Here are a few of my favorite cat quotes: “It’s all about catitude;” “Dogs have masters, cats have servants,” “The cat has too much vitality to be without a heart;” “Time spent with cats is never wasted.”
“You can never have too many cats,” “One cat simply leads to another,” and anything containing the phrases “crazy cat woman” are my least favorites. I don’t think I’m insane since I live with nine cats! At least, I don’t believe I am.
And the reality is that you may have too many cats, and one cat does not always need another. Some cats prefer to live alone.
I know folks who can’t care for just one cat and some who can offer beautiful lifestyles for 20 or 30. Here are some things to consider before your one cat leads to another and another and another.
- Is your cat looking for a new friend? This is the most crucial of all questions. If you believe the answer is most likely no, be content with your one cat, enjoy her companionship, and assist the others who pull at your emotions find suitable homes.
- Do you have enough space for another cat? You don’t have to live in a big house to have a lot of cats. Cats, on the other hand, need a certain degree of personal space. Cats, on the other hand, like to position themselves vertically. Do you have space for high areas, such as floor-to-ceiling cat trees, as well as low locations, such as boxes and tunnels?
- How about feeding stations and litter boxes? It’s a good idea to have two boxes even if you only have one cat, but two or more boxes are required if you have more than one. Additionally, numerous cats will be happier and less agitated if they have food and litter boxes in various areas.
- Can you afford more than one cat? Remember to account for the expense of yearly exams and medical attention if a pet becomes ill, in addition to food and litter. Living with cats is unpleasant if you are always concerned about how you will pay for their medical care.
- Do you have room for many cats? Every cat will want to spend time with you alone to hug or play a favorite game. If you’re short on time and can’t offer numerous cats the attention they need, it’s better to keep your cat family to just one or two.
- Can you make provisions for many cats if you outlive them or are unable to care for them? We don’t want to think about it, but we should. It’s tough to find a new home for only one cat. Many people are having even more difficulty finding housing. Unfortunately, many great cats end up in shelters because their owners did not plan ahead of time for them.
- Can you meet the sanitation requirements of many cats? Cats urinate, litter boxes must be scooped, and accidents occur. Many cats may result in a lot of housekeeping duties, and failing to keep up is not only unpleasant for the cats, but it’s also a fast way to be called “crazy cat woman.”
My huge cat family seems to amuse my neighbors. Even though they should be accustomed to it by now, they are always shocked when the cats greet me at my vehicle when I get home and accompany me on my nightly walks. But, although they may think the entire thing is strange, they know I’m not the crazy cat woman, and they also know you can never have too many cats. I can live with nine indoor/outdoor cats and they will be happy and healthy. 10 would be one too many for us, and we would certainly have too many cats.