Is 3 cats too many?!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Freckle — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:39:55 GMT

aww - shes beautiful - i had three cats ( one lost to an instant rta recently), and they all got on fine, until my pooch died - she must have kept the peace, because after that they fought (not seriously - just spats) and also started bringing prey home. When i got another dog, they all settled down again. They still bring prey, but no where near as much! and no more fighting.

in terms of names, i thought 'bramble' as soon as i saw her - i usually like more unusual names, but she just looked like a 'bramble' to me

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Saskia Quinn — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:35:58 GMT

[quote user="Kimbo1985"]

My practice isn't a charity practice but we've done this sort of thing before. Once had a 3 month oldish spaniel pup bought in who had a broken leg and we fixed it and rehomed him. Such a lovely pup!

[/quote]

we done this sort of thing in my old practice, we would occasionally take on stray cats to rehome them, more often than not, clients would give a donation towards their keep etc until we got a home for them.

Our bosses were happy for us to feed them, but we had to feed them samples or sometimes free bags of food from companies.

The money we had from donations was logged and kept and if we ever had a 'special' stray that any of us took a shine to, we were allowed to operate etc whatever necessary, and pay for any drugs or consumables used out of our donation fund.

My ex boss owned a labrador for years, she originally came in with a very bad fracture on her leg, the owner signed her over to the practice as he couldnt afford the treatment and she was only a pup at the time.

He operated on her and fixed her leg. She 'gave back' to the practice in a manner of speaking by being our blood donor

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Snic — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:38:11 GMT

No we're not a charity practice, just a private one! It's probably why we get paid peanuts lol!!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Kim Buckley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:40:48 GMT

My practice isn't a charity practice but we've done this sort of thing before. Once had a 3 month oldish spaniel pup bought in who had a broken leg and we fixed it and rehomed him. Such a lovely pup!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:24:28 GMT

[quote user="Snic"]She has been at work for a few weeks, she was brought in as an RTA and has a fractured tib/fib. At the moment she sporting a horrible looking ex-fix[/quote].

I am amazed that she's had all that care as a stray! Just curious - are you a charity practice? I can't imagine a private practice doing all that for free???

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

xXx Cat xXx — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:23:18 GMT

I have 4 cats at the moment 5y N male, 4y N female 18m N male and a 6 week old female.

My 3 older ones get on very well the 18month old comes to work with me and all are house cats.

The 18m old plays daddy to the hand rear kitten and teaches her cat things along with my female. The older male is king and the others follow his leadership. (think he is gay though as he loves human male company and puts up with me lol)

xXx

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Beth Roberts — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:15:51 GMT

I dont want to be the only negative one here, but just thought I would add my bit. I got a new kitten last year, added to my 4 year old and 5 year olds that I had had for 4 years. They had lived very happily together for the whole time, cuddled, groomed etc. When the new one came along things drastiacally changed. The dynamics of the first pair changed, The 5 year old ended up getting bullied by the new kitten and often by the 4yr old too. AS the kitten has got older she has come to dominate the household. We were in a large 5 bed farmhouse with the older ones able to go outside in the day, a litter tray each etc. Things never truely settled and now as circumstances have changed (downsize) I have decided it is only fair to rehome the youngest.

3 cats for me has definately not worked and I would never have more than 2 again at any one time. I am not saying it cant work, but cats are solitary creatures by nature and whilst they often form strong bonds with one another, a newbie who is very dominant can really upset things.

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Snic — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:01:18 GMT

Yeah I hope her legs heals ok. She's not even bothered about it sticking out, it's tucked underneath her other leg in this pic! She's really sweet bless her.

Aw Poppy is a cute name! x

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

loopylou711 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:49:34 GMT

[quote user="Snic"]

Aw thanks for the help you guys!

We've just had a bit of hissing so far, mainly from the new cat because the other two are curious about her leg and go over to have a look but she's a bit scared!

The Feliway sounds like a good idea, I will get a couple from work on Tues!

So my new problem is I need a name for her! Isn't she cute!

[/quote]

aw she so pretty!! I jsut got my kitten and named her Poppy so cute!! But I love the name Bridget, Daisy, Lilly, Marie, and so many more!! She soo lovely!!

I have had so much hissing and fights with my new kitten, think it just going to take time and patience!!

Hope her leg getts better soon! And hope they get on great... eventually!!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:30:20 GMT

[quote user="Snic"]

[/quote]

She's beautiful.....I have 4 cats but they are all indoor/outdoor cats but get on v well, most of the time......I know that if they were indoor cats this wouldn't be so..... it would be way too stressful..... I wouldn't have 4 indoor cats

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Kim Buckley — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:27:01 GMT

She's very cute! How about Myrtle? hehe

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Snic — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:24:01 GMT

Aw thanks for the help you guys!

We've just had a bit of hissing so far, mainly from the new cat because the other two are curious about her leg and go over to have a look but she's a bit scared!

The Feliway sounds like a good idea, I will get a couple from work on Tues!

So my new problem is I need a name for her! Isn't she cute!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

loopylou711 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:55:47 GMT

I just got my thrid and the other two currently hate her!! Hoping it all settles down!! But nah think 3 cats is fine, that my limit tho!! Couldn't imagine anymore!!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

zookeeper — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:46:18 GMT

I have 4 cats, would have more but hubby would leave me as I do have a zoo of Animals!

I understand that the litle kitten is growing on you, a little black stray kitten was handed in and my brother has always wanted a black cat, he was going to come and get her but it was 2 weeks later. I got to attached to her and couldnt let her go in the end!

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Claire Cameron — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:44:48 GMT

I have 3 indoor cats, 2 neutered females (1 x 8yr old, 1 x 18month old) and 1 x neutered male (18month old) the two 18 month olds are litter mates.

I have 3 feeding stations, 3 scratching posts and 3 litter trays. Ideally I'd have another litter tray but they seem more than happy with 3 trays at present.

They all co-exist fine, no fighting or stress related illnesses or conditions, they all have their own areas they can escape to if they want to.

I used Feliway diffusers and sprays in the house.

In my honest opinion as long as each cat has it's on area to eat, drink, toilet, sleep and play and a 'corridor' to move around, the corridor can be a shared area then several cats can co-exist without problems.

SOME cats don't get on however, some cats do, just like us I guess.

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

Ellie P — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:37:42 GMT

my mum's got 8 cats and they share 4 trays between them but then they do also go outside too. she never seems to have much trouble but there's one girl in particular that likes to bully the four baby brothers but overwise they get on well. my mum cleans the trays two to three times a day and has been known to get through 52 tins of catfood in a week feedin them an the neighbours cats. both girls and 6 boys are neutured and fully vaxxed altho none are insured.

i on the over hand live with my boyfried and his family and have two yr old dogs and now 5 cats after adopting two in a space of a week apart. the two babies share one tray and the older ones all go outside.

what im tryin to say is if they get on an u have the time and patience ti care for a third one go for it.

Re: Is 3 cats too many?!

les punton — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:28:39 GMT

hell no, as long as all the cats get along together