I’ve had much more cats undergo my home at one time than I ever anticipated to.
I’ve gone by the overwhelming majority of the years I’ve spent with cats having only one, then at some factors, I’ve had 5 that I’ve been taking good care of directly, plus a further two below my roof in my basement, as a result of my brother moved in with us for quite a few months and had two cats of his personal.
In order that’s rather a lot below one roof at one cut-off date. And no, it was not enjoyable.
Particularly since not all these cats acquired alongside. And whereas not less than one or two of the 5 below my care weren’t meant to stay with me endlessly, within the meantime, I needed to play musical chairs with the cats relying on the time of day, with reference to who acquired set free at what time and when.
It was not straightforward or enjoyable, however we acquired thorough it, and now I’ve 3 cats (all of the boys) and my brother has 3 cats (all the ladies).
He took two of the 5 that have been with me, however sadly, one in every of his died abruptly from a congenital coronary heart defect that he was born with, however there was no treatment for.
I had 4 cats for nearly a yr, and I assumed I used to be going to have 4 endlessly, however the kitten below my care by no means warmed as much as me.
She appreciated all three of my cats, and was comparatively bonded to at least one or two of them (actually, they appreciated her higher than she appreciated them).
However she actually wasn’t a fan of me in any respect, and I might inform that when my brother and his husband came visiting to our home, she would gentle up and was so joyful and would attempt to cuddle with them and play with them.
So off to their home she went once I lastly gave up on attempting to get her to love me, and she or he grew much more cuddly and actually bonded to them, way over I’d ever seen her.
I might absorb yet another. However once I had 4, I couldn’t actually attend to any of their wants the way in which I wished to. I couldn’t cuddle them sufficient, play with them sufficient, and I wasn’t pleased with the way in which I used to be micromanaging.
I like to offer my three boys some water combined with kibble twice a day, for example. I’ve an computerized feeder, the PetSafe Wholesome Pet Merely Feeder, go off at different occasions into the Catit Senses Meals Maze to maintain them busy and house out feedings. You possibly can see my evaluation of the feeder and my full arrange right here.
Catit Design Senses Meals Maze – Amazon / Chewy
With 4 cats, this feels manner an excessive amount of to do every day. I did do it once I had 4, however with the identical three I do that with now.
As a result of the final one was a kitten who didn’t eat with the opposite boys, I used to be all the time on high of her attempting to get her to eat all through a day so she would absorb sufficient energy.
That was additionally exhausting, having to divide and conquer as a result of extra cats means extra possibilities of having one which your system doesn’t work for.
I solely have a lot lap house, and there are occasions all through almost each single day every time the temperature drops the place all three of my cats need to be in my lap directly.
Fortunately I’ve simply sufficient room. And sure, they’re all Velcro kitties, every in their very own manner. However lap cat positively describes all of them.
Has there being three cats made them any much less snuggly? Completely not!
And if I acquired one other cat I don’t suppose they’d be any much less snuggly both. However a fourth would imply I wouldn’t have time to offer each cat the sort of consideration they’re after.
With three? I really feel like I can simply handle. Not overdo it, not underdo it, simply sufficient.
Similar with protecting on high of the chores across the cats.
Aside from grooming, which I want I had extra time for, however I’ve two lengthy hairs and shave them myself, so it’s a little bit of a handful.
They used to hate being shaved, however I’ve realized make shaving much less irritating for cats that hate it, so even that is getting far simpler to do over time.
Although I completely want I used my Furminator on my shorthair (Avery) extra! That might assist rather a lot with hairballs that appear to offer him a cough now and again. Finest brush I’ve discovered to this point to get the shed out with out touching the hair that’s nonetheless in tact.
Vet visits don’t really feel tremendous arduous to should do both, although I’ve had a variety of good luck on that entrance and since they’re indoor-only cats, I haven’t wanted to take them usually in any respect.
Once I had two for a really lengthy time frame, that additionally felt close to excellent. Nearer to excellent than 4. So I’d say that for me, two or three are most likely the proper quantity.
However I like three as a great variety of cats, and all the time have, as a result of I’ve all the time felt like if one handed, I’d nonetheless have two who get alongside to maintain one another firm, and luxury me, then I might progressively introduce a 3rd if/when prepared. Being left with one simply doesn’t really feel the identical.
One looks like too few nowadays anyway, particularly after seeing how Avery as a single cat for therefore lengthy didn’t even just like the second cat and was tremendous stressed about him for ages, and nonetheless all that point, he appeared extra content material and much much less bored.
Now the three cats get alongside so stupendously, you’ll by no means have identified Avery had preliminary anxiousness.
I imply it. He’s actually good with them now. Positively appears to love Athos higher though he got here lengthy after Bjorn, however cats completely can like one another even once they didn’t initially, and this transformation Avery’s had is proof.
They may even snuggle up with one another with out me current. With out me having positioned them subsequent to one another, and at occasions when I’m not even within the room. It’s so candy.
They even play collectively, which is one thing I by no means thought I’d say about Avery, since he’s such a lazy cat and I might hardly get him to play with something even after attempting virtually all the pieces.
However with the opposite cats, he performs with them just about every day, and if they begin him off he’ll usually proceed to play on his personal for a while as effectively.
It’s simply been excellent for him having them as companions, actually.
It took time. I’m not going to fake it was straightforward for him after so a few years of being an solely cat to make that adjustment, however by this course of that I outlined, and with some effort and a variety of endurance, he did get to the purpose far previous what I remotely close to anticipated his relationship to ever get to with them.
I wouldn’t need any cat that I’ve sooner or later to be with no buddy, even for a brief time frame. And cats don’t stay endlessly. So I feel three.
In order that two can maintain one another firm when one inevitably passes and crushes me to the purpose the place I closely depend on the cuddles of the remaining two to consolation me.
After which I can convey a 3rd into the fold when I’m prepared.
Is it much more work? Probably not. Not in the event that they get alongside. And I now firmly consider that I’m able to getting cats to stay collectively simply fantastic, even when they’re not one of the best associates. Although clearly, once they do develop into finest associates, and even simply fairly good associates, it’s fairly magical.
Your Ideas on Having Three Cats?
What do you consider particularly having three cats in your house? Do you suppose it’s too many? Simply the suitable quantity? Too few?
What do you suppose is your preferrred variety of cats in a single home at one time? Do you’ve got different numbers you suppose are usually not so dangerous? What number of cats do you’ve got now?
Would love to listen to your ideas and in case you have any tales for me I’d love to listen to them! Simply depart a remark down beneath.