As someone who has five cats my answer is no. But I guess it depends on the person. Mine were all rescues like yours, not impulse purchases, and they all needed help at that moment.

I think it really comes down to each household dynamic. I've seen it work fine and I've known hoarders who want to save every animal and in turn aren't really able to care for any of them. If you are able to provide the love and care (and have $ for emergencies) and cats have a peaceful dynamic, then I don't see much of a difference between 4 and 5 cats.

That being said, your city may have a different opinion. I know we are only allowed up 3 total for dogs and cats without a special license. It's worth a quick phone call.

As another person with 5 cats and 2 big dogs, not too many as long as you can afford to pay for their needs. All 5 of my cats are rescues of one sort or another, and my one dog I adopted from a rescue.

The other dog came to visit 11 years ago, and ended up staying as a companion to the female dog I had at that point.

I do sigh every week as I grocery shop, I spend more on my pets than I do on myself. But they are all well taken care of and very much loved.

The cats all get along, or at least tolerate each other. There are 2 distinct groups ... the oldest sisters are together ... and then the newer group with the 2 boys and former barn cat "Momma". They do intermingle, and sometimes get on each others nerves, but they are all very tolerant.

Here are 4 of them ...
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The dogs are good friends with the 2 male cats, Lily is best friends with Bailey ... they always sleep together ...
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I believe it's all how you introduce them to each other ... slowly and carefully works for me, through a screen so they are separated at first.

Good luck ...

That would be too many for me but it's obviously not too many for some. I prefer two but at times I have three because I've taken in a stray - but that is my limit. All my cats are exclusively indoors and among other things, I don't have room for enough litter boxes for five cats. I've also found it really challenging having multiple cats when they develop health problems - hard to tell whose poop is what condition, whose barfing, etc. Also hard to make sure each one eats the correct food for their condition. And it is challenging to get all in for veterinary needs when you work during the day - not to mention how expensive it can become depending on how far you take things. So like others say, it depends on your circumstances I guess.

How many is too many varies with the person, I guess. It wouldn't be too many for me, but it sure would for my husband.

I don't think kittens upset the group dynamic much. For a week or so, the older cats may show annoyance or fear of it, but they seem to rapidly realize that it is a baby and harmless. I once saw a male cat we had give his new kitten companion, less than 2 months old, a sharp rap on the head with his paw, but he did her no harm and they were soon great companions.

I think five is when you get the official Crazy Cat Lady designation, right? :)

Very seriously consider your fiance's opinion. My last cat acquisition caused strife in my marriage. In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it.

Also consider the cost of vet care. Can you afford that many pets? Even the routine care can feel expensive, but what if more than one of your cats is ill or needs surgery at the same time?

I just want to say also, after reading through all of the responses above a second time, that I'm so impressed at how each and every post offers some good advice. How cool is that? And don't discount your fiance in your decision - make sure you talk A LOT about it, so you KNOW he's on board. He's precious too and deserves time, love and patience. :)

I have five cats and they all get along well (mostly). At one point we had six, Willow and Buffy The Vampire Slayer (cheesy, I know), brother and sister, Sophie (actually a boy), Leah, Timmy and Daisy. Sadly, Willow passed away four years ago, but we still have the rest. Buffy will be turning twenty this year, I can’t remember how my mom got her, I think she, Willow and Gizmo (who died before I was born), just showed up in the garage one day and never left. Sophie I think will be sixteen or seventeen this year. We got him from my Auntie Lisa. Leah will be eleven or twelve, maybe thirteen. My Mom found her as a kitten on the side of the road. She doesn’t like other cats at all. She hisses and scratches at Timmy, Daisy and other strange cats, but she doesn’t dare go for Buffy and Sophie. She also hates dogs and would frequently attack our dog Kai before he passed away last year. Timmy was also from Auntie Lisa and Daisy was from someone up in Scotland who had a litter of kittens and didn’t want them. They’ll be eight this year and still love playing with each other and they’re very friendly with Buffy and Sophie. Daisy we think isn’t exactly all there and alternates between running from you whenever she sees you and being your best friend in the world.

Overall, they’re all very good with each other. Timmy, Daisy, Buffy and Sophie live in the cattery in the garage, although Buffy and Sophie are inside a lot now. Leah lives inside permanently and definitely rules the house. She likes to sit on the ledge outside the neighbours window and glare at people on the street, but she always comes inside when I get back from school.

Of course, it can be very expensive feeding them, they all eat two pouches of food a day each. Vet bills can be expensive as well. Willow had kidney problems for a long time and it cost a lost when he eventually had to put to sleep. It cost a lot as well when Kai had to be put to sleep at the age of thirteen and was cremated.

I would say go for it though, and you can always find a home for him if it doesn’t work out.

The first picture is Sophie, then Leah, then Timmy, then Kai, then Buffy.

Five is too many for me

I know this is an older post but I want to point out that you have to think about cost as they age. I could care for 5 kittens but I couldn't afford proper care for 5 10+ old cats. I had 3 from the same litter and when they got to 12+ it got expensive, additional blood work, thyroid meds, food allergies and other health conditions that got worse x 3. I also had a younger cat that developed sores and it was a year fighting with that trying to find food that she would eat meds that worked on the issue but didn't make her sick, it was $3000.00 in vet bills just for her. When she died unexpectedly from heart failure (more money to autopsy why what seemed a mostly healthy cat fell over dead) I felt guilty because I was partially relieved that I wouldn't have to force meds on her and keep sticking her in the cone and the never ending vet bills would stop. I also had a 2500.00 vet bill once for an almost killer hair ball that needed to be removed and big emergency vet bill for crystals. 1800.00 in dental work in one visit for a cat who had bad teeth, he had to go in every few years for more bad teeth to be removed.