You’re considering adopting a cat or kitten but you have little experience with felines.
You’d like to know what people who’ve had experience with cats think about numbers. I asked my cat-loving friends on social media for their advice to the newbie cat adopter.
What’s an “ideal” number of cats/kittens to adopt at one time—why?
Janet Velenovsky (Virgina) Two kittens together are usually very happy. Some shelters and rescues have bonded pairs they prefer to adopt out together—this would be a great thing for someone who might eventually want more than one cat. Pairing adult cats is much more complicated.
Christine Hale Vertucci (Illinois) [I] agree 100%! I’ve adopted and fostered many cats and kittens, and adult cats can be a challenge to introduce to other adults. My two cats tolerated many fosters over the years, but until they passed at the ages of 19 and 24 years, they barely learned to co-exist.
Inna Krasnovsky (New York) At least 12! Okay, seriously, two cats or two kittens is ideal. Kittens and young cats have a big requirement for play—thus they need to either be adopted in pairs or to a home with another cat in the house that is willing to play with the newly adopted kitten. Kittens also derive comfort from snuggling and sleeping with another cat or kitten—another reason to get two.
Rebecca Cook (Washington) Two kittens! They need someone else to help expend their energy (just ask Roscoe)! Adult cats, it totally depends on the cat. Some need a companion (or two) and others are best left alone (just ask Nahla).
Photo by Zoe Willingham
Sarah Ashley https://www.purewow.com/family/how-many-cats-is-too-many
Just because you have a ton of space to let your cat pride roam freely doesn’t necessarily mean a healthier lifestyle for the cats. A much better indicator of a healthy environment is strategic resource placement. Resources are things like litter boxes, food dishes, toys, beds and windows. You’ll need plenty of space between food dishes and litter boxes (no one wants to eat where they poop). Cats also need places to hide (especially when acclimating to a new home) and places to perch (they feel safe observing the world from above). It’s also best to give each her own warm, clean bed.
For eliminating, the general rule of thumb is: one litter box per cat, plus one more. Some experts advise at least one litter box on each floor in a multi-story home. So, for Foxy and Jacques, we’ve got three litter boxes in our two-bedroom apartment. These must be cleaned daily; with just two cats, there’s already a lot to scoop and sweep. Urination problems are almost a guarantee with more than a few cats, especially because felines often refuse to use dirty litter boxes.
Cats from different social groups should eat and eliminate in different areas. Depending on how many cats you have and the various social groups that develop within their group, you may need to (literally) cover a lot of ground with their resources.
As Cats Protection, a feline charity in the U.K. that has been saving the lives of cats for almost a century, says, cats are solitary hunters who can become territorial or aggressive if they live in close proximity to cats from different social groups. You’ll know cats are from the same social group if they share scents. (Watch for mutual grooming or sleeping next to each other.) Cats from different social groups can get cliquey and lash out at each other.
Depending on a cat’s personality, she may not take kindly to new additions to the family. Even cats from the same litter have been known to distinguish themselves as being from different social groups. Introducing a new kitty to an existing group can—and should!—be a longer process to make sure everyone fits well together. Forcing two (or more) cats who don’t get along to live together can cause emotional distress (one cat may not allow another to use the litter box), malnourishment (one may prevent another from eating) and potentially costly vet visits (one may start unfair fights with another).
It’s also important to note that many cats hide their unhappiness. Hissing and clawing may be absent, but distrust or fear may permeate your cats’ relationships with each other. Again, with a lot of cats in one household, it’s really hard to keep track of these behaviors—both subtle and not-so-subtle. The fewer the cats, the easier it is to monitor actions and make sure everything is copacetic.
Basically, five cats who get along well and love each other are healthier than two who don’t.
Pam Johnson-Bennett https://catbehaviorassociates.com/8-tips-for-easing-tension-between-cats/
Living in a multicat household has many advantages. Cats learn from each other, play together, form bonds that can become incredibly close, and they fill our hearts with so much love and joy. Living in a multicat household is not without challenges, though. Introducing a new cat requires patience and lots of finesse. Some cats take a long time to accept each other and some cats never seem to be able to create peaceful co-existence. There are things you can do to help your cats work out their differences or even prevent squabbles from occurring in the first place.
Additional Information
How Many Cats Fit In Any Given Home
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-many-cats-fit-in-any-given-home-we-ask-2-experts
How Many Cats Are Too Many
https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-behavior-training/how-many-cats-are-too-many/
Too Many Cats
https://thejoyofcats.com/toomanycats/
NEXT WEEK: For inexperienced adopters of cats/kittens—outdoor or indoor?
