Should we adopt cat #4?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Ok, so we’re giving ourselves 24 hours to consider, and in the meantime I’m throwing this out to the Dope!

We currently have 3 cats - one 8yr old female (Phebe - Boy from Mars’s cat from a previous relationship), and 2 younger boys (Milo,around 2yrs 2 months, and Loki,17 months). All cats have been desexed, and get along in relative harmony - the boys get on great, and as long as they leave Phebe alone, she’s happy too. Phebe and Milo are outdoors cats, and Loki generally indoors - he’s white with pink nose and ears.

OK, so this week BFM went to the local animal shelter where we got Milo and Loki from, and fell in love again with another little boy. This weekend at our vet, our vet was telling us that he has 4 cats - we start joking that we can have one more then, and he said he didn’t think there would be a huge problem with us getting one more - but suggested a young boy to assist with dynamics. I called my sister - also a vet, and she agrees with him.

BFM reminds me of this cat, and I throw it to the fates - if we get to the shelter, and he’s still there, he can come home.

So we go, and they’re open, and he’s still there…

He’s not been fixed though, so we left giving ourselves 24 hours to consider. Other factors - this is a 3 week kill shelter, so we know if he doesn’t find a home he may not have a future. He was very timid, but clung to me and began purring madly, and I think he could be a nice boy once he gets settled somewhere. We’re currently trying to have a baby, and we could have a baby in the house in the next year.

So, Dopers, what do we think? There could be baby kitty photos in if for you if the answer is yes…

2

I will vote yes.

The baby kittah pictures had no influence on my vote. :wink:

Just remember to add a litter box and more toys. You can never have enough toys. Even though my dang cats would rather play with wayward strays and milk rings.

3

it should work. my group is about the same ages as yours. one is 7, one is a yearling, and one is 8 months old. the 8 month old would love me to get someone else to entertain the yearling.

4

I have four - three girls and one boy. Two of my girl cats are older (14 and 6), but my 2 year-old girl and my boy kitten are best buds. I like it because Isabel (the 2y/o) was getting bored with the older cats and now she has a playmate.

5

I have way more than 4 and I admit it’s too many. The perils of working at a vet hospital and taking one too many kittens home to treat and foster and falling in love and not being able to part with them. Anyway, 4 is probably a manageable amount and I have pledged that once the majority of mine go to kitty heaven that I will never have more than 4 again … unless I win the lottery and can buy a bigger house. :smiley:

Anyway, if you have the room so that every cat can go somewhere for alone time if needed and you can have one litterbox each plus a spare, and you have the time to be able to give each of them some personal attention, then go for it.

Of course I am currently fostering 3 kittens that I will definitely not be keeping (learned my lesson finally) so I am inclined to encouraging people to adopt needy kittens.

6

Crazy cat lady syndrome is defined clinically as having 5 cats or more and wearing odd clothes plus having a strange smell in your house. Four cats is pushing the border but it doesn’t automatically make you a clinical, eccentric freak. However, a 4th cat is what they call a gateway feline. Many women think they can stop and yet, sadly, they can’t. The syndrome also induces hoarding behavior. Once you get addicted, the odds are overwhelming that the fire department will break down your door someday only to find you sitting peacefully in a rocking chair stripped of all flesh and the cats cannibalizing each other. I won’t be judgmental and call those things bad but it is something to be aware of.

7

To be fair, it was my SO’s idea to get our current 4th cat. I was content with the 3 girls, but he wanted a little boy kitten, as we had to have Bo put down (bladder cancer) at age 17, last summer.

8

OK! So with 24 hours to reflect, we didn’t come up with any reason against a #4 which wouldn’t have been the issue with #3, and so Odin is coming home with us tomorrow (once he gets the snip…) 10 week old kitten photos to follow!

9

Lets just say I’m glad I have a garage on my home. Four cat boxes is alot to deal with. I feel like a shepard sometimes. :smiley:

10

Pictures?
<hopeful kitten eyes>