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How many cats is too many ?

161 replies

Buttons232 · 05/10/2023 23:59

There hasn’t been a time in my life when I’ve been without a cat. I grew up on a farm and spent my childhood taming wild kittens. At the moment I have three, a surprisingly spritely, 13 year old male and two year old brothers. They all get on. They’re insured, well cared for and well looked after. I had no desire for anymore. I’ve always felt that three is the tipping point between acceptable pet ownership and crazy cat lady!

Then a week ago I found a filthy, starving, abandoned and dying kitten! I didn’t expect him to make it through the night but I’ve bottle fed him back to life. He is now in the process of being weened and doing really well. I suspect he’s about 5 weeks old. Trouble is I am now a mother figure to him, he follows me, cries for me and climbs up me to sleep in my hair!

I wouldn’t have chosen this many but I’m not sure I can give him up now. Should I keep him ? Is 4 too many ?

OP posts:
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theduchessofspork · 06/10/2023 00:01

For me 1 would be too many

But for you I don’t think 3 to 4 is such a big leap.

SoRainbowRhythms · 06/10/2023 00:02
cady heron math GIF

8,653?

AlltheFs · 06/10/2023 00:04

I found 3 enough in the past but you now have 4 - lets face it if he makes it you aren’t turfing him out.

We currently have 2 kittens which is right for us but we nearly had 3 again as almost took the mum of the kittens we adopted. We only didn’t because she was scared of our young child (whereas the kittens adore her). In hindsight it was the right decision.

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QueenBitch666 · 06/10/2023 00:20

5 rescues here. 4 is a breeze

petunialover · 06/10/2023 00:21

I have 6 cats.

The last one adopted me and was a homeless kitten that I fell in love with.

I didn't want any more cats but my heart wouldn't allow me to give her in to the Cats Protection.

I had her spayed, got all her vaccinations, flea/wormed and she is now snuggled up in bed next too me :-).

I am so glad I kept her :-).

Best of luck, I hope the kitten makes a full recovery xx

Atethehalloweenchocs · 06/10/2023 00:26

More than one for me (I have two!). But now you have fed him, he's yours. I had a bottle fed kitten who lived to 17, they make lovely pets.

Shadyboots23 · 06/10/2023 00:32

He's yours
I figure once you have 3, anything over that you don't really notice Grin

My friends husband thinks she has 3 horses, she doesn't. She has 9. He hasn't noticed as she keeps buying bay horses with no white markings BlushGrin

Sonolanona · 06/10/2023 00:37

You saved him.. he chose you.
My Mum did the same.. found a starving kitten , way too young to have left his Mum (we assume dumped) and she nursed him and asked the RSPCA to find him a home.
He was with us for 17 years... Grin

Face it... he's yours and will probably be the most snuggly loving cat ever because you are his Mummy!

My most recent cat was a random street stray cat. He's currently snoring on my sofa... accept your fate !!!

SabrinaThwaite · 06/10/2023 00:43

The correct number of cats to have is n+1 where n = the number of cats you currently have.

Apparently it works for bicycles too (which is why we seem to have a shed full of the things).

I think DH is hoping he’s in bay-horse-no-white-markings territory, but he’s not.

caringcarer · 06/10/2023 01:09

This kitty loves you and thinks you are his Mummy now. It's too late to start to wonder if 4 is too many. The moment you nurse the kitty back to life he becomes yours. Enjoy your kitties.

mayorofcasterbridge · 06/10/2023 01:10

theduchessofspork · 06/10/2023 00:01

For me 1 would be too many

But for you I don’t think 3 to 4 is such a big leap.

Not sure why you needed to say that, but clearly, cats are fortunate not to be in your life.

RamblinRosie · 06/10/2023 01:11

Oh dear, where are the obligatory photos?

I think you know the answer…. Bastet, the great cat goddess, has clearly decided that you are THE person for THIS cat. That it has survived simply proves that! Clearly you are intended to have 4 cats.

You sound lovely.

Many years ago we accidentally “acquired” 3 cats in relatively quick succession (stray, dumped kitten and left behind by neighbors), so for 30 odd years we’ve regarded 3 as our standard, always replacing with rescues.

5 years ago, when one of our cats died we decided that maybe it was time to cut back to 2. A couple of months later a pig-ugly stray turned up (chipped but not registered). What could we do? Bastet had decided!

TroglodytesTroglodytes · 06/10/2023 01:15

Photo please!

I’ve got 2, previously 3. I would definitely have more but with the cost of living 2 is my maximum for now. I would say, depending on your resources, 6 and below is enough. If you live on a farm or manor there isn’t a limit.

ThreeLeggedPug · 06/10/2023 01:16

the Kitten has chosen you! Magic number is four! Your eldest cat is getting on anyway, so it may become a three again in a few years.

mayorofcasterbridge · 06/10/2023 01:22

When I was a child, we had 9 cats at one point but we lived out in the country and they had loads of fields to roam.

When DH and I bought our first house, we adopted two kittens, a tortie and white and a dilute tortie and white. They were indoor girls as I'd had way too many cats killed on the roads in my younger days. One lived to 3 months shy of 17, the other to 3 months over 17.

I called them our 'planned cats' but we also had two 'accidents'!! A gorgeous ginger boy started visiting, with the most massive set of nuts I have ever seen on a cat!! He stuck around, so we had him neutered, and took him in. We had a wonderful 9 years with him, but he was a fighter (he was indoor/outdoor). He contracted FIV and he died aged 10 from kidney failure.

Our 4th was a blue tabby. He had been a regular visitor since he was a small kitten, as his owners neglected him, and in the end moved house and left him and a tabby behind - hateful fuckers. The tabby found himself a home and we adopted Oscar, after he was hit by a car and needed a lot of vet attention, which we paid for no problem, and when we moved house, he came with us.

He died suddenly aged 14. He loved to sleep on a 6ft tall cabinet in our garage, and I found him passed away in his favourite spot.

We lost our last three cats in the space of 11 months and it was devastating, but we soon were found by a stray boy, who lived to be, we think, at least 20.

We then adopted two tortie and white girls (who don't like each other but that's another story lol!)

I am constantly tempted to adopt a 3rd cat because we reckon that, if our younger girl had a playmate, she wouldn't torture our older girl so much!!

So, if you can afford food, litter, insurance and vet fees, and you have room for them - have as many cats as you like!! It has all got so expensive, so that's a consideration.

I always say, watch this space, and don't be surprised if I acquire another one lol!

BabyFireflyx · 06/10/2023 01:24

I have seven. Even in a small house they're not too much. They come and go from room to room. It is nice to be greeted by the smallest ones when you get home and at night I've always got at least three sleeping with me. I'd only push it to one more. I’m still able to give them all as much care and attention as they need.

mayorofcasterbridge · 06/10/2023 01:42

BabyFireflyx · 06/10/2023 01:24

I have seven. Even in a small house they're not too much. They come and go from room to room. It is nice to be greeted by the smallest ones when you get home and at night I've always got at least three sleeping with me. I'd only push it to one more. I’m still able to give them all as much care and attention as they need.

I wish I could have them sleep with me - but I'm allergic!!!!

Keepitweird · 06/10/2023 02:10

Shadyboots23 · 06/10/2023 00:32

He's yours
I figure once you have 3, anything over that you don't really notice Grin

My friends husband thinks she has 3 horses, she doesn't. She has 9. He hasn't noticed as she keeps buying bay horses with no white markings BlushGrin

I'm not being funny but this has made me proper snort my vino - how did she 'hide' 6 horsss?? 😂

Toddlerteaplease · 06/10/2023 03:36

@Buttons232 come over to the litter tray for more cat advice. But you definitely need to keep this one. You've saved his life. Besides 4 is an even number. It's the law that we must have a photo.

DaisyMaisyFaisy · 06/10/2023 03:44

No other option you’ve got to keep him!

HerRoyalNotness · 06/10/2023 03:49

You e already got three, another won’t hurt

TiredCatLady · 06/10/2023 03:57

SabrinaThwaite · 06/10/2023 00:43

The correct number of cats to have is n+1 where n = the number of cats you currently have.

Apparently it works for bicycles too (which is why we seem to have a shed full of the things).

I think DH is hoping he’s in bay-horse-no-white-markings territory, but he’s not.

^this.

You have been CHOSEN, you are kitten mummy.

catnipevergreen · 06/10/2023 03:57

I've always had 2. We had 2 until about 4 months ago when we lost our gorgeous girl due to an accident. We've since rescued two kittens , who are absolutely gorgeous and fun and i think that's enough for us! I'd have more but don't think DH would let me 😂😂 adding a picture because they're just too cute

catnipevergreen · 06/10/2023 03:58

Ah the picture didn't work but they're lovely

Tilllly · 06/10/2023 03:58

SoRainbowRhythms · 06/10/2023 00:02

8,653?

Seems reasonable