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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How many cats is too many?!

76 replies

Catladyhere · 07/04/2023 16:58

I have had cats for years. I had two lovely black and white cats first who are sadly no longer with us (siblings) who were attached at the hip - due to their long hair though, there was fur everywhere! A couple of years later and I now have a young ragdoll cross and a British short hair, who we introduced as kittens, they get on very well, though our BSH is way more reserved and doesn’t like to be picked up too much like many others of the same breed.

We are looking at getting another cat but I am wondering when it becomes too many… currently we don’t have a problem with things like fur because they’re both short haired and we groom them so they don’t really shed. But I am in too minds as to whether three will be really different to two and I’ve never had more than two at one time!

if you have three cats please tell me your experiences, would also love some general opinions on the negatives and positives of having three cats in the same house hold!

Thank you 🥰

OP posts:
Thethuthinang · 07/04/2023 17:03

Three seemed like a good idea before husband and I had a child. It was too many. They all became elderly at once and it was a lot of meds and injections and special litter wrangling.

Tootsey11 · 07/04/2023 17:07

I've had 11, now 8 due to losing 3 boys to old age. 3 would be a piece of p.....

bizzywiththefizzy · 07/04/2023 17:10

I would imagine your first Question would be what sort of healthcare you can provide to your pets . The worst happens special diets , ongoing medication etc .

Eggseggseverywhere · 07/04/2023 17:10

I had 6. Never felt too dcatted....
Is too many even a thing?
Yabu!!

RandomMess · 07/04/2023 17:10

I had long hairs, I now have Devon Rex- the different in less hair and no hair balls is amazing!

Still hankering for another long hair again which would make it 4 cats and a dog.

HappyMe6 · 07/04/2023 17:13

As long as you can afford the healthcare that goes along as they age it’s fine, I have two but I know I couldn’t afford to have anymore. So I’m very happy with what I’ve got.

missingthewinchesterboys · 07/04/2023 17:13

It will depend on the size of house, temperament of the cats involved etc.
I have two that are getting more friendly( common enemy in the dog helps).

MadeofElephantStone · 07/04/2023 17:14

I have 3 cats just now and love them all dearly but as another poster said they've all aged at the same time and require more medical input individually which often means differing trips to the vet and meds. It's more time consuming as they age than anything else. I don't regret having the 3 of them but won't be getting any more for a long while after they die.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 07/04/2023 17:15

I tend to think that you only have 4 options when it comes to cats.
You can choise to have zero, one, two, or many cats. Zero, one or two are all materially different. After two it no longer matters.
We've got 4, looking after them is easy, but it's bloody hard getting any peace when you sit down. 😹.

MadeofElephantStone · 07/04/2023 17:15

If you have the time and funds to do it though then do it :)

WhisperingAutistic · 07/04/2023 17:17

We have 5 and I don't find them difficult at all. They go out or sleep most of the time.
They are a mother and her babies who were stray. We went from no cats, straight to 5.

Original poster
Catladyhere · 07/04/2023 17:18

Thank you everyone :) yes all prepared for any special diets and medications as my two sadly missed cats both had specific allergies and the other a heart problem so very experienced with that and will ensure pet plan & insurance are in place! We don’t have a huge house, but enough room for separate litter trays, food bowls and space for them plus a floor to ceiling cat tree!

i definitely think this will be the last one but there is a kitten I’ve fallen in love with and it’s too hard to say no!!

OP posts:
HappyMe6 · 07/04/2023 17:19

Haha yes hard to say no!

LizzieW1969 · 07/04/2023 17:20

I have 3, which is fine! Though they get on well most of the time, which helps a lot.

It doesn’t work when they don’t get on, then two cats is too many! I’ve been there before!

FlowersAndBonnets · 07/04/2023 17:21

One is too many if you’re expecting your neighbours to put up with your animals shit in their gardens.

VeryQuaintIrene · 07/04/2023 17:23

We had 8 one summer and that hit the "too many" target for us. I had 6 for a long time, then down to 5 and my much adored little Manx died last Sunday so now it's 4. I am trying not to look at any rescue websites because my partner is quite allergic and I am determined that one day we will be a 3 cat household. But the struggle is real.

ClandestineAdulation · 07/04/2023 17:23

The limit does not exist. We currently have 5. Would have more!

Theraffarian · 07/04/2023 17:24

The main problem we had with two and then a new kitten was that shortly after getting the kitten , one of the eldest developed a condition that needed a special diet and medicine each day . This meant three cats needing to be fed different diets , keeping them away from each other’s food was tricky . Then we found new kitten actually wasn’t super social with the other two cats , and as time went by preferred her own company. In truth she was happiest years later once the other two passed away.

But in general terms, three cats isn’t too many , as long as you are happy to pay 3 sets of vets fees, insurance and well everything !

DemonSpawn · 07/04/2023 17:25

1

caringcarer · 07/04/2023 17:29

We had 3 cats until one of my lovely long haired half Maine Coons died. Now we have 2 and I'd dearly love another but worried my remaining half Maine Coon boy would accept a kitten or another cat. I know my little girl would not mind as long as she still got her cuddles.

TheHoover · 07/04/2023 17:30

One

JennyJenny8675309 · 07/04/2023 17:31

Eggseggseverywhere · 07/04/2023 17:10

I had 6. Never felt too dcatted....
Is too many even a thing?
Yabu!!

😂🤣❤️

Ashia · 07/04/2023 17:32

Depends where you live Op. Massive farmhouse with a couple of fields and a barn? 4-8 cats is fine. Tiny terraced 1 bed cottage? 2 sibling cats max.

But more seriously I would not introduce an adult cat to other adult cats unless I had to. You could try with this kitten but there is a risk the adults may reject it as it grows bigger.

JaceLancs · 07/04/2023 17:34

Most I’ve had is 6 but that was by accident
usually stuck to 2 at a time
all outdoor cats and are not allowed upstairs which keeps hair issues down

TeacheeTeacherson · 07/04/2023 17:35

We have 3, they are 15, 13 and nearly 2. They all get on fine now, but the middle one was a bit stressed at getting a kitten at first (and then later when he tried to hump her before he had the snip! 😂). I think older cats might not like the change to routine but younger cats might be better. Again, depends on personalities and how your current two coped at being introduced (assuming they’re not siblings)