Anyone who rescues strays knows there is no shortage of cats. Wanting to give them a home can become a natural outgrowth of feeding them, and most people who adopt them have the best intentions. “They are caring, compassionate people who want to help them,” says Pamela Perry, DVM, a lecturer in farm animal behavior at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine. But there is a fine line between adequately caring for multiple cats and obsessively accumulating them. Before deciding to bring in just one more, some important factors need to be considered. Health Status Free-roaming cats are subject to parasites and transmissible diseases with which an indoor-only cat might never come in contact. “When you take in an animal that you dont know, you usually know little about its background, including any diseases it may be carrying,” says Dr. Perry. Before integrating the new cat into the household, the newcomer needs to have a thorough veterinary examination, including testing for infection with feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus. “If you already have a cat, you dont want to bring another one into the house until it has tested negative for certain diseases,” says Dr. Perry. The newcomer also needs to be vaccinated, given flea treatments if necessary and checked for intestinal parasites and ear mites. Time Constraints Work schedules and family activities may be deciding factors in whether or not to take in another cat. Rescuer Deb Fetterolf of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been trapping cats for 12 years. Although she attempts to find homes for them, some cats that are not adopted eventually become permanent residents. Early retirement enabled Fetterolf to care for more cats than she had been able to accommodate while working. “The big issue is time to dedicate to the cats,” Fetterolf says. “If you have a high-stress job or work long hours, you wont have time to devote to the cats.” Some cats are more independent than others, but a stray cat may require more care than anticipated. Although most cats are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), a newcomer may demand attention when youre trying to get much-needed sleep. “Cats may sleep most of the day, but its still important to interact with them,” says Dr. Perry. “Even though you dont have to walk a cat, it still needs exercise, and playing with your cat can also help you bond.” Adding another cat may require an additional litter box, which means more time spent scooping. Your resident cats may be litter-trained, but the stray may need instruction and may create messes in the litter box that were not a problem previously. “If you have an inside cat, you need to scoop out the box, preferably twice a day,” says Dr. Perry. “If you have multiple cats, cleaning the boxes becomes even more critical.” The number of boxes should equal the number of cats plus one. If youre considering bringing in a stray kitten, the time required may increase more than exponentially. “Kittens will be on everything, whether you want them to be or not,” says Dr. Perry. Climbing the drapes, knocking things over, pulling down rolls of paper towels or getting into the trash are fun activities for kittens with boundless energy. Training them about house rules and cleaning up kitten messes takes time. Money Matters Some costs such as litter and cat food may not go up much if another cat is added, but other costs may increase more significantly, especially if the newcomer has health issues. “People dont always realize how much money they might have to spend on pets,” says Dr. Perry. If the cat is healthy and does not destroy the house, expenses may be minimal, but the costs of veterinary care, food and providing environmental enrichment all add up. Space Constraints How much space each cat needs may depend on how well they get along. “A big consideration is: Will the other cats accept a new one?” says Fetterolf. A stray may seem fine with the person feeding him, but he may show other personality traits when confined to an enclosed space – like your home – where there are other cats. Too many cats that have issues with one another can create all sorts of behavior problems, like spraying, aggression, hiding, not eating, timidity and lethargy. The added stress of overcrowding may result in illnesses or injuries. If you are considering bringing in that cat that eats on your porch, provide plenty of space for the newcomer as well as your resident cats. “Make sure youre providing a comfortable, enriched environment,” says Dr. Perry. Cats need places to get away, at least for certain time periods, especially if there are cats in the house that they dont get along with. Make use of the vertical space in your home for the cat that wants to be by himself. “I advocate vertical space, especially for timid cats that like to get up high,” says Dr. Perry. To add that extra dimension, provide climbing trees or window perches for your cats. “Cats love to watch what goes on outside,” says Dr. Perry. For previously outdoor cats, that can be especially true.
