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EveHammond13

(2,855 posts)
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:46 PM Nov 2019

Talk me down - 6 cats is too many.... 6 cats is too many...

We are cat lovers. We have 4 cats.

Several days ago I saw of pair of kittens I want so bad. I cannot stop thinking about them. If someone else adopts them I will be HEARTBROKEN.

But 6 cats. That is insanity. Insanity.

Talk me down. It's crazy to have 6 cats.

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Talk me down - 6 cats is too many.... 6 cats is too many... (Original Post) EveHammond13 Nov 2019 OP
we have 5 cats. ANNIE, TAFFY, INKY, SADIE & SALLY. they are all rescue cats. GET THE KITTENS !!!!! trueblue2007 Nov 2019 #1
I just feel this connection with them, like they should be with us. EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #3
Six. Six, doesn't sound that bad 😬😊😉😸😽😾😺😻😽 MLAA Nov 2019 #2
We have 6 cats Danmel Nov 2019 #4
I understand my new job would be 24/7 litter cleaning! EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #6
I was doing cat rescue fostering for a while lapfog_1 Nov 2019 #14
also I feel like bringing them home is the emotional boost I need right now EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #5
Six cats is too many Polly Hennessey Nov 2019 #7
I need them! EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #9
We have had 5, and just now have "only" 3. 3catwoman3 Nov 2019 #8
so hard to know if they will all get along, but if they do I think it's good for all of them EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #10
Most of the time, cats work it out... 3catwoman3 Nov 2019 #16
adult cats will generally be far more tolerant of new kittens yellowdogintexas Nov 2019 #33
at one point we had 11 yellowdogintexas Nov 2019 #37
wow! EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #42
Proper introduction is key and you can find all the info on the internet...do not rush it. A cat I UniteFightBack Nov 2019 #41
Denying another family the joys of owning a furry friend, is selfish. HeavyHemi Nov 2019 #11
that's why I'm taking two --- I'm not going to separate these two adorable litter-mates EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #13
I've had four indoors in a 2 BR apt in the past. Get them. Grasswire2 Nov 2019 #12
Been there, done that HeavyHemi Nov 2019 #15
I have had up to nine at a time. House of Roberts Nov 2019 #17
I don't think it's weird or too many. Laffy Kat Nov 2019 #18
I took care of six cats in a farm house Skittles Nov 2019 #19
Nothing wrong with six aquamarina Nov 2019 #20
maybe once you get past 4 a few more is not such a big deal....! EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #22
It's not insanity. There's true clinical of that in our white house, oval office, etc. sprinkleeninow Nov 2019 #21
yes I know I probably should just go with my heart on this one EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #23
That's usually a sure way to discern all. If you can do it, sprinkleeninow Nov 2019 #24
I had 4 cats inside and one outside who would not come in. MuseRider Nov 2019 #25
if they are neutered early, before they learn how to spray it will not be a problem yellowdogintexas Nov 2019 #34
I did not know that. MuseRider Nov 2019 #39
If you can afford the vet bills and you don't have to worry about relocating six, then since you are emmaverybo Nov 2019 #26
Heck, 6 cats is nothing. At one point, my late husband and I had 24--16 of them were abandoned catbyte Nov 2019 #27
Hmmm, 6 cats. Doreen Nov 2019 #28
I have six. BlueTsunami2018 Nov 2019 #29
spares are a good thing. pansypoo53219 Nov 2019 #30
I have eight spinbaby Nov 2019 #31
!!!!! EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #32
let's talk about too many with some perspective..... yellowdogintexas Nov 2019 #35
awesome! EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #43
I've lived with ten. Harker Nov 2019 #36
If you love those kittens - adopt them. If not, you will regret it jpak Nov 2019 #38
2 kittens? 2 kittens the same age? Well that doesn't count as 2 that's really just one so go ahead UniteFightBack Nov 2019 #40
I'm going to agree with you on that EveHammond13 Nov 2019 #44
A former co-worker and his wife were cat hoarders. avebury Nov 2019 #45
As long as you can give them all love, a safe and clean home and have the resources to Fla Dem Nov 2019 #46
I have only one cat and that's enough for me. sakabatou Nov 2019 #47
Get another two cats and a fifth of vodka. nt zanana1 Nov 2019 #48
As long as you plan to keep them till death do you part Beringia Nov 2019 #49

trueblue2007

(17,138 posts)
1. we have 5 cats. ANNIE, TAFFY, INKY, SADIE & SALLY. they are all rescue cats. GET THE KITTENS !!!!!
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:49 PM
Nov 2019

IT IS NOT CRAZY


i think about Billy and Barney all the time. They are feral kittens we could have adopted but we didn't. they were wonderful kittens.
Go for it !!!!!!!!!!!!

Danmel

(4,892 posts)
4. We have 6 cats
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:52 PM
Nov 2019

It's crazy but we love them and we think they love us too. Loki, Boo, Chester & Zeke and Thumbelina, who is a polydactyl and Grigio, who is, you guessed it, gray.

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
14. I was doing cat rescue fostering for a while
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 12:01 AM
Nov 2019

had up to 6 cats...

I got a number of these

https://www.wayfair.com/PetSafe%C2%AE--Scoopfree-Purple-Ultra-SelfCleaning-Automatic-Litter-Box-PAL0014243-L1175-K~PSA1229.html?refid=GX99081592882-PSA1229&device=c&ptid=425934330914&network=g&targetid=pla-425934330914&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=54984887&fdid=1817&gclid=Cj0KCQiAt_PuBRDcARIsAMNlBdrfdYbCHfph6fBlriob9VB5upBzMSnROVzbHQE7eDpe1KUVNmAzYyQaAsdzEALw_wcB

they are wonderful... clean them about once a month or so by taking the old tray out and replacing with a new tray.

Expensive... but not really, not nearly so much cat sand and waste.

But they almost do not smell and the cats seem to really like them.

 

EveHammond13

(2,855 posts)
5. also I feel like bringing them home is the emotional boost I need right now
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:52 PM
Nov 2019

with all these GOP MFers just fucking this whole country up.

If those cats were here I think I would be happier than I have been in a long time.

Polly Hennessey

(6,746 posts)
7. Six cats is too many
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:53 PM
Nov 2019

but keep the faith you can do it. I once had four cats and three dogs. It is doable. Certainly will keep you busy. The two kittens need you.

3catwoman3

(23,813 posts)
8. We have had 5, and just now have "only" 3.
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:53 PM
Nov 2019

It doesn’t feel like enough.

If I weren’t married I’d probably have at least 6.

I once commented on one or another cat thread here that is takes me about 30 seconds to fall in love with a kitten. A DUer responded, “How come so long?”

If we don’t talk you down, will we be letting you down?

3catwoman3

(23,813 posts)
16. Most of the time, cats work it out...
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 12:04 AM
Nov 2019

...one way or another, and at least the pair of newbies will have each other as buddies while everyone sorts out the new social order.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
33. adult cats will generally be far more tolerant of new kittens
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 05:30 PM
Nov 2019

than a new adult cat. I had two cats which were horrid to any visitor cat, but when it was a baby they pretty much ignored it.

Besides, think about how much fun you will have watching them learn to be cats. We just finished fostering a small litter and they were so much fun to watch. I love kittens.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
37. at one point we had 11
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 05:40 PM
Nov 2019

Our 3 males raised from babyhood (Lewis Clark and CatZilla)
Formerly Feral Squeaker
Five Formerly Feral kittens
Their mother on the porch
and a stray picked up by our daughter, name of Fred
Eventually we were down to the 3 adults, Squeaker, 2 of the litter of 5 and Feral MomCat. The other 4 were adopted.

Now we have 2 of the old guys, Squeaker, Missy his half sister and the last of our foster litter. Because she was Untouchable, we named her Elliot Ness (that was when we thought she was a boy)

 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
41. Proper introduction is key and you can find all the info on the internet...do not rush it. A cat I
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 07:58 PM
Nov 2019

adopted from my parking garage absolutely hates other cats and I mean hate. I took about a year of separation and I used a gate with cardboard attached with binder clips....then I opened up an inch of viewing to desensitized her. Everybody at the garage and the building said it could never be done.

It took a long time but guess who is living among everybody now? She will never want to kiss or snuggle them but she tolerates their presence in their own home.

HeavyHemi

(17 posts)
11. Denying another family the joys of owning a furry friend, is selfish.
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:58 PM
Nov 2019

I currently have two. One was an escapee 7 years ago from the box with the rest of the litter that was dumped in my rural area.
The other is his sister a vanilla colored female who was my nieces, until she decided to go off to college. It was really strange reuniting two cats who had the same parents in the same exact place they were separated 7 years earlier. The main difference is the male cat is a friendly but 100% outdoor 15 pounder. While the blonde female is a pampered 20 pound lump of hair that is oblivious to danger and cannot be left outside due to coyotes and other wild animals. I digress. I was talking you down via guilt. My mother would be proud.

 

EveHammond13

(2,855 posts)
13. that's why I'm taking two --- I'm not going to separate these two adorable litter-mates
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 12:00 AM
Nov 2019

I hope no one else does....

Grasswire2

(13,564 posts)
12. I've had four indoors in a 2 BR apt in the past. Get them.
Tue Nov 26, 2019, 11:59 PM
Nov 2019

My only problem was that one orange boy HATED the new orange boy and I had to keep them separated for about a year until one day he didn't hate the other. Hahaha.

House of Roberts

(5,120 posts)
17. I have had up to nine at a time.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 12:14 AM
Nov 2019

The most important thing is to keep all their shots current, and also licenses. If that and food cost isn't a burden then six isn't too many.

Laffy Kat

(16,354 posts)
18. I don't think it's weird or too many.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 12:36 AM
Nov 2019

Do you have room and the resources to care for them? If you do get them--PHOTOS, please!

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
19. I took care of six cats in a farm house
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 12:58 AM
Nov 2019

Last edited Wed Nov 27, 2019, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)

it's OK if your place is big enough, you can afford their care and you do the litter boxes (we had three) at the VERY least, once a day (I usually did them when I woke up and when I went to sleep).

sprinkleeninow

(20,133 posts)
21. It's not insanity. There's true clinical of that in our white house, oval office, etc.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 01:25 AM
Nov 2019

I hear them kitts calling mommie! mommie! 😉

Only go around this way once...

💓

sprinkleeninow

(20,133 posts)
24. That's usually a sure way to discern all. If you can do it,
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 01:33 AM
Nov 2019

I pray God's provisions come to you in great measure for all these 'little ones'!

MuseRider

(34,058 posts)
25. I had 4 cats inside and one outside who would not come in.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 02:08 AM
Nov 2019

All were rescues but all males. I had all of them fixed once I got them tamed down and acclimated to the others, the dogs, us and indoor living. My only problem was that they sprayed a lot. It was a continuous job to keep that cleaned up and there was always that one place you could not find. I am down to 2 cats now, this was a very hard year losing 2 indoor cats and the outdoor cat and a horse. I don't even have a regular feral hanging around. I say get them. If you can control the spraying and can handle 6 cats go for it. So many need homes and help.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
34. if they are neutered early, before they learn how to spray it will not be a problem
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 05:35 PM
Nov 2019

When they are older (like OLD) they may leave puddles but they won't spray. The rule of thumb seems to be 4 pounds to neuter. Besides if they are girls that isn't a problem anyway. I have two 17 year old boys who never learned to spray because we fixed them young.
You may be lucky enough to find a free or heavily discounted clinic for spay/neuter. Cat rescue groups can hook you up with them

MuseRider

(34,058 posts)
39. I did not know that.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 07:23 PM
Nov 2019

I have one I adopted early from a rescue but I did not know about this at all at that time. He was fine then we rescued another. They are like brothers, they came to us within a few months and all was fine. They were neutered sometime in their first year. The rest of my cats just show up here and I have not a clue how old they are. If they tame over time and want to come in we work it out. They are usually late being neutered so that is probably the problem. Yes, they act like spraying but it does leave puddles with a little spray wherever on the walls or washer or.....you know. I have only seen one female stray around here and I took her in then she disappeared very quickly. So...down to 2 who do not spray and that is wonderful except I miss the three that died this year terribly. One never made it inside, only in a spare room with me. These kitties need us and if I have to clean up the mess, and it is a horrible mess, I will. I live in the country so there is rarely a lack of stray cats except right now. I think there is someone around here doing what I do and bringing them in and getting them fixed and also using the TNR people in the town near to us. I have seen several with the clipped ear. I feed them if they are hanging around but none seem to want to come in or make friends so I guess they have a colony somewhere.

emmaverybo

(8,144 posts)
26. If you can afford the vet bills and you don't have to worry about relocating six, then since you are
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 02:36 AM
Nov 2019

feeling it, do it. They will never be alone.

catbyte

(34,170 posts)
27. Heck, 6 cats is nothing. At one point, my late husband and I had 24--16 of them were abandoned
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 02:58 AM
Nov 2019

by our next-door neighbors who got foreclosed on, but we still had 8 at the time. We found homes for 6 kittens, but that still left us with 18 cats. We had a large 3-bedroom house, but it was still a circus. I miss those days, sigh. I say go for it.

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
28. Hmmm, 6 cats.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 04:10 AM
Nov 2019

Been there done that. 4 to many.

I would never had made a different decision even knowing then what I know then.

I say go for it.

Keeps the older cats younger.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
35. let's talk about too many with some perspective.....
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 05:37 PM
Nov 2019

go to this facebook page

Da Adventures of Franklin and Butters.
There you will see a man who can't say no.

He literally runs a cat shelter in his home. He does have volunteers, and donors, and so on. These cats are cared for as if they were his children and he will fight to the death to save one if it is ill.

Nightly suppertime videos

jpak

(41,741 posts)
38. If you love those kittens - adopt them. If not, you will regret it
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 05:46 PM
Nov 2019

6 Kitttehs to love is not enough!

 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
40. 2 kittens? 2 kittens the same age? Well that doesn't count as 2 that's really just one so go ahead
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 07:52 PM
Nov 2019

and adopt them now in time for the holidays. I always had 3 cats. Then I adopted the cat who was living at my parking garage...and they were doing a 'sweep' of the place and there was another older kitten there who came to me when I called - what was I to do? So she came home too and now there are 5.

If I owned my own home I'd have a dog or two too.

avebury

(10,946 posts)
45. A former co-worker and his wife were cat hoarders.
Wed Nov 27, 2019, 08:45 PM
Nov 2019

He would never fess up to how many they had but it was well

Fla Dem

(23,351 posts)
46. As long as you can give them all love, a safe and clean home and have the resources to
Thu Nov 28, 2019, 11:13 AM
Nov 2019

make sure they get their annual vet visits and shots, go for it.

Beringia

(4,314 posts)
49. As long as you plan to keep them till death do you part
Thu Nov 28, 2019, 02:59 PM
Nov 2019

I would think it is okay. I think people hoard during a phase they are going through, and then dump them when they don't want them anymore. I worked in a wildlife shelter once, and somebody dumped about 30 exotic rabbits on us. I could see them falling in love for a year or so and then deciding they don't like them anymore.

Also older cats can get very sick, and require veterinarian care.
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