25 vet plan (2 check ups per year, all boosters, worming, flea stuff), £25 food, £20 litter.

FreckledLeopard · 22/08/2019 17:43

I have three cats. We had our first cat for about seven years and then got brother and sister kittens. To be honest, it has been stressful ever since. There will always be one cat having a spat with the other (whether siblings or otherwise). The mess with the fur, cat litter and food is immense. The cost is significant (I must spend around £250 per month on food, litter, insurance, flea/worming/vaccinations etc) and there is never harmony amongst them.

I love my cats but I do spend a lot of time sighing heavily (2 of them have decided to destroy the new carpet - 1 uses a scratching board; 1 drops food all over the hallway, the others just spread it around the kitchen; 1 always sprays around the house, despite neutering). I think I'd stick at 2 or fewer if I had my time again.

Phwooooar · 22/08/2019 17:44

We have 4 cats. Perfect number and they’re very rarely all present other than when I’m cooking roast chicken ...

HandsOffMyRights · 22/08/2019 17:52

There was a noticeable difference going from two to three.

Cost of cat food, vets, jabs, treatments, sitters - extra worry (and love!). Dirty bowls and none of them got on. We inherited all 3 of them as adult cats by the way.

I love cats but found two more manageable and will stay at one when the pain of losing them comes round.

That said, I hate the thought of splitting them. I once took in 2 kittens, but a friend took on the second as I was at work and the litter trays, fighting and demands of kittens was too much. I find kittens adorable but hard work.

littlewhitething · 22/08/2019 17:54

No point in asking me - we've got 9! 7 until 3 weeks ago, then heard of 2 kittens being put to sleep because they are black and nobody will take them.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 22/08/2019 20:40

When you have three cats, everywhere you go on your house you see a cat. You might like this (me) or you might find this some kind of mental mind trick that makes you doubt your status within the family hierarchy (Dh- and it's 5th after me and all 3 cats). We've had 3 for 8 years now so I don't notice the expense so much, but now they are all getting old they hang around a lot more so their presence has increased.

SqueakyPig · 22/08/2019 20:43

Well I have 5 cats, so 3 is definitely not too many for me Grin

Bunnybigears · 22/08/2019 20:44

We had absolutely no intention of having 3 cats. 3rd dcat was found dumped in a bag in the alley behind out house and after he had to stay a while until a rescue had space for him he just became part of the family and stayed. Going from 2 to 3 I havent really noticed increased food costs although it obviously would have increased but the main thing for us is having to have 3 litter trays and 3 cats worth of poo to get rid off it really does seem to increase the workload.

Geraniumpink · 22/08/2019 20:45

Do you have a big enough house? We went from one to two in a tiny house and it just felt too full. And double the poo too. We are happy with one.

AmIAWeed · 22/08/2019 20:49

Yeah we're up to 6, by the time you've thrown in 2 dogs as well we're become that nightmare house! I've got the roomba on daily (twice a day) as well as a proper deep clean once a week - I love the chaos, cats seem to find us, we live rurally and I get them neutered. Every now and then one ends up staying

GiantKitten · 22/08/2019 20:58

I’ve got 3 - did have 4, but one decided she hated all the others & left Sad

She had the most character & we were sad to lose her but managed to find her an only-cat home.

Anyway 3 is fine, although none of mine love each other. Dead rodents, too much hair & occasional fleas are down sides; no spiders, swift despatch of bluebottles & lots of laughs and lap time are the ups.

Mine kindly prefer to eat bog standard Felix pouches so that’s nice & cheap, although they also get Royal Canin vet care biscuits, which isn’t.

3 is really neither here nor there where cats are concerned, IMO Wink

phenomenalcat · 22/08/2019 21:20

We used to have eight. That was a lot!
We now have three and it's much more manageable, especially if they're already a bonded group. Ours are all long hair so there is a lot but just try and brush them more and get a good rubber brush to clean with.
When our old boy finally goes though I'm getting two more kittens so we'll be back to four.
Have fun 😻

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