# What's harder about 5 cats than 3 (if anything?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853 "2005-09-03T03:59:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/21 "2005-09-03T18:14:22Z")
Let me be the first to say AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW !! What pretty babies ! ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/22 "2005-09-03T19:05:58Z")
To give a somewhat serious response, my friend who went from 2 to 4 cats found the following problems: [ul]Smell - controlling the cat litter situation is a must. You will probably need to change multiple pans at least once per day.[/ul] [ul]Cat hair - as has been mentioned above.[/ul] [ul]Vet visits - did you know that some vets do house calls? She found it was definitely worth the price to not have to catch and box each cat for a visit. [/ul] I’m a dog person, myself, so take my second-hand “wisdom” for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/23 "2005-09-03T21:00:49Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > It will be somewhat more impossible to keep ahead of the cat hair accumulation. You’ll have to do the litter a lot more often. When we went from three cats to four, it seemed that we had to clean the litter not just 33% more often, but at least twice as much. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/24 "2005-09-03T22:08:20Z")
> [@Pixisis](#): > > **What’s harder about 5 cats than 3 (if anything?)** > > getting up in the morning when they’re all curled up on you purring. Not true at all! When it’s morning and time to fill their feed dish, you will soon be getting up to do that. no matter how late you were up last night and how badly you want to sleep late. And 5 cats just make it that much easier for them to gang up on you. ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/25 "2005-09-03T22:12:39Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Not true at all! > > When it’s morning and time to fill their feed dish, you will soon be getting up to do that. no matter how late you were up last night and how badly you want to sleep late. And 5 cats just make it that much easier for them to gang up on you. frequently true. however, some cats like to sleep late, at least on occassion. mine knows how to turn the alarm clock off and when he does, he curls up next to me or on top of me and purrs so i go back to sleep. and, yes, it’s\*\* very \*\*embarrassing to get to work late because your cat turned your alarm clock off. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/26 "2005-09-04T00:43:35Z")
I’ve (kinda) adopted an outside cat that I feed often. It’s obviously a cat that has been dumped, abandoned, and not quite feral. I live in an apartement complex and they regurally pick up strays. My SO (and neighbor) hates stray cats because she thinks they will give her cat diseases. Even though her cat is an inside cat. Confession: When I saw the animal control coming by I brought the cat inside. Did I do wrong? Would the kitty be better off in death row or the slammer? ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/27 "2005-09-04T01:35:39Z")
I think you did the right thing, if you are feeding the cat. Can your compassion (and wallet 🙂 ) extend to a vet visit for shots and sterilization? It’s really not all that expensive, and your local Humane Society may be able to help you with reduced rates. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/28 "2005-09-04T08:38:54Z")
> [@Pixisis](#): > > however, some cats like to sleep late, at least on occassion. mine knows how to turn the alarm clock off and when he does, he curls up next to me or on top of me and purrs so i go back to sleep. This is just brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Witch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Witch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Witch)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/29 "2005-09-04T13:40:03Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > You’ll have to do the litter a lot more often. When we went from three cats to four, it seemed that we had to clean the litter not just 33% more often, but at least twice as much. Yeah, I’ll back this up. Like I said earlier, I have 11 feline roomies, and even though they are allowed outside during the day - I still have four boxes that need attention at least twice daily for poopage scoopage. ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/30 "2005-09-04T13:41:30Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > This is just brilliant! he certainly thinks so 😃 ---
**Author:** ![xbuckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9e8a1a/32.png) [@xbuckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xbuckeye)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/31 "2005-09-04T22:05:40Z")
The vet I worked for always recommended that you have at least 1 box per cat with more in a multi-level house. I know people who have one in nearly every room of the house. Also, have cages they can live in for short periods of time. If you find diarrhea or bloody urine in a litterbox, you’ll want to know which one is hurt or ill. And when you get them spayed/declawed/whatever, the vet will want you to keep them away from each other. I only have one kitty, she won’t have it any other way, so take my advice as second-hand too. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/32 "2005-09-08T18:15:34Z")
As promised, here’s a [pic](http://www.magespace.net/clarice.jpg) of our new little family member, Clarice. She’s settling in nicely and slept on my pillow last night, though surprisingly my normally sweet and friendly 3-year-old Singapura is having a hard time with her, hissing and chattering whenever she gets near him. ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/33 "2005-09-08T23:31:27Z")
Very nice looking cat - looks like my friend’s cat Ellie. The thing I don’t like about multiple cats is the damn stinky litter box - that’s a lot of poo! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/34 "2005-09-08T23:51:10Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > As promised, here’s a [pic](http://www.magespace.net/clarice.jpg) of our new little family member, Clarice. Awww! Pretty kitty! Be sure to keep pictures of her now around for when she grows up- I have a picture of my Russian Blue mix, Katya, from when she was a kitten and had enormous ears, and they’re so cute! > [@Pixisis](#): > > mine knows how to turn the alarm clock off and when he does, he curls up next to me or on top of me and purrs so i go back to sleep. I have to make sure he never meets my Luna… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/35 "2005-09-09T00:51:12Z")
We have rescued two adult cats (8 years old) who need to find a home where they can be together. (My wife is allergic although sympathetic). Would 7 cats be any harder than 5? Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/36 "2005-09-09T19:17:15Z")
I agree with most of what’s been posted already. We have a shorthair mutt of a cat, Sal, who’s almost all black but with a little tuft of white on his chest, and some white fur on his legs. He’s a good cat. My father-in-law once said, as the cat sat on his lap purring, that Sal was “an entirely satisfactory cat,” which we like to quote. From his personality, though, I don’t think he’d welcome a younger brother or sister… let alone four. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853/37 "2005-09-09T19:40:21Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > Not sure about that…of all our cats, [Merlin](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/view.php?album=Pets&start=90&pic=petsB104.jpg&picindex=103), who is at least partially a Blue, sheds the least. What a beautiful cat…where’s the heart swooning smilie when you need it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-harder-about-5-cats-than-3-if-anything/319853.md?page=1)