Anonymous
Post 01/06/2023 12:20     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


I'm more worried about the "desperate all I want in the world is a fourth cat" business. I mean, I'm a crazy cat lady with two, and if we found a stray or had to take in a family member's cat I'm sure it would be fine. But it's not an obsession for me. I don't NEED another cat. Maybe I don't actually qualify as a cat lady? Anyway, what's stopping OP's DW from saying she wants a fifth for Christmas or a sixth for next year's birthday? What would actually make her feel satisfied? To me, that's more of an issue than another litter box.


What a weird thing to say. First of all, maybe she will want five - but second of all, people have urges like that. What made you KNOW you needed a second kid? (Genuine question, I've never felt the urge for even one - but my house felt empty before we got all our pets.)


Do you mean a second cat? We wanted two cats so they could interact and play with each other.

If OP's DW can articulate why she wants a fourth or fifth or sixth cat so bad, that's great. And if she can get him on board with those reasons, even better. Get the cats and live happily ever after. The point of my previous comment was that OP says his DW desperately wants a fourth cat, which is different from really wanting a fourth cat. There's more emotional baggage tied to the word "desperate." So I'm just suggesting they unpack that desperation before committing to another living animal in the house. Because she might be "desperate" for a fifth cat and then a sixth cat, and soon they will discover it wasn't about cats after all. But now they have six cats with lifespans of 15 years.


Acquisition of pets isn't really like a math problem where you can just logic your way into getting what you want. It's more emotional - but also has to work with your life. So there's the emotional pull - then the rational part of your brain reasons through whether it's a good or bad idea to satisfy that emotional pull.

I think the people suggesting fostering are right. This way OP and his wife can see if they like having four cats in the house - and also specifically how a particular cat fits in with the others. If it's not a great fit, then they adopt the cat to someone else. If it is a great fit, they can adopt the cat themselves.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 22:15     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


I'm more worried about the "desperate all I want in the world is a fourth cat" business. I mean, I'm a crazy cat lady with two, and if we found a stray or had to take in a family member's cat I'm sure it would be fine. But it's not an obsession for me. I don't NEED another cat. Maybe I don't actually qualify as a cat lady? Anyway, what's stopping OP's DW from saying she wants a fifth for Christmas or a sixth for next year's birthday? What would actually make her feel satisfied? To me, that's more of an issue than another litter box.


What a weird thing to say. First of all, maybe she will want five - but second of all, people have urges like that. What made you KNOW you needed a second kid? (Genuine question, I've never felt the urge for even one - but my house felt empty before we got all our pets.)


Do you mean a second cat? We wanted two cats so they could interact and play with each other.

If OP's DW can articulate why she wants a fourth or fifth or sixth cat so bad, that's great. And if she can get him on board with those reasons, even better. Get the cats and live happily ever after. The point of my previous comment was that OP says his DW desperately wants a fourth cat, which is different from really wanting a fourth cat. There's more emotional baggage tied to the word "desperate." So I'm just suggesting they unpack that desperation before committing to another living animal in the house. Because she might be "desperate" for a fifth cat and then a sixth cat, and soon they will discover it wasn't about cats after all. But now they have six cats with lifespans of 15 years.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 20:40     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


I'm more worried about the "desperate all I want in the world is a fourth cat" business. I mean, I'm a crazy cat lady with two, and if we found a stray or had to take in a family member's cat I'm sure it would be fine. But it's not an obsession for me. I don't NEED another cat. Maybe I don't actually qualify as a cat lady? Anyway, what's stopping OP's DW from saying she wants a fifth for Christmas or a sixth for next year's birthday? What would actually make her feel satisfied? To me, that's more of an issue than another litter box.


What a weird thing to say. First of all, maybe she will want five - but second of all, people have urges like that. What made you KNOW you needed a second kid? (Genuine question, I've never felt the urge for even one - but my house felt empty before we got all our pets.)
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 17:12     Subject: Fourth cat?
Do you have a giant house? Are you guys immaculately clean in a large house? Ok, go for it.

If it's anything like the nasty apartment I cat sat for over Christmas, hell no. I'm tempted to contact their landlord for being a bio hazard.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 17:08     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


I'm more worried about the "desperate all I want in the world is a fourth cat" business. I mean, I'm a crazy cat lady with two, and if we found a stray or had to take in a family member's cat I'm sure it would be fine. But it's not an obsession for me. I don't NEED another cat. Maybe I don't actually qualify as a cat lady? Anyway, what's stopping OP's DW from saying she wants a fifth for Christmas or a sixth for next year's birthday? What would actually make her feel satisfied? To me, that's more of an issue than another litter box.



My first thought is she wants another because she wants the little kitten phase again, sort of like people with are addicted to babies and end up having a lot of kids. So, I'd want to suss that part out. If she just really adores cats, and another long-term addition would bring her joy, then sure. Provided it's a thoughtful addition, as PP noted.


And just like kids, I'd space them out age wise. Otherwise they get old and die close together too.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 17:07     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


I'm more worried about the "desperate all I want in the world is a fourth cat" business. I mean, I'm a crazy cat lady with two, and if we found a stray or had to take in a family member's cat I'm sure it would be fine. But it's not an obsession for me. I don't NEED another cat. Maybe I don't actually qualify as a cat lady? Anyway, what's stopping OP's DW from saying she wants a fifth for Christmas or a sixth for next year's birthday? What would actually make her feel satisfied? To me, that's more of an issue than another litter box.



My first thought is she wants another because she wants the little kitten phase again, sort of like people with are addicted to babies and end up having a lot of kids. So, I'd want to suss that part out. If she just really adores cats, and another long-term addition would bring her joy, then sure. Provided it's a thoughtful addition, as PP noted.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 17:01     Subject: Fourth cat?
We have three cats for the first time ever and I think it's much better than having only two. They keep each other occupied, there's almost always one cat who wants to be pet or interacting with humans, and it's not much more work than two. I could see having a fourth and it wouldn't be too much more work, but I'm not sure how we'd be able integrate anything other than a kitten or young adolescent in order for the other cats to accept a newcomer. So, personality would be very important for the next addition. So, not a gift where you pick out a random cat, but a more thoughtful addition to the household where everyone agrees and checks out any new potential pet.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 16:54     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:Do not do it. Four cats would make me wonder about mental illness.


Give me a break. The two people I know with more than four cats are very healthy mentally. They have huge hearts and take on cats that need special care. Their homes are very clean, and they have pretty big pet bills, that they afford just fine.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 16:52     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


I'm more worried about the "desperate all I want in the world is a fourth cat" business. I mean, I'm a crazy cat lady with two, and if we found a stray or had to take in a family member's cat I'm sure it would be fine. But it's not an obsession for me. I don't NEED another cat. Maybe I don't actually qualify as a cat lady? Anyway, what's stopping OP's DW from saying she wants a fifth for Christmas or a sixth for next year's birthday? What would actually make her feel satisfied? To me, that's more of an issue than another litter box.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 14:51     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.


^ As far as fostering goes - fostering is a wonderful thing to do. It's also a good way to see if you do like having four cats or if that upsets the balance in the home. But yeah, be prepared to keep the foster - first-time fosters often adopt (that includes us; two of our cats were supposed to be fosters). And it's great to adopt your foster. But just go in understanding that this may be the result.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 14:50     Subject: Fourth cat?
There is nothing wrong with four cats. We have three plus a dog and it's really very easy. I can't imagine adding one more would be any issue at all, except for the additional vet bills.

I know people with four cats, people with six dogs, people with 20 chickens, people with all kinds of animal=loving arrangements. It is not a big deal.

Don't ask the most animal-hating corner of the internet what they think. They think dogs should be eradicated, cats are a sign of witchcraftery, etc. People on this board are absolutely nuts. If you really want to make them go crazy, tell them your wife is a vegan, too.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 14:46     Subject: Re:Fourth cat?
We have three which I think is plenty. Normally, we have had two but our single cat was rather solitary so we got kitten siblings so they would not bug her too much. It's worked out great as far as the cats go - the siblings play but the older cat has come our of their shell and all are happy together. 4? Just more litter boxes to scoop. Agree with fostering but would she give them up?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 14:44     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:No. How is her mental health generally? Does she tend to hoard?

I would suggest she foster cats. I have one dog, and foster a rotating cast of puppies that are then adopted out. It's great, because it adds interest to my life, gives companionship to my own dog, but I don't need to care for these animals permanently - so I do not foster at times I plan to be on vacation. I've even fostered pregnant dogs and cared for their litters of puppies, which is incredibly rewarding, but also a lot of work. So I suggest she look into that, as long as she can promise none of the fosters will ever be adopted into your home.


4 cats is not hoarding. JFC.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 14:43     Subject: Fourth cat?
Anonymous wrote:Anyone have four cats? How is it working out for you? My wife is obsessed with cats and we currently have three, which I think is plenty. She wants a fourth for her 40th birthday. It's all she wants, and she wants it desperately. On the one hand I obviously want to make her happy but also four cats just seems insane. So wondering for all the other crazy cat people out there, is there much difference when you add one more to make it four?


I've had 4 with no issue throughout my life. We currently have 3. 4 is no more day-to-day work or problematic than 3. I prob wouldn't go beyond that just due to the number of litter boxes you'd need.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2023 09:47     Subject: Fourth cat?
Yeah, I would say no. What is her rationale for wanting a 4th?Seems a little odd, and probably not so great for the existing three cats. A pp added a (bonded?) pair, which is probably a little different than adding a singleton.