How many animals is too many?

Quentin Nokov · Jun 21, 2011

So my mother brought home yet another kitten! It appears to me as though she loves kittens and only likes cats. Once they get beyond a certain age she's always saying she wants another. We have eight cats now -- and they're not barn cats. I like kittens and cats as much as the next guy, but this seems to be a bit ridiculous. In fact, it was apparently settled between her and my father that we weren't going to adopt any more and yet she went against her word.

My question is how many cats is too many? Is there anyway to make her quit bringing them home? She knows we're fed up with all the cats, but she doesn't care.

*Sigh* -.-

For those curious, this is the kitten we adopted.

Roxanne Mina

Polenth · Jun 21, 2011

If you're in a city, you might find there are local laws restricting the number of animals per household. But apart from that...

Rather than focusing on being fed up by the cats being around, I'd take the tact of focusing on the welfare of the cats. If she cares about them as pets, rather than accessories, demonstrating why increasing numbers is bad for them may work. But if they're just moving toys to her... you're pretty much stuck, other than leaving home.

blacbird · Jun 21, 2011

Quentin Nokov said:
For those curious, this is the kitten we adopted.

Obviously savage brute. Kind of like the two I just obtained, except they have black faces and paws and ears and tails. Frightening as hell, will purr one to death in one's sleep.

caw

rugcat · Jun 21, 2011

My gf has four dogs. I've discovered that while three dogs is a family and quite easy to manage, four dogs is a pack, and a whole different thing. Four dogs is too many, and one has to go.

Now if I could only decide which one to give up.

Lou of course has to stay. He's been there 13 years, and provided me with inspiration for four books.

Ruby stars in my latest, and was a biter until we socialized her -- she'd end up getting get put down.

Kaspar is the newest, but he's the sweetest, happiest dog in the world.

So it will have to be Tula. She's neurotic, still cringes when you try to pet her from up above, though we've had her nine years and she's never been threatened, much less hit.

Of course, she did come to us as a rescue, with a broken leg from being beaten.

If we took her back to the shelter, she's just sit down and die, I believe.

Maybe four is just an unbalanced number. Maybe five would work out better.

Fruitbat · Jun 21, 2011

Well now that is a precious baby.

I have heard a good rule of thumb is no more than one cat per 500 square feet of living space. (you could google "cats per square feet" for more on that).

However, any number that causes trouble at home is too many really. All I can think of is maybe counseling. Sometimes people feel a void when their kids are grown or they retire or other aging-related changes and need direction with a good way to fill it. Just my amateur opinion.

Good luck with it. :Hug2:

Al Stevens · Jun 21, 2011

We have eight cats, all rescues from outdoors. Too many? Nah. One of them lives alone in my studio and is good company while I work.

We used to raise German Shepherds to be guide and police dogs. We had a big fenced yard for them. Often up to six at a time. Too many? Nah.

We had three kids. Too many? ...

veinglory · Jun 22, 2011

If she keeps up the care... well, eventually that will break down if she keeps acquiring. Is there a tactful way to introduce an upper limit? Like the minimum space per cat rule or a local statute? The emotional hit of get a new kitten can escalate into a hoarding situation and I wish more people were alert to this before it happened like you are--it is hell to deal with after it has already gone too far.

High-multi-animal household can be perfectly healthy, or they cannot, it is good to think it through especially if acquisition is ongoing.

Evice · Jun 22, 2011

It can become too many if you have ever seen the stories of people who can't stop themselves aquiring pet after pet after pet and then causing suffering to said pets when they can't keep up with the expense/work in looking after them.

I would say as long as the pets are well cared for then you don't have too many.

On the other hand my personal opinion is that one cat is too many since they spend all their time desicrating other peoples gardens and killing the wildlife grrrr (yes i am one who gets their garden constantly trashed by cats lol)

veinglory · Jun 22, 2011

Evice said:
On the other hand my personal opinion is that one cat is too many since they spend all their time desicrating other peoples gardens and killing the wildlife grrrr (yes i am one who gets their garden constantly trashed by cats lol)

Also, you appear to be a rat. So some bias is to be expected

Kitty Pryde · Jun 22, 2011

I think "too many" is the point where the sheer number of pets is affecting their health/safety/welfare, or the health/safety/welfare of the people living in the house . Some people can't keep up with the needs of two cats, and other people can foster a dozen or more easily.

Evice · Jun 22, 2011

veinglory said:
Also, you appear to be a rat. So some bias is to be expected

*squeak squeak*

Pistol Whipped Bee · Jun 22, 2011

It looks to me like she's trying to fill some void. Kittens represent what? Vulnerability and innocence - playfulness. I suggest she needs to talk to a professional so she can find out what she's trying to fill or conceal and why.

Eight cats is way too many.

Ari Meermans · Jun 22, 2011

I think Bee is on to something. Your statement that your mother "loves kittens and only likes cats" is telling.

Canotila · Jul 18, 2011

Is there a local cat rescue she can maybe volunteer for? I bet there are shelters and things that get orphaned litters and pregnant queens that need fostering. That way she could get her "kitten fix" while helping them on the way to their new homes, without overburdening the rest of the family with too many adults.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 19, 2011

There's no pat answer. Too many for one person is not enough for another. If you have the space, if you keep the animals clean and the house clean, and if you can afford the food and vet bills, who's to say how many animals you should have?

Eight cats is really not very many. I know people with twice that number indoors, and I've known people who had fifty rescued cats.

I've had eight dogs at one time, but I had plenty of room and gave them all needed care.

roseangel · Jul 20, 2011

Too many is when you can't give care and attention to all of them as needed.
So it really depends, can she care and feed and give affection and proper medical attention to the number she has now?
Also, check on the laws in your area as well.

Buffysquirrel · Jul 21, 2011

I found four cats was one too many. They really don't like being crammed into too little space. That said, I love love love kittens, and only love cats, so I sympathise with your mom as well as you.

You can't stop her bringing home kittens, but have you thought of suggesting to her that she foster them for a local shelter? Lots of kittens need temporary homes, and they're gone before they become boring old cats.

BunnyMaz · Jul 21, 2011

As everyone said already, there is no hard and fast limit on how many is too many. It depends on circumstances.

How big is the house? Are there non-cat pets and, if so, how many? How do the existing cats get along with each other; do they fight a lot, is there tension and stress between them, are they able to all find a decent spot to rest and be away from the others if they need it? Are they allowed out of your household grounds? Can your mother afford decent food, healthcare and other bits and bobs for them? Are the adults still given love and affection, or are they ignored/treated as a nuisance?

If all animals are being treated well and not just cast aside when the next kitten comes along, if there is space for them all to have time away and if there is enough money for plenty of food and decent vet care for all, then the only limit is how many the household wants.

Although I find it hard to believe that 8 cats in a single house are all being showered with plenty of love and affection, especially if your mum apparently significantly prefers kittens to adult cats. One thing that might be telling. Your mum was told not to get any more kittens and got one anyway. Has she been asked to give out 1 or 2 of the already adult cats for adoption elsewhere? How has she/might she take that?

wombat · Jul 21, 2011

I was just having this conversation with a vet tech I know. We fostered a pug who we really wanted to keep, but decided that with the two we already have and all of their individual issues, it was too much and not fair to any of them. I said to him "We love this dog but you know, you don't have to have a hundred cats to be one of those people with too many animals" and he wisely observed, "Oh yeah. One dog can be too much, if it's the wrong dog or the wrong person."

It's worth noting that many places actually have laws about how many pets is too many. You might want to check into that. If there are any laws at all, chances are you are already exceeding what you can have without a rescue, kennel or breeder permit.

sheadakota · Jul 21, 2011

I think when you have to ask- how many is too many- it is too many.

KosseMix · Jul 21, 2011

There do tend to be zoning laws that affect how many pets you can legally own in your area. It may be best to check your city/municipality regulations.

Within the boundaries of the laws, I feel if you can properly care for each pet and afford its vet, food, and necessities, then you can't have too many pets. For some people it's more the laws that restrict them. For others, one pet is enough.

rhymegirl · Jul 22, 2011

I know a woman who has 10 cats. (at least she did the last time I talked to her) She has a small apartment in the city. From what I understand, that is not a good idea and does go against zoning laws. She loves cats and takes in strays, I think. I know she thinks she is doing something good, but really it doesn't make sense, having such a small living space.

Bartholomew · Jul 23, 2011

Siamese cats (not sure about other breeds) love to romp around in large packs, but they need the room to do so. What is your living space like?

tedi.s · Jul 24, 2011

Find someone that she will never have to see again. Have them walk in and say "What is that smell?" That many cats and the amount of ammonia produced con only be gagging. It would take a religious cleaner to keep up with that and it would seem like more work then fun. Eight is too many, especially if she stops giving them attention after a certain age.

Nexus · Aug 2, 2011

There comes a point where adoration and compassion turns into obsession.

If she is not taking care of the adult cats and seems to be into them only for their cute nature as kittens, then it is possible there is a mental issue manifesting somewhere and it needs to be adressed as soon as possible.

The definition of "too many" depends on the person. Some people might have dozens of cats but take them all to the vet, feed them all, and give them love and attention. Those people don't necessariyl have "too many", but if someone gets to the point where they are surrounding themselves with animals that they take care of in a peicemeal fashion (or not at all), then they have become hoarders or are on their way to becoming one.

How many animals is too many?

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