How Many Is Too Many?

As a cat lover we all love to rescue as many cat as possible out from the streets into our beautiful home. Providing for them as much as we could. Here comes the old age question. How many cats are too many? And to what extend will it be considered cat hoarding?

Although it is true that cats require less space than dogs, there are a lot of factors that we need to consider in order to determine how many cats a household could house the cats. What works for the neighbors next door might not necessary work for you, as there are different home dynamics in every household.

Here are some factors that will influence the amount of cats in a household:

• Cat-to-Cat socialization skills
  - It is best to allow kittens to miggle and play with their littermates from young and not to separate them too early, for them to learn cat-to-cat socialization skills. This increases the tolerance level with other adult cats in the future.
• How well the new cats were introduce
  - All new cats must be properly introduce into the household. These methods of introduction must be follow strictly and according to cats(both old and new cat) pace. Here is a link to a Cat Introduction Video [Click Here]. 
• Amount of water bowls
  - As suggested by cat behaviourist the minimum rule of thumb is "number of cats + 1". Meaning if you have 6 cats, you should have at least 7 water bowls. And if you have 3 cats you mut have at least 4 water bowls. *NOTE: water bowls placement should not be cluster in an area. This is to ensure all cats have access to the resources. As a dominant cat might hold the terriorry of a clustered water bowl to prevent others from accessing the resouces. 
• Amount of cat litter boxes
  - As suggested by cat behaviourist the minimum rule of thumb is "number of cats + 1". Meaning if you have 6 cats, you should have at least 7 litter boxes. And if you have 3 cats you mut have at least 4 litter boxes. *NOTE: litter boxes placement should not be cluster in an area. This is to ensure all cats have access to the resources. As a dominant cat might hold the terriorry of a clustered litter boxes to prevent others from accessing the resouces. 
• Cost of food
• Cost of veterinary expenses​

​To what extend will it be consider as cat hoarding?

In the above article we have discuss some if not all of the basic needs to keep a cat leaving healthy and harmoniously with other cats in the house hold. Hence if the above basic needs could not be meet, the individual must re-evaluated his/her life situation. Because exceeding his/her capability/resources(such as space, money, health and etc) will have an impact to the other lifes that is under his/her care.

To know more about cat hording [Click Here]