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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Too many pets?

131 replies

DownUnderBound · 26/06/2016 22:38

Can I ask what you would consider 'too many pets' ? I am being tagged in Facebook things for crazy cat lady memes regulary ....quite often people make reference to 'ALL' my pets (said as if there are two million) so I just wondered what animals you all have and what your personal idea is of what makes too many? I'm watching animal hoarders and it got me thinking Grin

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NarkyKnockers · 26/06/2016 22:44

Personally I think any more than 1 is usually unnecessary. Not counting fish or things that live in pairs like guinea pigs and rabbits obviously. But when I see someone walking (or usually getting walked by) about 5 dogs tripping over the tangled leads I just think why? 3 cats plus is definitely crazy cat lady territory imo.

japanesegarden · 26/06/2016 22:44

If someone has so many that their QOL is reduced by crowding, or so many you can't care for them properly, or so many that they can't give them the time and attention they need, I'd say that was too many.
4 dogs and 2 cats here. Not too many [hopeful]

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 26/06/2016 22:46

Five cats and a house-bun here.

They are very necessary to my wellbeing.

Too many pets?
ohtheholidays · 26/06/2016 22:47

We have 3 Dogs,2 Rabbits and Cat that's decided to adopt us.

I think to many is multiple,where the poor pets are not looked after properly and the house looks a state and stinks,that's for most people.
There are other people that I think 1 pet is to much.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 26/06/2016 22:49

It depends on how big or clean your living space is.

If you live in a 6 bedroom house with 4 dogs and have a tidy home then fine. If you live in a 6 bedroom pigsty then not so fine.

If you live in a 2 bed flat with 4 dogs and everything is caked in hair and slobber then its maybe not so good.

tabulahrasa · 26/06/2016 22:49

More than 2 of an animal is verging on being a crazy cat lady, or dog lady or whatever.

Nothing wrong with being one though Smile

chalky3 · 26/06/2016 22:51

What matters is that you can care for them properly as well as your family and home, how many is too many is up to you.

My family had 20+ pets of various species as kids, my parents cared for them all, and us, very well.
We have 3, that's definitely our limit!

chocdonutyy · 26/06/2016 22:54

I've got three cats, 9 Guinea pigs a hamster and a couple of goldfish.
Yes it is too many but they just kind of happened, most of the guineas are rescues, only three were intemotional.
Ideally I'd have 2 cats to keep each other company and 2 Guinea pigs.
Love them all though and I'm only awake as my eldest piggy at 6 1/2 is not doing so well tonight, so just making sure she's comfortable before I head off to bed

Biscuitbrixit · 26/06/2016 22:55

More than 2 I'd say. Althougj my mum has 3 dogs. She find it a bit too much sometimes bit she had rescued the 3rd one from her neighbour who was treating it badly. So he was an accident!

orangebird69 · 26/06/2016 22:55

I have 5 cats. Quite a large house. I had more in a smaller house (yep, I was known as a crazy cat lady and people would bring waifs and strays to me which I could never say no to). We're sticking at 5. We lI've abroad currently outside Europe and it's going to cost us a small fortune to get them home Shock

DramaAlpaca · 26/06/2016 22:57

Two dogs & two cats here.

Any more of either would be too many for me.

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 26/06/2016 23:00

I guess too many is more than you can adequately care for, including paying for necessary vet care, and also giving them the time and attention they need. Also not affecting your quality of life, or your children's.

My neighbours seem to get new pets every month or so Hmm they have a variety of cats, at least three; a dog who never ever seems to be walked or to do anything except yap in the garden and attempt to escape whenever someone opens the front door; chickens, replaced every time they are eaten by the fox because they weren't shut away for the night; rabbits, ditto Angry

I think they like the idea of pets and the novelty of a new one, without any thought for the animals' needs.

JudasInTheTescoVan · 26/06/2016 23:00

I know someone with 18 cats, all indoor ones too. In a three bed terrace. She is definitely a crazy cat lady. She's "rescuing" them from abroad now as the cats protection league have refused to let her have anymore.

imonaplane · 26/06/2016 23:07

3 dogs. All loved, cared for, insured, walked twice a day. I would have more but I don't think I would manage to walk them all at once!

steppemum · 26/06/2016 23:08

for me it would be 2 dogs/cats. More than that feels like the animals rule the house.

But it really does depend on the size of the house. Big rambling farm houses in the country with 6 dogs is very different to 3 dogs in a flat.

we have 1 cat (I would like 2) lots of fish, 3 chickens, and a free range rabbit. I could easily add another rabbit, another cat, more chickens and a snake (dd wants one) but dh has said no more.

Original poster
DownUnderBound · 26/06/2016 23:08

We have four cats, a dog, fish, a corn snake! I do think four cats is maybe verging on crazy cat lady territory, but we have a very spacious house and don't noticed them most of the time they are spread out around the house in various rooms. Fish are a lively focal point. Snake in D's room. Dog is small. Interesting how different peoples opinions are, some say anymore than one or two is unnecessary and some say lots are fine as long as looked after adequately. Although I should stop here I assume Smile

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thundercake · 26/06/2016 23:08

Of we're talking specifically cats I'd say 3 is plenty. Other animals, depends on how much space you have. If you have a pet goat and 2 pigs and live in a flat in London then that's too many

steppemum · 26/06/2016 23:13

oh thunder - I would love a pig in the garden, but dcs would never let me turn it into bacon.

Original poster
DownUnderBound · 26/06/2016 23:30

I'd love ducks (for pets and eggs too) but garden is too small

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GinSoakedWhore · 26/06/2016 23:36

I like animals more than people so I can't pretend my answer is balanced. If your house is a stinking filthy mess of shit and you have more animals than you can manage and feed then you're not helping them. If you're well off and have 10 dogs, six cats and a llama on five acres it's a bit different.

JaceLancs · 26/06/2016 23:37

2 cats here - most I have ever had at one time was 6 and that was too many
I would go up to 3 now but as the current 2 hate each other (even after 8 years) I don't want to make things worse!!

Umbrella85 · 26/06/2016 23:38

When I was about 11 my parents almost bought a house (they got gazumped in the end) but I vividly remember us going to view it and a woman lived in there with about 50 cats. Just cats on every table, chair, sofa arm, piece of carpet, and they were all very happy. As a child I thought it was the best thing ever!

I think you can have as many animals as you like so long as you are able to look after them properly. As an adult I went to view a house once when we first bought and they only had one rabbit but the poor thing was stuffed into a tiny dirty cage all by himself right down the bottom of the garden. We didn't buy the house but I did report them to the RSPCA.

homeiswheretheginis · 26/06/2016 23:40

We've always had the rule that there should g be more pets than humans in our urban household. It's worked well so far...!

Sunsetplumset · 26/06/2016 23:41

i have two cats and its a headache with fur

Original poster
DownUnderBound · 27/06/2016 07:21

Home. I love your rule Smile

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