Sorry about the lack of updates and replies folks – I’ve had a busy (and rough) couple of weeks, and I’ve been writing but it’s just not flowing (but it’ll be great when I get the stuff I started finished, I promise!)

Particularly rough is that over the weekend I went to the Humane Society to volunteer and found out my favourite cat, Nestle, had gotten quite ill and was euthanized on advice of the vet. I was planning on adopting her if she was still there come this fall.

I feel particularly bad, because her story is sad from start to finish. She was removed, along with several other cats, from a home where she was not properly socialized. Not feral but very fearful and anxious. She never really got over her timidness the entire time she was at the shelter (almost 2 years) and was in and out of foster care to no great improvement.

She did not show well in the shelter. She spent most of her time in her cage in her little house, burrowed under blankets, so half the time you couldn’t even tell that there was a cat there at all. Yet, despite her shyness, she was an extremely sweet, nice cat, who loved being pet and cuddled (as long as you didn’t pick her up.) She was tiny and a beautiful chocolate brown. She had a small growth on her ear that I’m sure further hindered her chances at adoption, but that just further endeared her to me.

I know it’s a bad idea to get attached to animals in a shelter, but I did – she was going to be my baby, and this hurts. At the same time, I’m also glad that she was loved by at least one person during her difficult, too short life. I hope she’s at peace now.

I’m a die hard cat fanatic. If you tell me that X number of cats is too many, I’ll probably cheerfully tell you that you can never have too many cats then start rambling about my dream of one day having a home with cats numbering in the dozens, if not hundreds. But seriously, how many cats is too many cats, and when does an abnormal love of cats turn into an unhealthy love of cats?

Well, it depends

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how many cats is too many. The right number of cats for any person (or rescue or shelter for that matter) is going to depend on their resources, commitment and passion as well as the cats themselves. For some, 50 cats might be a very comfortable number, for others, two cats might be one too many.

Ask your cats

The cats in your household will play a big part in determining the right number of cats for you.

Cats are social creatures by nature. While they hunt independently and don’t naturally form packs, feral cats do live in colonies, rather than as solitary animals. As such, most cats will adapt well to sharing a house with other cats.

Intact cats are more inclined to territorial behaviour like marking with urine/feces or fighting, so spaying and neutering our cats makes for huge improvements in increasing harmony in a multi-cat household (as well as avoiding unwanted kittens, also very important.)

Unfortunately, some cats just do not like other cats, period. An adjustment period where the hierarchy gets sorted out is normal after adding a new cat to the home, but some cats would truly be better off being an only-cat. Forcing these types of cats to share a house with other cats can be a huge source of stress for everyone. Solitary cats in multi-cat households often vent their stress on other cats through fighting, stalking and unprovoked attacks, which is not good for any of the cats involved, and will often mark territory with urine and feces, which is a big stress for you, the cat owner.

Providing enough territory

It probably sounds obvious, but you can comfortably house more cats in a large home than in a small one. The amount of available territory is an important factor in determining the right number of cats. There should be enough space in your home to allow each cat their own space, where they can get away from all the other cats. Overcrowding isn’t good for anyone.

Giving your cats access to the outdoors can increase available territory, though it’s important to consider the health and safety risks faced by outdoor cats. Also, if you live in a place with harsh winters your cats may all be inclined to stay inside during the coldest months anyway. Groups of cats who quite comfortably share a yard and house during the summer can get cooped up and cranky during the winter months when everyone is staying inside and conflicts can increase.

When looking at the available territory in your house, keep in mind that cat territory not only includes horizontal space (floor space) but also vertical space (furniture, shelves, cat trees, window ledges etc.) Even if the square footage of your home is small, territory can be increased by adding vertical territory, such as wall mounted shelves, windowsill platforms, cat trees and other cat furniture, making it easier for everyone to live in harmony.

If you have lots of space and spare rooms, you can keep groups of cats separate to reduce territory conflicts. Fluffy, Muffin and Spot might all get along with each other but not with Ginger and Toby. Using physical barriers to prevent territory overlap can make for a much more peaceful home.

Living within your means

As a responsible cat owner, your financial situation is  pretty important in determining how many cats you can keep.

Not only must you be able to provide day to day care in the form of quality food, litter, toys and treats, it’s important that you be financially prepared to provide routine vet care such as spay/neuter, vaccinations and deworming, and emergency veterinary care for unexpected illness or injury.

If you have limited finances and aren’t able to put away savings or buy pet insurance, it may still be possible to come up with the funds to handle a single cat emergency. For a multi-cat household, it’s important to take a realistic and honest look at your finances. Consider the worst that could happen and potential emergency scenarios (for example, an upper respiratory infection affecting every cat in the house, which is not unrealistic or uncommon.) If something like this were to happen how many cats could you provide emergency vet care for? Keep this number in mind – often when emergency vet bills become unmanageable, euthanasia is tragically the only option people are left with.

It’s also important to keep in mind that your vet expenses will likely increase as your cats get older. We can’t be sure what our money situation will be like in five or ten years but we should still do our best to plan for different what-ifs.

Share the love

Beyond financial means, the amount of time you personally can devote to your cats is also an important consideration. While cats may seem to be independent, low maintenance creatures they do require a certain amount of care and attention.

Scooping litter boxes, preparing food, clipping claws, grooming, tooth brushing, administering medication & training all require a time commitment which goes up with each cat. Cats also need individual attention and affection. If you’re at work all day then two cats may be better than one (to keep each other entertained) but you should be able to give each of your cats some one on one petting and play each day. Beyond just basic care, it’s really important that your cats’ emotional and social needs are being met, which for many cats means daily petting and cuddling sessions.

Even if your cats are not affectionate, it’s important to regularly give them individual attention. Only by knowing our cats normal quirks and behaviours on a day to day basis will be able to spot signs of illness and injury while still in their early stages.

Taking care of yourself

In addition to the welfare and well being of your cats, you should also factor in your own well being.

Even the most passionate cat lovers, who have devoted their lives to rescuing cats, need to take care of themselves. Caring for your cats should not prevent you from maintaining your home, holding down a job, having a social life, spending time with friends and family or doing all the other things that healthy human beings do. Just as you enhance the lives of your cats, so should your cats enhance your own life.

Allowing your self to become completely overwhelmed will be detrimental to you and the cats in the long run.Even well meaning people who take on far more cats than they can handle can become so overwhelmed that they lose site of the needs of the individuals in their household, allowing the situation to turn into neglect.

If you share a home with other people, their thoughts and feelings should be considered as well. Not everyone is as passionate about cats as we are, and pets can be a source of stress and resentment for someone who doesn’t want them or like them.

Local by-laws

Expanding beyond your individual circumstances for a moment, we can’t forget local by-laws. Many municipalities have restrictions on the number of pets you can legally keep. Exceeding that number may result in fines or worse. Other areas may not have a restriction on the number of animals you can keep but require that they all be licensed or microchipped.

Before you grow your feline family make sure you’re familiar with the laws in your area. The last thing you want is to grow your joyous feline family only to be forced to break it up or be slapped with big fines.

A note on animal hoarders

Animal hoarding is a tragic situation where a person takes on far more animals than they can care for, usually under the belief that they are rescuing these animals. Animals in hoarding situations are neglected and not cared for properly, often resulting in illness, malnutrition, filthy living conditions, out of control breeding and death, yet the hoarder is unable to recognize and admit that they are incapable of caring for the animals. Animal hoarders tend to become extremely attached to their pets, unwilling to give them up even if it is clearly in the animal’s best interests.

Animal hoarding should not be confused with people who have a large number of cats but who provide proper care for them. It is entirely possible to keep and care for a lots of cats. The OSPCA has more on animal hoarding.

How many cats is right for you?

Adding a new cat to the family should be a carefully considered decision. Being familiar with your living situation will allow you to make an informed decision about the size of your cat family. An abnormal love of cats need not become an unhealthy love of cats. By keeping in mind our current cats, human family, finances, time commitments and local by-laws, we can ensure a happy, healthy feline family, be it large or small.

So how many cats is right for you? Do you plan to add more cats to your household soon, or are you at capacity?

Too Many Cats illustration by Erin Taylor. Please visit her Etsy shop for beautiful prints.
Cat in a cone photo by tray.
Stressed photo by zweettooth.
Cuddly cats photo by ArtBrom.

Ugly Bat Boy is an unusual looking cat that resides at a New Hampshire vet clinic. He’s completely bald except for a thick fall of fur on his chest, and spends his days lounging on the computer at the Exeter Veterinary Hospital. He was one of a litter of four, with one sister who shared his unusual looks. You can read more about Ugly at WMUR New Hampshire.

While his name is Ugly, I think he’s a very handsome and exotic looking boy. I’ll also admit to having an affinity for unusual looking cats, particularly hairless ones (if  Sphynx ever popped up in our shelter I don’t think I’d be able to resist) and a fascination with the genetic and environmental factors that influence dramatic changes in appearance.

The distinctiveness and uniqueness of unusual looking cats has huge appeal to me. When I first saw Violet with her stubby paw and short tail I was immediately attracted to her, not just because of the soft spot I have for cats with issues (which I do – a huge, huge soft spot for cats with problems) but because her features really made her stand out.

When I was looking for a second cat, my first choice was a small black female with an unusually shaped face – with big round eyes and a very small lower jaw she bore a resemblance to a rabbit.

An orange tabby cat with big, clearly defined patches of brown tabby markings came up in the pet giveaway section of the online classifieds one day and it took all my will power not to respond to the ad and there are currently two white cats each with a black dot on their nose at our shelter that I am drawn to (Natasha and Penelope, both available for adoption by the way!)

While unusual looks can make it difficult to find an adopter at times, alternately they can make a cat stand out, when even getting noticed can be a challenge and a second may be all a cat gets to make an impression.

Do you find unconventional looks appealing or off putting? Do you prefer a classic looking cat or one whose appearance falls outside the norm (or are looks not a factor when it comes to choosing a cat?) Share your pictures and stories of unusual looking cats.

All too often I hear of people who are giving up their beloved family pet because their landlord enacted a new no-pets policy, or because they are moving into a rental property that has a no-pets policy. Less frequently, I also hear of landlords who will allow cats but require that they be declawed.

Before you accept a rental policy that costs your family, disrupts your life and harms your pet, there are a few steps you should take.

Know your rights

Did you know that, as a tenant, you have certain rights? Each area will have its own set of rules and bylaws for tenants and landlords, but don’t just assume that your landlord is following these rules. Make sure you know what your rights are regarding your tenancy and pets before you are forced into doing anything.

For example, did you know that in Ontario your landlord cannot evict you or force you to get rid of your pet unless they are dangerous, causing excess noise, damage to the unit or allergy problems? Even if you signed a lease with a no-pets agreement, they cannot evict you. No-pets clauses are considered invalid under the law and the only way you can be evicted for having a pet is if the Landloard and Tenant Board of Ontario determines that the pet meets one of the above criteria. This means that, while a landlord can choose not to rent to someone who has pets, once you have started your rental and are moved in, they cannot evict you for having pets.

Laws will vary depending on where you are, but don’t let yourself be bullied into disrupting your life or your cat’s life when the law may actually be on your side! Be informed.

Don’t capitulate, negotiate

If local laws will not protect you and your pets, then the next step is not to give up and give in, but to negotiate and educate your landlords.

Most landlords that do not allow pets or that require cats to be declawed have these policies because they are worried about property damage. Noise, allergies and messes in communal areas such as the lobby or front law may also be a factor.

As a responsible pet owner it is worth your while to try to educate your landlord about why these policies are misguided and unnecessary. If you can provide reasonable alternatives so that your landlord can feel that their interests are sufficiently covered you may be able to convince them to change their rental policies.

1. Acknowledge their concerns. Be polite and reasonable and let them know that you understand their concerns and respect their desire to maintain a clean, undamaged building.
2. Explain normal cat behaviour. The people creating policy may be completely unfamiliar with cat behaviour. Explain that cats can easily be trained to use a scratching post instead of the carpet, and that cats instinctively prefer to bury their waste in clean litter rather than depositing it just anywhere. Explain that cats do not typically scratch at walls, doors and trim, and that even an untrained cat is more likely to scratch the tenant’s furniture than destroy the unit itself. Let them know that you will provide a clean litter box and appropriate surfaces for your cat to scratch.
3. Let them know that your cats are spayed/neutered. Explain spaying/neutering eliminates the undesirable cat behaviours that they may be concerned about, such as yowling, territory marking with urine & feces, fighting, and attracting stray cats to the area. Let them know that these behaviours are typical of intact animals and that yours have been fixed.
4. Assure them that your cat will be in a carrier or on a leash any time they are in a public area. Animals running at large can be dangerous and a nuisance. Reassure them that your cat will be kept under control at all times.
5. Explain what declawing is and that it often results in other undesirable behaviour. Many people do not understand what declawing is and have no idea that it may result in other even more undesirable behaviour, like peeing outside the litterbox. Make it clear that declawing is unnecessary and cruel and that if they are concerned about the cat scratching there are alternatives, such as Softpaws, which you would be willing to use.
6. Provide documentation to support your claims. Provide supporting evidence from reputable sources to back up what you are saying. Best Friends Network provides many good resources for tenants who are required to declaw: http://network.bestfriends.org/celebrateclawsnotdeclaw/news/16849.html. If your landlord requires declawing, talk to your vet – they may be able to provide a document or letter supporting your stance against declawing.
7. Offer to pay an additional security deposit. Assure them that while your cat is trained and you do not expect your cat to destroy anything, should something in the unit be damaged by the cat, you will take responsibility for repairing or replacing it. Show that you are serious about this by offering to pay a larger security deposit.
8. Remind them that a responsible tenant is a responsible tenant, and likewise an irresponsible tenant will cause problems even without pets. Their rental agreement should already cover troublesome tenants, such as ones that cause excess noise, disruption or property damage.
9. Offer to provide recommendations on drafting a rental policy that allows pets but protects their building and other tenants. If you can do some of the leg work for them, saving them time and effort, they may be more willing to make changes.

Last resort

If your landlord is unwilling to listen or work with you and insists that you get rid of your pets or declaw, then you have a difficult choice to make. It may be time to consider moving to a more pet-friendly home or if that is not feasible, you may need to re-home your pets. I do not consider declawing your cat to be an acceptable compromise.

Ideally you’ll be able to find a new place that allows pets in its rental agreement. If not, properties that are owned by individuals may provide more flexibility than large rental companies on pet policies – at the very least you may find it easier to get access to someone who has the power to make that decision.

If moving is not an option and you must re-home your pets, do everything in your power to find a new home yourself, rather than dropping your cat off at a shelter. All shelters have an abundance of cats and too few adopters, and your cat runs the risk of being in a cage for an extended period of time or being euthanized if they are not adopted quickly. Use all the resources at your disposal – friends and family, community billboards, Freecycle (if your local list allows) and Craigslist. You’ll feel much better knowing that your cat is going to a home instead of a cage and you will have a say in what type of home your cat goes to.

Contact your local governing body that handles tenant and landlord laws and lobby them to create bylaws that protect pet owners without compromising the safety and integrity of landlords properties.

Through responsible pet ownership and proactively promoting understanding through education we can encourage property owners to set reasonable rental rules and decrease discrimination against pet owners.

Photo by Cynthia Berridge.

When you hear about euthanasia numbers in shelters, articles often cite national annual statistics. With national numbers usually in the millions, it becomes difficult to really comprehend and visualize – “millions” becomes an abstract number.

Yesterday, there was an article in the Thunder Bay Source with Animal Services euthanasia numbers for 2008. The numbers were small enough to really wrap my head around but large enough to completely break my heart.

In 2008, 1570 cats were impounded at City Animal Services. Of that number, 109 were adopted, 94 were claimed by their owners and 1,257 were euthanized. That means that for every cat that was adopted, 12 were euthanized because there are too few homes and too few people able to take in another cat.*

The over population crisis

It hurts me to see numbers like this, and just further emphasizes the need to spay and neuter every animal you own.

I know some people feel that it’s okay to allow their cat to have kittens as long as they can find homes for each of them. Unfortunately everyone one of those kittens means one less potential home for strays, surrendered, abandoned and seized cats. It means more more cat in a shelter who will be euthanized instead of adopted.

Unless your cat has a pedigree (and I have mixed feelings about the ethics of breeding cats when there are so many unwanted ones) there is no excuse or reason to allow your cat to reproduce. With far more cats than there are homes, owned cats should not be contributing to the population problem, be it through negligence, indifference or accident.

Perception of shelter animals

A erroneous negative perception of shelter animals often makes it even more difficult to place homeless pets. While some animals are surrendered because of behaviour issues, many end up in shelters because their owners:

• passed away
• moved into a nursing home
• moved to a place that does not allow pets
• developed a new pet allergy
• did not have time for the pet anymore due to changing circumstances
• did not consider their long-term responsibility when adopting and lost interest (sadly all too common with students away from home for university)
• could no longer afford to keep a pet (and issue that has become much more common recently)

Others end up in shelters because:

• their owner could not find homes for an entire litter that they planned to place
• they are picked up as strays
• they are removed from abusive situations

Most shelter animals make excellent, loving pets from the day you take them home. Others, such as those who have been abused, have had minimal contact with humans or have behavioural issues may require more effort or attention, but with time and effort (or some times just a very small, simple change) almost all behavioural and social issues can be adjusted.

Shelter animals make excellent pets. As an added bonus, they shelter animals are usually up to date on their vaccinations and deworming and have been given a clean bill of health. Most are already spayed/neutered or the service is provided through the shelter at a discounted rate.

Make a difference

What can you do to help?

• Spay and neuter your pets – if you haven’t done so already, make plans to do it today.
• If you have room in your home for another animal, go to your local shelter and save a life.
• If you’re not ready for a long term commitment, consider fostering.
• Volunteer at your local shelter.
• Make a donation to your local shelter, spay-neuter program or your regional SPCA.
• Participate in or start a trap-neuter-release program for strays in your area.
• Spread the word – talk to others about spaying/neutering and the pet over-population problem.

Every little bit helps.

* For clarity, these numbers do not include cats taken to the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society, which is a separate, indepenent organization. Animal Services is run by the City of Thunder Bay. The Humane Society is a low kill shelter and does not euthanize healthy animals – only those who are too sick or injured to recover or those who are so aggressive as to pose a serious threat to people. All adoptable animals are kept until they can be placed in a home. The statistics are reflective only of City Animal Services, not of Thunder Bay as a whole.

Photo by Sande Hamilton