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

The official cat to human ratio is the # of humans in the household +1.

We’re currently oversubscribed in my house with4 cats. 2 years ago when we were looking for a kitten the humane society had a picture of a sad looking 14 yo cat on their website. 🥺 Turns out his human had died and the neighbors brought him in. So we brought him and the kitten home.

So sorry to hear of your recent loss.
We went for a 0 cat household to a 5 cat household overnight 13 years ago. I wouldn't recommend it!! We found a feral cat & 4 kittens one morning and they never left.
Over the years we've sadly lost 2 so now have 3 remining. Once they have gone, if we were to get more cats, we wouldn't have more than 2. Plus, we would only get a bonded pair from a rescue, not 2 individual cats. Although ours are all family, they pretty much hate each other. Two of them would much rather be in only-cat households.

We got a kitten when 1st DCat turned 2. Still can't say why we got the kitten. We just lost our minds for some reason
1st cat didn't like her at all. Both are indoor and he was very territorial. Took 2 weeks and they are fine. Kitten isn't as jumpy any more, they chase each other now and again and they both fuck about like a bunch twats during the night. It's all play. They are happy together. I wouldn't get 3

If thinking of having cats, always get four.
If you have one, it thinks you are its mother and will probably be spoiled rotten.
If you have two and one dies, the other one pines for it.
If you have three, two gang up on the other one.
Four and you have a contented family (and no wasted food as they all eat off each other’s plates).
So to answer your question, three more would be my answer – young cats and kittens would be best as older cats do not always want to adapt.

We have one in a normal sized house, I d love more but he found us from an unhappy home and I d hate to drive him away. My aunt has 6 and her normal sized house isn’t gross. I think three is fine! Sorry for your loss.

I have 9. I'm not a rescue, took them all in. I live in the middle of nowhere. They were all feral or stray, now they are our little family.

We have one and it is definitely not enough. DCat feels differently though. I would love 3

We have 3 cats in a 3 person household.
Each cat has conveniently picked a person to be their fave, so we all have a cat that likes us best for cuddles which works really well.

I ended up with three because when I went to get a kitten, the house was terrible and the kitten who would have been left behind was disabled. Three is fine. They decided that they needed seperate cat litter, so that was a pain for a while.

One per lap in the household is a good rule. The only trouble is that now DS1 has left home and DS2 is at Uni for half the year, four cats have to fight over two of us.
They seem to manage 😹.

We had three when I was growing up and it was lovely. More than that would've been too much I think. And expensive.

Three is fine. We had three for many years.

Also I think 3 and a half is still young enough to be ok with a kitten. 7 or 8 seems to be when cats start finding kittens too much.

I would say once you to get to 5 you're in cat hoarding territory

We have 4, 1:1 cat to human ratio.

It is a lot but doesn't stop me considering adopting more!

@Tootsey11 this is my retirement goal - middle of nowhere, lots of rescued cats, lovely. And @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats what a beautiful cat

I have 3, used to have 4 but lost one to cancer.
I adore them, but one won't pee in the litter tray, and as much as I love her, it's wearing.
My house smells, my washing machine smells, everything smells.
She's 10 and perfectly healthy so there's absolutely nothing I can do about it.
It's just me, so no one else to bother, or perhaps I wouldn't keep her.
I absolutely will be keeping her, she's my secret favourite, but it's made me realise that when my three go, I won't be having any more cats.
I'll miss them, but my house is seriously gross because of one of them.
(I've thought of all other options and no, she stays with me and is adored and spoiled and part of my family, I took her on for life)

I have 2 indoors cats. 2 is enough. 3 and I couldn’t keep up with the litter and hair!

We have two and two dogs. I think three is ok if no other animals. Four and you are going to be vacuuming constantly (my dogs don't shed).

If thinking of having cats, always get four.
If you have one, it thinks you are its mother and will probably be spoiled rotten.
If you have two and one dies, the other one pines for it.
If you have three, two gang up on the other one.
Four and you have a contented family (and no wasted food as they all eat off each other’s plates)

I love this theory !!

We have two now but usually have three. The neighbour stole one!

Three is a good number!

We went from 2-3 and honestly I haven't noticed any difference in terms of hair and litter, and how much work they are. Ours are indoors too.

The only problem is the expense, especially with how much cat food is costing at the moment. We can afford it but it's the one thing stopping me getting another.

I have 4. My house is fine. We did get ours as two bonded pairs though, and your older cat may not bond with a pair of kittens.

:)

@user567543 It's great, I'm the crazy cat lady that lives up on the hill! I prefer them to people and never turn any away.