Posted: 4/28/2025 10:45:01 AM EDT
[Last Edit: bw77][Edited]
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How many indoor cats is too many? We had 3 cats 100% indoor. One passed last month and We are looking to adopt another. Currently we have 2 female cats around 10-12 years old. We were looking for a male cat but now both my Wife and I found one each that we really want to adopt. We both agreed on one, but I really hate to leave the other one behind. So potentially we would have 4 cats in a 2000sq foot home. Just me and my wife. No kids and no other pets. 3 was very manageable no problem. Im worried a 4th cat will be too much especially introducing 2 new cats at once. |
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So a few "rules" with cats. Litter boxes should be the greater of cats + 1 or floors + 1. This is to help with finicky or lazy ass cats. We've experienced both. Some cats hate, hate new cats coming in and will be aggressive to the cat and defiant to the owner for allowing it. We had a cat that would shit in the center of the bed just to protest. That cat didn't stick around. Really depends on how well you can keep up on it. We have had as many as four in a 1,000 SF home, and we currently have 2 in a 4,200 SF home. I think we could go up to three but litter robots are expensive.  I'd personally not get four in your situation if I were you. Looking back, we were young and crazy. I think three would be my personal limit today. But everyone is different. |
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Originally Posted By -Obsessed-: So a few "rules" with cats. Litter boxes should be the greater of cats + 1 or floors + 1. This is to help with finicky or lazy ass cats. We've experienced both. Some cats hate, hate new cats coming in and will be aggressive to the cat and defiant to the owner for allowing it. We had a cat that would shit in the center of the bed just to protest. That cat didn't stick around. Really depends on how well you can keep up on it. We have had as many as four in a 1,000 SF home, and we currently have 2 in a 4,200 SF home. I think we could go up to three but litter robots are expensive. I'd personally not get four in your situation if I were you. Looking back, we were young and crazy. I think three would be my personal limit today. But everyone is different. We just bought a litter robot lol. Im still skeptical on if both cats will like it. We set it up yesterday and my big cat (not fat just really big) barely fits in it but she used it already. My little cat is super skittish and still hasn't worked up the guts to try it yet. We had 3 cats and one big litter box and we had no issues. I scooped 1-2 times a day religiously though. My big calico didnt seem to mind when we adopted the last cat. Although sometimes they fight over cuddle time with my wife. Im not sure how they will react to the new male though. Let alone two of them. We are getting them from the local cat cafe so if one didn't jive we could possibly bring him back and not worry that they would gas him. I hate to do that though. Once we adopt them we wont want to return them. Unless its a catastrophic pain in the ass (major fighting or spraying) |
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Originally Posted By bw77: We just bought a litter robot lol. Im still skeptical on if both cats will like it. We set it up yesterday and my big cat (not fat just really big) barely fits in it but she used it already. My little cat is super skittish and still hasn't worked up the guts to try it yet. We had 3 cats and one big litter box and we had no issues. I scooped 1-2 times a day religiously though. My big calico didnt seem to mind when we adopted the last cat. Although sometimes they fight over cuddle time with my wife. Im not sure how they will react to the new male though. Let alone two of them. We are getting them from the local cat cafe so if one didn't jive we could possibly bring him back and not worry that they would gas him. I hate to do that though. Once we adopt them we wont want to return them. Unless its a catastrophic pain in the ass (major fighting or spraying) Ultimately, you know your current cats best and how they are likely to take new "intruders." And some cats are way more lax on litter box demands. We have had cats where one shared box is fine. Others protested until we put one on a floor or added a second, etc. I just mention it because your current cats not caring doesn't mean your new cats won't care either. Just a watch out. We have two currently and they share one, and we have three floors. They are very chill about it but that's what personally gives me the most pause to add a third cat for us, the chances of them all being happy with one with a third cat is approaching zero. |
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In your particular situation, get two about the same age so the older ones can bow out of participating in the schennanigans. Realistically, "as many cats as you can keep up with the litter boxes and cleaning". Four cats, is a lot. That's a herd. In the winter, you will always have one on you no matter what. Which, you may want. I'd try to talk you out of getting any more but I know that's not going to work so I won't. |
100%-PureBlood-100%
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I'd say 3 cats is max....and that's assuming you are cleaning their litter box(S) on a daily basis. Indoor cats stink!!! I know I know...all you "Cat people" saying "my house doesn't smell like a cat"....yes, yes it done. I've never known anyone with an indoor cat that didn't have a house that smelled like a litter box. 
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My opinion, All cats should be fixed, especially outdoor. Two indoor cats is PLENTY... Three is too many. Two to four outdoor Mouser cats is plenty, but need fixed. Other wise they multiple and compound. Jus like homeless. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
| I am a firm believer that your house is your castle. What anyone else thinks really doesn't matter. That doesn't mean don't listen to people, take advice, etc., but it is your house and do what makes you happy. The ex and I had 2 fulltime indoor cats, and at least two more indoor/outdoor cats at the same time and as long as we kept up with them it was fine. People that hate cats will say one is too many, cat lovers will say the more the merrier, LOL. |
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Well in true ARF fashion we decided the only answer was “ get both”. My wife texted that she got to the cat cafe and both cats immediately ran up and greeted her. We decided we couldn't leave the other one behind. They came home yesterday and are currently settling in in the office. It has a glass door so the other two cats can see them and smell each other under the door with neither side feeling threatened. My Calico hissed and doesnt want anything to do with the newcomers, but shes a bit of a diva so shes probably just being dramatic. Shes not normally aggressive. My other cat is very curious and sits at the door watching. As for the newcomers, the bug guy (we’re thinking his name will be Ezra) is very talkative and busy walking around the office and wanting to get out into the house. Hope he wont be a problem as hes not shy at all and may make the other cats feel threatened. The 2nd new guy, who is yet to be named although the wife like “Kona”, is really shy and hiding under the bookcase. He came out with some coaxing and ate a little bit but went back into hiding. Both these cats were familiar with each other and hung out near each other in the cafe so hes not scared of the big guy. Time will tell, we will give it a few weeks and if one isnt meshing we can take him back to the cat cafe no problem and we at least know he will be in good hands till he gets another home. Not like the humane society where hed be in a cage and could get the gas if not adopted. The shy one. I think hes part British Blue Attached File Attached File The big guy not sure but he actual looks like he has some bengal. Its hard to tell in pics how big he is , but for reference my wife is tall 5’10”. Attached File Attached File |
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Its been a rough first week with my little cat refusing to accept the newcomers. My Calico hissed at them the first few days now shes cuddling with the new big boy. Attached File |
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The best answer is somewhere at the intersection of “how many do you want?” And “how many can you clean up after?” And “how many can you afford?” Vet care and feed adds up, especially if you get a cat or cats with health issues. Litter boxes need tended daily or more often depending on how pungent your brood is. And there’s the simple question of how many you realistically want. It sounds like you both don’t have significant objections to 4, but you have to factor in the other points as well. |
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Somewhere you jumped the monogomy shark and landed in beastiality - Stickfigure
24/365 Most Likely to Outshoot Her Spouse
24/365 Most Likely to Eat Your Heart
Somewhere you jumped the monogomy shark and landed in beastiality - Stickfigure
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Simple answer is "However many you want, so long as you can take care of them and not become a nuisance to your neighbors". That includes keeping things clean, making sure your pets have enough food/water, giving them enough attention, taking care of medical issues, not letting them breed freely, not let letting them freely roam the neighborhood (I don't care how cuddly fluffy is, a pet that enters someone elses property w/o their permission is being a nuisance), etc. So long as the above are covered, if you can support 50 cats and want to do so, have at it. |
"Always consider the possibility that you may be wrong. Especially when you are absolutely certain you are right."
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A dozen here. GF has 11 dogs. We’ve never really had friends over on any regular basis. It’s a double wide in rural WV, so definitely not fancy. We’ve volunteered to sacrifice “nice” for “acceptable”. There are 5 boxes and I clean them at least twice a day. We both work at the local shelter and I am a fill in animal control officer, so I’m fully aware of what “out of control” looks and smells like. One cat was marking, and as it was originally a stray, went back outside til our last brutal winter. I’m a sucker and took him back in…and he thankfully corrected his ways. We’re not people people, we’re animal people, so we make it work. Yeah it drives me crazy at times, but when I go spend a week visiting my elderly and pet-free father, it feels alien not having a cat jump on me every morning. I’ll admit 12 is too many, but a soft heart and circumstances get you in difficult predicaments. I won’t take any more at the moment, but I can’t imagine life without my own cat blanket. |
