four cats - too many?

[Samb79]

We have two black boys, aged 6, that we got from a rescue centre and they were about a year old when we got them.

My two DDs turn 9 soon and have been clamouring for a kitten. A friend of ours has kittens who will be available around the girls’ birthday and we are seriously considering getting them a kitten each.

I’m slightly concerned how my two cats will take to them, and also worried what we are letting ourselves in for!

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Well I suppose two might be better as then they could hopefully bug each other rather than the older two.
I think it really depends on your limits. We went from 2 to 3 when I fostered a cat and tbh I found it made a big difference, now I know I am quite content with 2 cats max.

God I’ve always been a dog person, now I’m turning into crazy cat lady.
Four cats is a lot isn’t it.

Do cost it up! Consider holidays etc too.
And be careful of a kitten per child. What happens if one gets ill etc.
I hate the idea of a cat as a present. They can live for over 20 years. Will your children take them when they move out?
why isn't their cat spayed? Are you sure kittens are healthy?
Also our kittens were cute to look at but bloody monsters to live with. And they would never tolerate another cat in the house. So just 2 for us.

Four cats is fine if you can afford the insurance (factoring in excess) food, worming/fleaing etc. I’d have four if I could afford it! With introducing new cats, make sure the new and old cats have their own spaces. If possible keep the kittens in one room for a couple of weeks then slowly introduce them to the rest of the house. Shed loads of feliway!

I had 4 cats at one stage, which wasn’t too many. Expensive though.

If your DD’s want kittens despite already having 2 cats, I would be concerned they’ll get bored of these ones too. I don’t like the idea of animals as presents either

Thanks for your advice, it’s really appreciated. I don’t think I’m happy with four, and the cost is definitely an issue.
Girls definitely aren’t bored with our current two, they love them to bits and look after them very well, they’re just animal mad and would have a menagerie if we let them.

We have two cats. 8yo boy and 9yo girl. We had a third for a while who adopted us (we had no say in it!)

My dd really would like another cat. We have been advised 6 months is best age to get one as they will have had the op so only need to be kept in for a couple of weeks versus quite a time. ! Also a girl cat as that should be less threatening to the other cats.

A bit of me found 3 a bit much partyly just in keeping track of them as they were all black and it got a bit confusing....... - dh keeps joking about getting a pair and I know that would be too much!

I've got 2 cats and 2 litter trays, if you have 4 cats you will need at least 4 litter trays if not 5. Imagine that!

I have four now, two kittens, and two seven year olds which are currently being integrated. I've had anywhere between 1 and 4 over the last 35 years. Personally I think 4 is the ideal number (two pairs).

And for our 4 cats we have one large litter tray which all four happily use with no problems at all.

Thanks Grumpy!
I’d almost talked myself out of four, now I know it’s manageable! We would have similar age difference. I’m still undecided, mainly because I’m not sure how my two boys would take it. One’s an affectionate dribbly little man, who likes a quiet life, and the other thinks he’s a dog. Neither are too keen on other cats in the garden and we often have a huge tabby who likes to come in our house and they’re definitely not keen on him!

I have 6! Didn't mean to get so many it just gets addictive. My lot have always taken well to new kittens despite initial wariness for a few days. Costs per month about £50 insurance, £60 food, £20 litter. They all get on great

Also mine share a tray, I used to have 4 trays but gradually reduced and they happily share a huge hooded one now. I empty it as soon as they use it then do a full empty when it needs it, I use cats best biodegradable litter it's expensive but amazing

And having four cats does have major advantages in winter. (Picture from about 4 years ago when we last had four cats)

We have six cats. None were kittens when we got them, all were rescues or strays. The last one was a foster which failed as we all fell in love with her.

We have 2 males and four females. The boys, at best, tolerate each other but we have enough space that they can keep clear of each other and the girls are all fine.

Cost is a huge factor. Food alone costs us approx £100 a month in wet and dry food plus cat litter - we have four trays. Worming and flea treatments on top of that plus the odd vet visit. Two have skin conditions meaning they need regular injections and although none venture far from home, you always run the risk of them hurting themselves.

I am not sure about giving children kittens as pets. They already have two cats, are they not interested in them? Kittens scratch and bite, albeit not on purpose but can be very destructive and bloody annoying at times. I worry that the kittens will grow up, the kids will become bored with them and then in a few years will pester you for another pair of kittens.

Now with picture (I hope)

Are they outdoor cats? If so then definitely yes! We live two doors down to someone with 4 and they get a lot of grumbles and occasional crazy cat owner comments from all the neighbours because our gardens are cat toilets and birds stay away.
Also agree with others about kittens as gifts for children - they already have two cats to give love to and learn about caring for. If they like cats they'll like the ones you have, if not then theyll get bored of their own in time too.

Cost is a big factor. We have 4, 3 girls and a boy. 2 rescues and 2 we had as kittens. We have 4 litter trays, 2 fountains and fall over 1 at least twice a day!! Insurance is about £50 a month but the main part of that is for our 16 year old. Everyone likes a different food, everyone likes a different type of treat having said that I would not be without them and we got our newest boy just 6 months ago, perhaps its an addiction.

I wouldn't. Not because I think four is too many, but the idea of giving the girls one each could be problematic. What happens is A's cat prefers B, or both follow A around and won't go near B?

When we were thinking about getting one DP did, tentatively, suggest getting two, so we'd have one each. But we knew it probably wouldn't work out that way and, whilst both adults and able to cope with it I know we'd both have been disappointed if one ended up with two cats and the other none.

In our house 4 cats has always been the 'right' number, but we are child free with a reasonable disposable income (we also foster and there are currently 12! cats in our house, aged between 4 weeks and 10 years).

When people, especially DCs wanting kittens, it's always worth remembering that the tiny cutesy kitten stage is relatively short lived and then they obviously grow into normal adult cats. Will they lose interest in a few months time? Or want more kittens?

If you have space, would you consider fostering? The spring/summer of each year is known as 'kitten season' when all the rescues are over-run with kittens needing to be looked after in foster homes prior to permanent rehoming. It can be a good way to do some good for the cat population without permanently committing to ownership.

I've got 15 cats so I can't comment 😂😂😂 plus thirty something other pets....four is fine!