How many cats is too many for a normal household?

[Rainyrunway]

Could have put this in the cats topic but wanted to get the views of less "catty" people.
We were devastated that our cat died over the weekend after getting hit by a car. And our other cat seems distressed, keeps raoming around the house yowling. I can only assume she's calling him. She also is much clingier than normal which probably means she's lonely I guess.
So we'd like to get a kitten at the end of the summer to keep her company and to fill the hole that our other cat has sadly left.
The problem is that while our resident cat would probably love the company, I think a kitten constantly jumping on her to play might be a bit annoying for her (she's 3 and a half) So we were thinking of maybe getting 2 so they could run around and jump on each other but resident cat will still have company while we're at work etc.
Is 3 weird? Will our house be gross? We could obviously just adopt an adult cat instead otherwise but I worry that resident cat will not accept an adult in the way she would a kitten (or 2!) Thoughts please. Thank you

I’m so sorry you lost your cat in such an awful way 😢

We always had one cat but got a kitten last year when our other cat was 3.5 and he’s been fine with the kitten- they play together and they go around together all the time now. So I think yours would be ok, but I also think 3 isn’t too many if you can afford the food and vet bills and have the space.

We have 6 and one who is not really ours but is always here and we're not sure who she belongs to so we just go with it. BUT we live on a farm property and they mostly live outside on the land, in the barn and in the farm buildings. They have access to the house but don't come in all that often. I wouldn't have that many indoor or mostly indoor cats, probably no more than 2.

I would say 3 is normal, 4 starts to be a bit surprising! (Owner of 2 but would love 1 more!)

As an aside when one of ours got knocked down we were advised to introduce new kitten fairly quickly
whilst remaining cat was still used to sharing his space. If you leave it too long they may become accustomed to being an ‘only’ so it can actually be more distressing. We waited 2-3 weeks before introducing new kitten and there were no problems at all.

I would say 3 cats would be the ideal, Dcat insists that 1 is the perfect number so we have 1 as she rules😻

Sorry for your loss, must be just heartbreaking😥

3 is ok. Any more than that I would say starts to look a bit like crazy cat people.

I have 4, l have always had at least 2-3. House and garden is plenty big enough, never had any problems 're cats getting on, complaints from neighbours etc, in fact the opposite, one set encourage them in and treat them as their own, but 3 of my cats are solid black and look very similar, so not sure if they are aware l have 4. H
I'm my experience 2 kittens works much better, they entertain themselves, love each other's company, not such a shock being removed from parent and other siblings, settle better in New household, and they leave older cat alone, soon get bored if he won't join in.
My older sister has 6, all strays and rescues, spend an absolute fortune at the vets, but again no issues. Younger sister has 4 like myself.
The more the merrier.

House is an average size 3 bed semi. Fairly big garden. Super quiet unmade road. Which makes it all the more crazy that our poor cat got hit by a car. We literally get about 3 cars an hour and the massive potholes means they're usually going about 5mph. But not this idiot. Hope he blew a tyre up the road.

I’d say 3 is probably optimal before your house becomes crazy cat lady territory!!
I have one and I’ve had two in the past, but when the time comes I’d likely be interested in a bonded pair.

I have DCat and just got 2 kittens (we also have a small dog). We got one kitten and then 2 hours later caved and got her litter mate (who was the last remaining kitten). I think getting 2 kittens together is easier on them, us and adult DCat. They’re bonkers and can tire each other out and keep each other company when we’re out.

Adult DCat has only met them briefly thus far (we’re doing slow introductions) but there was some nose touching and sniffing so hopefully things will go well.

3 is fine - we had 7 cats for most of my childhood, I used to sleep most nights with at least two of them, great days.

One is too many at the moment, he's being a dick.

DH and I have agreed that about 7 is the right number. We only have one at the moment but that’s due to logistics of living between 2 houses. Once we retire and just have one house we are going to make the local rescue centre very happy by taking on 6 or 7.

One

Once you have a cat, you’re a problem anyway for anyone with cat allergies.

We have three and it feels too many. We wouldn't have more than two in the future.

I'm not a cat person. If I go into a cat household:

One cat is normal.

Two cats is just about bearable.

Three cats is too many cats.

Four cats is a zoo.

I have 3 and it's too many I regret it massively. My house isn't gross because I keep it clean but if I didn't clean as much as I do then it would be. I have a robot hoover that goes about at least 3 times a day as well as my shark. I'm constantly cleaning muddy paw prints off of the window sill I have to do this daily. I can't have a cat flap so they need to use the window so the window they use is always muddy. Thankfully I have a trampoline next to it so it's not visible to anyone walking past but I have to wash the inside of it constantly. Everywhere I go I'm tripping over a cat. The third one brings in disgusting creatures all the time I never had this problem before I got her.

I have three, one is longhair so I hoover a lot, but house is fine! (If you ignore the spot in the stairs the youngest claws at). All cats acquired separately: had two rescues, then rehomed the longhair from a friend of a friend who was moving, one of the original two died and got a kitten two years later... all get on reasonably and will sleep together on my daughters bed...

Zero. Unless you keep them all in the house or catio so they don't kill all the small furries and songbirds and don't shit all over your neighbours gardens.

DDs are mothering for another feline, and I do have the space but long term plans to downsize and relocate when kids all out of school means 4 wouldn't be wise!

It depends how much you like cat hair.

I found 3 hard work, but I had 2 that got on and a cat that moved in that they didn't get on with. I guess it depends on the cats. Now I'm back at the original 2 it's a lot easier.

@CalistoNoSolo I won't be keeping them in but they (well current cat and the other one who died recently) use a litter tray in our own garden and I'm fairly sure from the amount of shit in there when I scoop it daily that they aren't using any where alse. Also the only creatures they ever bring in are earthworms (I think they are crap hunters)

I'm so sorry for your loss! 💐

IMO it depends on the size of the house. So long as they have enough room to run about and places to go be alone when they need, then I think 3 is fine. It's advised as well to have one litter tray per cat.

Friend of mine has 3 cats and I have to say they're my favorite friend to visit. 😅

If that's his happy face, I'd hate to see him when he's angry 😂
That's exactly how our cat looks when she sees us fussing over the hamster 😁