How many cats are too many?

[candylilacs]

I have six cats. All but one I got from the county animal shelter because so may cats are euthanized there.

I can't adopt all the cats in the world and I really don't think I want to, but I noticed one recently on a Web site at the county animal shelter who was missing an eye. She's four years old and quite frankly in the recent kitten crop she, like all adult cats, will be left out.

I'm thinking of adopting her and my husband is like, "Oh, no, not another one. Quit looking at those Web sites!" If I pressed the issue, I could get another cat, but I don't know if I should.

Anyway, how many cats are too many? When does it become detrimental to the ones you already have?

I guess there's no right or wrong answer, but I thought I would ask the question.

c.

[Ash]

It really depends on the size of your house and on your financial means. And on the time you have for them. Rule of thumb is, one room per cat.

I can totally understand you though. I would love to take on many more cats - we have two, we used to have six - but my husband is totally against it, mainly for financial reasons. It's so hard to say no! Maybe you can actively get involved in finding homes for shelter cats?

Now I'm feeling so sad for the one-eyed kitty!

[Traci]

Safety and welfare should be the number one consideration in a multi-cat environment, as well as the ability to cover veterinary expenses. And by veterinary expenses, I am referring to annual checkups, bi-annual checkups and bloodwork done for any cat over the age of 7, for kittens-deworming, testing for and vaccinating accordingly, spay/neuter- and an "emergency fund" for unexpected situations.

If your current cats are healthy, non-stressed, seemingly healthy, active and secure, and if you keep annual veterinary costs in mind, and if you have the time to commit to a new adopteee, as well as introductions stages, etc, there should be no reason you can't adopt another cat. But, for some people, the more cats they have, they find the less time they have to devote individualized attention and care to them, which of course is not in the best interests for the cats. Individualized care and attention are necessary throughout the life of the cats.

[Ami_Howe91]

I have six cats. All but one I got from the county animal shelter because so may cats are euthanized there.

I can't adopt all the cats in the world and I really don't think I want to, but I noticed one recently on a Web site at the county animal shelter who was missing an eye. She's four years old and quite frankly in the recent kitten crop she, like all adult cats, will be left out.

I'm thinking of adopting her and my husband is like, "Oh, no, not another one. Quit looking at those Web sites!" If I pressed the issue, I could get another cat, but I don't know if I should.

Anyway, how many cats are too many? When does it become detrimental to the ones you already have?

I guess there's no right or wrong answer, but I thought I would ask the question.

c.

I would adopt but then again I have *counts fingers* 7 animals I have zoo