Is it Okay to Own Lots of Cats?
Yes, of course. You can have as much as you can. This is not only about an oddball who has a bedroom full of 250 feline pets, as reported in the news. A huge amount of cats in your house does not necessarily lead to chaos. You may have heard a person asking why his neighbor's five felines get along very well, whereas his own three always fight.
Most people have discovered that adopting cats can be habit-forming. It starts when you see a stray kitten, bring it home as a welcome addition to your cat family, and next time, you take one more plus another, and so on and so forth, because by then, one more won't make a difference.
However, keeping all cats together in a crowded space is not only unfair to them, but also their caretaker. It is more sensible to bring a stray cat to a sanctuary where it can be taken care of by professionals who can look for a new home for it. How about owning a few cats like for example, three? Or else, how many is best?
If you have read some articles about cat hierarchies, you will realize the importance of personal space to felines. The way cats get along in one household depends on several factors - like how they move.
It is, therefore, quite difficult to strike a balance in a family of several cats. You should always observe your pets to notice right away any signs of disturbance. As an example, most people know that problems can surface once a cat reaches sexual maturity.
When the cat is neutered, problems disappear, but just for a while. However, they are not aware of another stage in a cat's life, wherein the feline is no longer a teen, but has become a full-grown adult (that is, attains social maturity). This occurs when a cat is between 2 and 4 years old. This is the time when she will search for a new spot in the cat hierarchy.
The cat might even go for the top position when the feline is both bold and strong. When the present top cat does not like to be challenged, fighting will surely take place.
There are cats that are happiest when being alone, and will not fit into a household filled with many cats. Therefore, when considering a multicat household to adopt a new cat, it is important to gather as much information as you can about the potential adoptee.
Lastly, keep in mind that even if you own 1, 2 or 3 cats, except if you have a huge household, your territory has been fully occupied. Any additional cat has to blend in by sharing the territory of another. As a suggestion, the territory can be expanded by including another cat tree, litter box and more food bowls.
In addition, bear in mind that in case one of your cats passes away, this does not necessarily mean that you can get another member to fill the vacancy. Feline social hierarchies are known to be delicate, and when they lose a member, establishing a new hierarchy will just cause significant disorder.
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