How many cats are too many??

[sammyqc]

I'm not sure if I should put this thread here, but here goes anyways.

It would seem that I've adopted another stray, who feels that since it is very cold, and I am her friend, she should be allowed in the house! When my hub and I moved here, I had three cats. Two of them passed away, and a third ran away. I live in a neighborhood that is old cottage country, close to a river, but really in the middle of a small town. Some people seem to think this is a good place to dump their unwanted cats.
I adopted one tom two summers ago, and he comes in when it's cold or too hot. Last winter two more moved in, one was preggers. She had her litter under my desk! I now have three of her kittens that we kept. Momma and two are gone to new homes. (Everyone is fixed now) The other female is older, already fixed, and thank goodness my mom is going to take her in a month or so. So now, Whitey, a big fluffy uhm, yeah, white, cat, who has been around for a couple years, has decided that she really likes me and my house. She used to be super skittish, and would bolt if you sneezed. I'm not sure what changed her mind, but now she's here too!

Keeping track?? This is six, with one pending a new home. We live in a small 3 bed bungalow, with a decent size yard. The cats are fine outside in warm weather, but when it gets to -15C or colder, I just can't leave them out. Plus, my hub is allergic. (yes, he deserves a medal for being a pretty fantastically nice guy).
I wish people would take care of their pets. Don't dump them somewhere they think they'll be able to fend for themselves. Don't make some other softie be the substitute. If you can't keep them, find them a new home.

I'm sure as many of you have farms, you've come across dumped cats. I used to keep horses at a barn where it was a normal occurence, people would leave their cats, hoping they'd be taken in as a barn cat.

It just bugs the hell out of me, and also makes me very sad. Whitey has been around for a few years, like I said, and this is the first winter where she actually feels like coming in. She must be getting older, and I can only imagine why it took her so long to get over her fear of us.

Did I mention I have a dog???

[bluelacedredhead]

I have 3 kittens if you'd like a few more,

[sandbar]

Sammy, we had 5 cats in a 1,000 sq. ft. house. I will never do that again. Two was nice, for me. Currently, we have none and I don't miss the hair on the furniture and poop smell in the utility room. Took 17 years for that 5 cat herd of hacking hairballs to die off ...

We will probably not return to indoor animals because of allergy issues with visitors. I grew tired of asking, "Are you allergic to cats?" Oh, and I grew tired of the messes, too. Still, cats are my favorite pets. They are enormously entertaining and possess diverse personalities. When I'm in need of a giggle, I go to YouTube and search on "funny cats."

[cff]

Here ................ 1 is way too many

[oldgaredneck]

cff said:

Here ................ 1 is way too many

I agree with you there! For some reason, the neighbor's cat has "adopted" me - every time I'm outside it comes running to be petted - must be all the fish oil capsules I take.....

[moonlilyhead]

I have five cats and just adore them! Sonnybono, LeoBobSkinnyButt, Erbie, NekoBub, and Wilhemena, aka Te-Te. Sonnybono (white) is the only one that stays in the house all the time, unless I take him out to play on nice days. The others come in and out sometimes, but prefer the outdoors. Neko is my Siamese and the oldest at 15 years. Erbie (tabby) was a stray we found while camping up at the Buffalo River. LeoBob (orange) was abused and is now my fierce protector!
One of my favorite past times is getting out the laser pointer!

[Jim]

We had five. I put two down for medical reasons. Three inside cats in 1500 sq ft is too much in my opinion. I am alergic but have built a tolerance to my cats. Once the other 3 are gone I will not allow another cat in my house. I don't want any animals who do their business in the house unless their related to me

I like cats. I just don''t want any more.

[lavandulagirl]

We've had as many as three at once, and that was pretty much the very limit of my husband's tolerance. No litterboxes here - the kitties go outside to do their business. Currently we have Scooter, who is almost 14, and Pebble, who is almost 2. Our RIP cat is Guinness, and our prefers-to-be-feral cat is Cheddar. At the height of our pet aquisitions, we had a dog, 3 cats, a veiled chameleon, a hamster, some stick bugs and some fish. Currently, we have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Plenty!

[Jim]

we have the 3 cats and 3 pug dogs. The 3 pugs = one real dog

[sandbar]

clarkbar2311 said:

I don't want any animals who do their business in the house unless their related to me

;D Now, that's a great way of putting it! LOL

[Jim]

[flowerpower]

cff said:

Here ................ 1 is way too many

I totally agree. I am very allergic to cats. And I dont want anyone else's cat in my yard either. If I see a cat more than once here, I will trap it and drop it off at the shelter. The first time it just gets the hose or I let the dog chase it.

Funny thing is- all cats LOVE me!

[ohiorganic]

i love cats and cuurently hqve only one. I had 3 when we moved to this farm. One, Shiva, was killed on the highway almost immeadiately. The second, Navin, died this past August of cancer. I'd had him since he was around 4 weeks old (just barely weaned, still couldn't poop on his own) . he was almost 15 when i put him down. Now we are left with Trina who came to us during Hurricane Katrina starving, skittish and clawless. Navin spent his last year training her to be a cat-she can now take down baby mice and voles-and she is finally feeling like a part of the familiy.

I could use another 2 or 3 cats. We need barn cats for mice and vole control and I miss Shiva as he was our garden cat. he would follow us to the market garden and make sure we did not work too hard by diverting our hands away from plants and dirt to his head or rump. Trina won't go to the garden, she's mainly a house cat but will venture out to the front porch and lawn if it is warm and sunny.

[moonlilyhead]

I'm sorry for the loss of your kitties. I'm sure there are some at the local animal shelter that would LOVE a home with you, ohiorganic!

[moonlilyhead]

I once worked at a vet and eventually came to foster about 20 cats!! Way too many, I admit. I couldn't afford my own groceries. But people would bring them in to put down just because they were moving and stuff like that. So, I'd cart the cat home and the vet would give me free services for giving it a home. I had to quit that job. Just couldn't handle some of the things I'd see...
But, I did find homes for them ALL!!