First off, cats don't automatically gack what's that smell? You only get that if you don't care for them correctly, like change the litter box, and have enough litter boxes for each cat. If you never flushed the toilet it would smell pretty bad as well.
Rule of thumb according the the ASPCA is 200 sq ft of living space per cat and one litter box per cat with an extra for every 3 cats in a multi cat home, so for 8 cats you need 11 litter boxes and 1600 sq ft of living space.
Cats that are spayed and nurtured get along and don't spray up the place if they are fixed before sexual maturity. Also, they like it to be clean, so if the litter is scooped daily and the boxes scrubbed and changed completely on a weekly basis you won't get the ammonia smell that TV seems to say has to be there with more than one cat.
They need spaces to hide and to get up high and away from each other when they want to.
Also, consider the cost of decent food and vet care. $107 bucks around here for the cheap spay/nuter and then the yearly $70 bucks plus for shots. Then the cost of flea control and if they get ill that cost can skyrocket. Plus litter for that many boxes, and the need for scratching posts, toys, and something like a ssscat system to keep them off the stove or away from the PC screen etc., and cost for a proper cared for cat according to the CFA (cat fanciers association) hits about 600 per year for a decently cared for well cat that lives an average of 14 years.
I run a licensed cat rescue and sanctuary, I have seen every situation in the world where there are too many cats. I have worn a hazard suite and vomited while removing them. And I have seen people with 30 cats who live in a 1000 sq ft where there isn't a smell in the house and all the cats are well cared for and healthy and loved.
Unless the law says otherwise, no set this is too many, too many is when they can not be taken care of fully in all ways. Not I buy the cheapest trash food, don't get shots and I can't clean up after them, then even 1 is too many.
I have 15 cats in almost 3k of space with 20 litter boxes and a dedicated "jungle room" for the cats with ramps, walkways, beds, and hiding holes. 6 water bowls and 6 food stations.
The oldest is 17 (we had his momma), the youngest is 3 ( a rescue who had been set on fire)
So is 8 too many? If the cats are being neglected then yes it is too many. She might benefit from fostering for a local pound, like bottle feeding kittens that are returned when weaned, or volunteering at a licensed rescue to get her kitten fix.
3 to 6 hours a day are spent on the cats here, of our time, that doesn't count the time volunteers put in.
And i have been asked --"I thought you had cats?" When people stop by.
Like anything if you take care of it it doesn't turn into a mess.
Rule of thumb according the the ASPCA is 200 sq ft of living space per cat and one litter box per cat with an extra for every 3 cats in a multi cat home, so for 8 cats you need 11 litter boxes and 1600 sq ft of living space.
Cats that are spayed and nurtured get along and don't spray up the place if they are fixed before sexual maturity. Also, they like it to be clean, so if the litter is scooped daily and the boxes scrubbed and changed completely on a weekly basis you won't get the ammonia smell that TV seems to say has to be there with more than one cat.
They need spaces to hide and to get up high and away from each other when they want to.
Also, consider the cost of decent food and vet care. $107 bucks around here for the cheap spay/nuter and then the yearly $70 bucks plus for shots. Then the cost of flea control and if they get ill that cost can skyrocket. Plus litter for that many boxes, and the need for scratching posts, toys, and something like a ssscat system to keep them off the stove or away from the PC screen etc., and cost for a proper cared for cat according to the CFA (cat fanciers association) hits about 600 per year for a decently cared for well cat that lives an average of 14 years.
I run a licensed cat rescue and sanctuary, I have seen every situation in the world where there are too many cats. I have worn a hazard suite and vomited while removing them. And I have seen people with 30 cats who live in a 1000 sq ft where there isn't a smell in the house and all the cats are well cared for and healthy and loved.
Unless the law says otherwise, no set this is too many, too many is when they can not be taken care of fully in all ways. Not I buy the cheapest trash food, don't get shots and I can't clean up after them, then even 1 is too many.
I have 15 cats in almost 3k of space with 20 litter boxes and a dedicated "jungle room" for the cats with ramps, walkways, beds, and hiding holes. 6 water bowls and 6 food stations.
The oldest is 17 (we had his momma), the youngest is 3 ( a rescue who had been set on fire)
So is 8 too many? If the cats are being neglected then yes it is too many. She might benefit from fostering for a local pound, like bottle feeding kittens that are returned when weaned, or volunteering at a licensed rescue to get her kitten fix.
3 to 6 hours a day are spent on the cats here, of our time, that doesn't count the time volunteers put in.
And i have been asked --"I thought you had cats?" When people stop by.
Like anything if you take care of it it doesn't turn into a mess.
Maybe a goat or two 
