Having multiple cats in your home is a common scenario for many cat owners. While there’s no set limit on the number of cats one should have, some key factors to consider are your cats’ personalities, the size of your home, and your ability to properly care for the cats.
How well do your cats get along?
Cats are often perceived as solitary creatures who like their own space. While this is true for some cats, others are quite social and enjoy having feline companions in the home. When deciding if 3 cats is too many for your particular situation, you’ll want to consider if your cats like being around other cats.
Kittens and cats that are raised together typically get along very well. Common signs that your cats enjoy each other’s company include:
- Cuddling and grooming each other
- Playing together frequently
- Eating, sleeping and resting near each other
Cats that display territorial behaviors like hissing, swatting, or anxious body language are signs they may not enjoy living with other cats. Slow and proper introductions can help cats learn to accept each other over time.
The size of your home
In addition to your cats’ personalities, the physical space in your home is an important consideration when having multiple cats. Cats are territorial by nature, so they like having their own spaces and resources.
Ideally each of your cats should have:
- Their own food and water bowls in separate areas
- At least one more litter box than the number of cats (so 3 cats = 4 litter boxes)
- Elevated resting spots like cat trees, shelves, or window perches
- Hiding spots or dens to retreat to
- Separate play and scratching areas
If your home does not have enough space to accommodate each cat’s needs, it can lead to conflicts over resources and stress. Make sure your house is large enough to provide each cat their own space.
Time commitment
Caring for one cat is a responsibility—caring for three takes even more time and dedication. Be realistic about the time you’ll need to devote to properly looking after multiple feline companions.
Daily tasks will include:
- Feeding each cat separately
- Cleaning multiple litter boxes
- Brushing and grooming
- Playing with and providing enrichment
- Monitoring each cat’s health
You’ll also need to budget more time and money for annual veterinary care such as exams, vaccines, and preventatives for each cat.
Additionally, cats require exercise and mental stimulation. Be sure you can give each cat adequate playtime and attention every day.
Costs of owning multiple cats
The expenses of having three cats understandably exceeds that of just one. Review your budget honestly to make sure you can cover the ongoing costs of owning multiple felines.
Some of the major expenses to account for include:
- Food: Feeding 3 cats high-quality food every day adds up quickly. Estimate spending at least $40-60 per month on food for each cat.
- Litter: Having extra litter boxes means buying more litter. Expect to spend $20-30 per month on litter for each cat.
- Vet bills: Annual exams, vaccines, and preventatives cost $200+ per cat. Plus any illness or injury treatments.
- Supplies: More cats means more bowls, beds, toys, scratchers, etc. Budget at least $30-50 per month.
- Help: Consider pet sitters or automatic feeders if you travel. Boarding 3 cats can be $50+ per night.
Other options like pet insurance can provide a safety net for multi-cat households against big vet bills. Make sure you’re financially prepared for all regular and unexpected costs.
Signs your home is at cat capacity
Even if your cats get along fine most of the time, issues can pop up that indicate your home may be at its limit for harmonious multi-cat living. Watch for these signs of potential stress:
- Increased conflict over resources like food, beds, or litter boxes
- A cat suddenly acting territorial by guarding areas
- Marking with urine outside the litter box
- Aggressive behavior like attacking or ambushing another cat
- Excessive shyness, hiding, or startling easily
- Overgrooming fur to the point of bald spots
- Decrease in appetite
If you notice any of these stress signals emerging, it likely means your cats are feeling crowded and competing for scarce resources. Boosting environmental enrichment and creating more separation between the cats can help ease tensions.
But if aggressive or anxious behaviors persist, it may be safest to rehome one of the cats for everyone’s wellbeing.
Making a multi-cat home work
While challenging, it is certainly possible for three or more cats to coexist peacefully with the right care. Here are some top tips for maintaining a happy, low-stress home for multiple cats:
- Give each cat their own food/water station, litter box, scratcher, bed, and hiding spots in separate rooms.
- Have vertical space like cat trees and wall shelves so cats can spread out.
- Use Feliway or other calming pheromone plugins to ease tensions.
- Make sure to play with and give affection to each cat every day.
- Consider rehoming if serious conflict arises that impacts cats’ quality of life.
- Ask your vet for behavioral advice if issues between cats arise.
The pros and cons of having 3 cats
To summarize the key points, here are some potential advantages and disadvantages to having 3 feline companions sharing your home:
Pros:
- Cats have social companionship and playmates
- You get to experience different cat personalities
- More cats to love and receive love from
- Fun to watch their interactions and bonds form
- May help shy/anxious cats come out of their shell
Cons:
- More expensive to care for multiple cats
- Requires more time commitment
- Territorial disputes or tension can occur
- Difficult to give equal attention to each cat
- Harder to clean, scoop litter, etc. for 3 cats
- Travel and boarding more complex
The ideal number of cats for you
Determining how many cats is too many for your household depends on your individual situation. While some owners can happily handle 5 or more cats, even 3 may be difficult for others. Look at all the factors discussed to decide on your ideal multi-cat home scenario.
Be realistic – adding more cats is exciting, but will require adjustments. And remember your cats’ wellbeing comes first if issues arise down the road. Rehoming a cat is difficult but sometimes necessary for a healthy home environment.
Conclusion
Having multiple cats can be very rewarding, but also comes with added responsibilities. Evaluate your cats’ personalities, home environment, time commitment, budget, and any signs of stress before getting additional felines. Providing the proper care for 3 cats versus just 1 takes more work, but is certainly achievable with some adjustments to your home and schedule.