Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Six cats - am I going to regret this?

59 replies

RainbowLoom · 08/02/2015 20:30

Am I missing some reason why having six cats would be a really silly idea?

We have the space, vets bills/food costs would be manageable. I have two cats already, but I have my eye on four kittens, and can't stop thinking about them.

Would I be the mad cat lady?

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheep · 08/02/2015 20:31

I have 4 cats - it's madness I tell you - Madness Grin

Brummiegirl15 · 08/02/2015 20:33

Nah. I love cats. Have 3 and would absolutely have more in a heartbeat

But we have to draw the line somewhere as our food and kitty litter bills are astronomical.

But if you have space and can afford it, absolutely.

Am v jealous though! Grin

DragonMamma · 08/02/2015 20:33

Absolute madness. Think of the endless cat hair everywhere.

Maybe try one?!

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 08/02/2015 20:35

4 of the same age, at the same time seems an odd decision. They would be a mini colony rather than pets. How would you give each one time and attention? Your existing 2 might feel rather swamped by so many incomers all at once too.

rinabean · 08/02/2015 20:36

Omg omg omg. I have 2 cats and I'd love to do this. But kittens, they're awful, they're horrendous! If you think you can stomach horrible kitten behaviour go for it, it would be wonderful. And yes you would be the mad cat lady but why let that stop you? Pics please tomorrow once you've picked them up yeah?

Sallygoroundthemoon · 08/02/2015 20:36

If you have the space (am assuming you have a farm) then go for it. Cats are ace.

Irelephant · 08/02/2015 20:38

My mam has five two are brothers and then the other threes brothers and sister. They seem happy enough.

She also has six dogs so may not be the best example mind.

Yambabe · 08/02/2015 20:41

We have 4, in a small suburban semi. Would take more in a heartbeat out of love, but know it's not really practical. #2 cat has developed a nasty skin condition recently which the vet thinks could be down to the stress of living with 3 other cats in a smallish space.

If you have room, go for it. There's nothing wrong with being a mad cat lady as long as you don't smell of wee too much!

WorraLiberty · 08/02/2015 20:44

When you say vets bills would be manageable, will they still be manageable in 12/13 years when they're all getting old?

Original poster
RainbowLoom · 08/02/2015 20:45

Am I in denial, as I don't mind kitten behaviour - I love their crazy running around and it doesn't last forever! I love the mad interest in anything and everything that moves! (I have four kids so I do seem to like a busy house).

I'm trying to think if there is some major reason I've overlooked as to why this would be a disaster. Yes, I do worry about the existing two not adjusting, but equally they are very very close to each other, and if the others arrived as kittens, I would hope that the pecking order would be established.

argh - decisions decisions...

OP posts:
Lazaretto · 08/02/2015 20:45

Wow...4 kittens...you will be a cat lady! ;)

britnay · 08/02/2015 20:45

I would love this!
My husband, as much as he likes cats I think he'd find it too much.

Falconwolf101 · 08/02/2015 20:50

Not at all!! Okay... We may live on a ranch, but hey!!! Check these out:

Semi-wild cats (don't ever come in the house,purely for mousing the barns):
Gypsy
Robin
Hawk
Dash

Cats which will some days swarm the house, other days spend all day outside:
Snowy
Cotton
Talon
Vanilla

Our Xmas kitties- little house snugglies :):
Elsa+Anna

Original poster
RainbowLoom · 08/02/2015 20:50

Thanks everyone by the way, am taking on all thoughts - good and bad!!

Yambabe - you mentioned SMELL!!!!

Right, now that I hadn't thought of. Would I smell? Would the house smell? The kittens are litter trained, and my existing two have wonderful toilet manners (they will queue for the litter tray!) But I do not want to have a smelly house.

They would all be 'done' by the vets, if that makes a difference.

You also mentioned the skin problem, now that is sad. I wouldn't want to be making a cat stressed at all. I know that although we have the space, that doesn't mean that all the cats would want to space out in the house - they may all want to be in the living room...

OP posts:
JudgeRinderSays · 08/02/2015 20:51

how big is your plot? i think tour neighbours might be unhappy.Also it can be very stressful for non related cats living on top of one another particularly those at the bottom of the pecking order

Original poster
RainbowLoom · 08/02/2015 20:51

I could wear cat earrings, and a cat jumper, and leave my hair to go all frizzy, and enter a 'lookalike your pet' competition...

OP posts:
wobblebobblehat · 08/02/2015 20:54

It's a little unfair on the existing two, isn't it?

I would add one at a time personally...

candyflosssky · 08/02/2015 20:56

One of my cats got pregnant two years ago. Genuine error, thought she was spayed and she wasn't.

I have to admit it was absolutely magical for the first two months until the kittens came out of their basket and started exploring the house. Cat food cost £100 a week. Cat litter everywhere. Cats everywhere.

It was a relief when they went to their new homes.

Katinkka · 08/02/2015 20:57

I have 12. 6 is not too many!

kinkyfuckery · 08/02/2015 20:58

I think there's evidence that sibling kittens do best in pairs so I'd take two. Nothing stopping you getting another two a few years down the line if it works outm

Katinkka · 08/02/2015 20:59

I spend about £100 or so a month. A combo of purina one, Sheba and butchers. How did you spend £100 a week candy..?

Original poster
RainbowLoom · 08/02/2015 21:00

I don't want to pee off the neighbours - that is a consideration.

This is the way my silly mind works - there are four kittens in the litter, and I suppose in my 'human' way of thinking, I'm thinking if I got two, would it be like two versus two (our existing two versus the new two) and would they actually mix, or just pair of together. My existing two love love love each other so much, and two of my kids are like that, so I am making absolute assumptions here.

However, of course, cats aren't actually humans, and the if I got two new kittens, they may not even like each other.

Right, I do feel like people have talked me down to getting two new cats, and if I still feel like our cat family isn't complete I can always get more in the future...

OP posts:
Original poster
RainbowLoom · 08/02/2015 21:03

I should add my DH isn't keen on more, but if I did get four, maybe he wouldn't actually notice they were four separate new cats, and may just think he was seeing the same one or two again and again...

...joke...sort of.....

OP posts:
OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 08/02/2015 21:03

2 maybe. Please don't take all 4. It would be incredibly stressful on the older 2, and 4 cats getting old at the same time will be VERY expensive vet wise. It's really not a great idea at all.

Households with >4 cats almost always have at least 1 with significant stress issues because of the multicat environment, IME.

Bettybodybooboo · 08/02/2015 21:03

Ah I am broody for a new kitten now! I luffs cats. Go for it op. Grin