# How many cats is the tipping point from cat lover to crazy cat collector? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321 "2005-03-07T05:51:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/141 "2005-03-11T01:48:04Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > Oh boy, another internet enemy. I am fully capable of having a civil disagreement. You flatter yourself. And I don’t believe you are even partially capable of having a civil disagreement. Sorry, if that bothers you. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/142 "2005-03-11T01:52:26Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > You don’t need anyone’s help with that. Your statements, in whatever context, reveal you to be judgmental and ignorant about this issue. Just because you do not want to do something does not mean that those who do are insane, abnormal, or have issues. Good One! Can’t compete with that rapier sharp wit. Was I the only one who voiced the opinion that people with 4+ plus cats have issues? You act like I’m alone in this. Call it judgmental, but it’s not based on ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![blackhobyah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blackhobyah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackhobyah)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/143 "2005-03-11T02:12:24Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > I never claimed to be a doctor, but you don’t need to be a doctor to know that somebody who has dozens of cats isn’t normal. You may disagree, but you should realize that most people share my opinion, and they do share it for very good reasons. Well, as it happens, I do disagree, and that’s my opinion. But so far I’ve yet to see any evidence for your opinion, even anecdotal evidence. Since you’ve taken animal welfare and hygiene out of the mix: > [@brickbacon](#): > > Just because you treat your (insert number) cats well, and your home is spotless, doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem. And since four seems to be your cut-off point for normalcy: > [@brickbacon](#): > > Having 4+ cats usually means the person has some sort of issue. I just want some clarification about what you mean by “issues” and what evidence you use to support this belief. In the interests of disclosure, I have eight cats, five dogs and three horses, if I have a problem I’d be interested to know what you think it is. However, the fact is, you don’t in fact know “most people” to know what they think, and even this thread is probably self-selecting for people with opinions on the issue. Those who think “whatever” are probably not going to bother posting. And even if “most” people you know think the same it proves nothing. The world is full of things that “most people know”, but which are actually not fact. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/144 "2005-03-11T02:21:27Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > Good One! Can’t compete with that rapier sharp wit. I’m not attempting to score off you. I’m attempting to communicate. You know, the thing with words and language? The reason you are being singled out is you keep coming back to the thread. People can have issues about anything. Anything can be a symptom of mental illness. For someone who is concerned about context to make any sort of blanket statement about people having issues is strange. I definitely do have issues. All of us do. Having 9 cats, though, probably isn’t symptomatic of anything but an affection for cats, the opportunity to rescue a number from very bad situations, and the wherewithal to do it. If acting compassionately toward an animal means I have “issues,” whelp, I guess I have 'em. I know my limits because we had 11 cats at one point and that was too many. 10 cats was pushing it. 9 cats is doable though the attention hogs definitely get more than their share. I don’t have millions of dollars. I don’t have endless patience. I’m not in medicine or science. I do what I can to improve the world for the beings that have to live in it, and that includes feeding and caring for 9 furry ones who would be dead otherwise. I saw an opportunity to help and I took it. Mouth? Meet money. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/145 "2005-03-11T02:31:59Z")
Actually, it looks like about 17ish responders quoted a number greater than four as being their personal cutoff. About 24 indicated a number of four or fewer. A few more had guidelines to do with the number of adults, size of house, etc. Interestingly, MOST people related to the question in a fairly personal way, by actually reporting the number of cats they have, without necessarily deeming that number to be THE magic number. Most everyone seemed to answer in good humor, with the assumption that the number they quoted was a reflection of what they themselves would be willing to live with. And having re-read Daniel’s post, I’d have to say that if there is an expert here who needs to be heard, he would be the one whose opinion I’d most trust, since he has actual experience (in the “real world,” even) with this very question. Daniel, I’d be interested to hear more, if you have anything to share. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/146 "2005-03-11T02:41:31Z")
> [@blackhobyah](#): > > Well, as it happens, I do disagree, and that’s my opinion. But so far I’ve yet to see any evidence for your opinion, even anecdotal evidence. Since you’ve taken animal welfare and hygiene out of the mix: Do you really want me to tell you about people I’ve known who’ve had 4+ cats? Why do you think most people came in here and stated 3 or 4 as the cutoff? Do you not think that this is a common sentiment? > [@blackhobyah](#): > > And since four seems to be your cut-off point for normalcy: > I just want some clarification about what you mean by “issues” and what evidence you use to support this belief. By “issues”, I mean unresolved problems which have manifested themselves in a desire to surround one’s self with animals. These issues could be a number of things. Maybe a person feels uncomfortable having meaningful interactions with people, maybe they lost a loved one and got a cat to “replace” that person. I wouldn’t pretend to be qualified to diagnose someones specific problems, however it doesn’t mean a clear symptom isn’t recognizable. > [@blackhobyah](#): > > In the interests of disclosure, I have eight cats, five dogs and three horses, if I have a problem I’d be interested to know what you think it is. I have no idea if you have a problem or what it is. I don’t know you. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/147 "2005-03-11T04:01:59Z")
How we ended up with more than four cats? Well, first it started after my cat Fluffy died. Previously, we had one dog and three cats-Fluffy, Noel, and Misty. Then, after Fluffy died, a year later my parents got me two kittens for my birthday, because they figured that it would be fun to have two sisters. Buffy and Gypsy were sweet little things, and I think they adjusted to our home much better since they had each other. THEN, we went back to the place where we got them from, to take some abandoned cats for the woman to find homes. We saw some of the kittens she had there, including a tiny little kitten who had been born with her arm and shoulder twisted-her left arm was useless, so she could only move on three legs. The woman found it very odd that she was ABLE to clime up on the window when we were looking at the kittens-she hadn’t been able to do so before. Two weeks later we decided to take her in, because we figured that no one else would want her, and we could give her a good home. So, here we were, five cats-with the new little one Tess. Unfortunately, Tess had been born with peritonitus (sp?) and had to be put to sleep. A year later, my sister expressed that she wanted a kitten, (Tess had been her cat), so we went to the Humane Society and ended up with Piper Grace. Now, about two years later, back in September, my mother went to the vet’s to pick up food for the cats and the dog, and noticed they had some kittens for adoption. She was just passing by the cage when the littlest one poked at her through the bars and cried. This kitten looked JUST like Fluffy, and she just kept looking at my mother, who couldn’t resist. And as my dad said, “What’s one more?” So, along comes Maggie. And there you have it. No attempt to "surround ourselves with animals because we couldn’t have “meaningful interactions with people”, or because we were “replacing a lost loved one.” (I don’t even consider getting a new cat “replacing” a pet that died-it’s just that you get used to having the little furballs around). ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/148 "2005-03-11T08:26:21Z")
I try to have enough cats so there’s always one in the room with me. This is for a perfectly pragmatic reason: When I hear voices, it’s more comforting to think, “those cats talk a lot,” than “where are those voices coming from?” ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/149 "2005-03-11T18:50:40Z")
Thanks to **Guinastasia** ’s pitting of **Brickbacon** I found this thread and remembered my own sitiation once. My bedroom (4x6m) was home to nine kittens, and our house home to 12 cats. We kept the house clean and tacked fleas until we gave most of the kittens away. We kept two, Larry and Curly. Their mother was Mo. (‘moe’ would be a masculine name) So we settled on 5 cats - Larry and Curly (sons) Mo (Mother) Herbie (Father) and Flossy (no relation) Then one of the nine kittens had kittens herself. We got one of them, so added to the family was Sparky, nephew to Larry and Curly. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/150 "2005-03-11T18:53:14Z")
‘Sitiation’? ‘tacked’? Anyway… As an afterthought. Flossy was our first cat. And also our last. She outlived the rest. Our local _real_ crazy cat lady was taking them, thinking they were strays, to be put down. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/151 "2005-03-11T19:33:48Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > I am fully capable of having a civil disagreement. Cite? ! 😉 **Lobsang** I’m affraid you are proving the **brickbacon** point, since you are undenyably crazy 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Finnie\_the\_Pooh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@Finnie\_the\_Pooh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finnie_the_Pooh)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/152 "2005-03-12T04:46:41Z")
My wife and I live in a small house on 110 acres. We have no children. Our home is shared by us , 7 cats and one dog. All animals get to go to the vet twice a year, and we follow the vet’s instructions on vaccinations etc. All our cats have been either strays, runaways, abandoned or unwanted. The oldest is 14, the triplets (Larry, Moe and Curly) are three. All are fixed. My wife and I are both unable to have children. Maybe the animals fill that void in our hearts. There are three litterboxes in the laundryroom that are cleaned at least twice a day, especially in winter. The cats are allowed outside in the summer, but they have a curfew which, believe it or not, is obeyed. Our house is not sparkling clean, but it is clean enough to receive visitors at any time. I do not think that having more than an x number of cats can be used against you in a court of law to absolutely prove that you are nuts. Often people with only one pet can appear more detached from reality than people with several pets. Look after the ones you have, give them the care and compassion that they require, and you are ok. There are people who cannot understand why anyone would want to have a cat, dog, bird or a fish in their home. So be it. Spay or neuter your pets, don’t let them roam the neighbourhood at will, and give them the medical care they need. That’s all it takes. You are sane. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321/153 "2005-03-13T10:34:53Z")
I only have two cats, so no way am I a Crazy Cat Lady. And my twelve chinchillas agree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-cats-is-the-tipping-point-from-cat-lover-to-crazy-cat-collector/293321.md?page=7)