How many square feet per cat?

[juniper]

Something I've always wondered about, as I have four cats and live in a fairly small apartment (junior one bedroom, around 500 sq feet) - how much space/how many square feet is recommended for each cat living in a home? I'm really not particularly concerned, as the cats get along well and aren't showing any signs of stress (they have lots of climbing space with their cat tree and the shelves of my desk, which I think helps), and I'm not having problems keeing the apartment clean (people always comment on how they wouldn't know I had cats because of the lack of smell - guess they expected me to live in a disgusting cesspit, gee thanks

) but am just sort of curious, as I always get shocked reactions to having four cats in a small apartment - which is understandable, I know it conjures up ideas of cat collectors, but my cats are all spayed/neutered, up to date on vaxes, free of fleas and parasites, and generally healthy and content (they get lots of individual attention and affection), and my apartment is clean and doesn't smell, so I don't believe I am one, but all the same it's something I feel sort of defensive about at times, even though I know my cats are cared for and happy - so I'd like to know what the acceptable guidlines are for amount of space per animal, if anyone knows. Also, because it is something I wonder about, is it still possible to be a collector if your cats are well cared for, in good health and not displaying signs of stress, but space is limited? As I said, it's not that I'm having any problems with the living arrangements myself, just, I dunno, I guess I'm just curious to hear what others think about this - also, is there anyone else who lives in a small space with several cats? Do you ever worry about these things? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[nano]

I'd guess about 500 square feet per cat and then double that to 1000 square feet per cat for homes that have small children in them.

IMO, a bigger function that just sheer space would be the amount of traffic and how much time all of the people spend in the home.

 

[elizwithcat]

I don't think there are any rules on how many cats you can have per how many square feet. Unless your landlord makes rules.

 

[luvmybirmans]

I've had the same questions. Visions on TV of crazy women "collectors" with dozens of animals of dubious health, you wonder how things got so bad. I have two kitty companions and sometimes entertain the thought of a third...

I have two close friends that decided to see shrinks for various issues affecting their lives. It really seemed to benefit one of them. She changed jobs, living situations and then got married. I'm not sure about the other one. My thought is that if you feel something is wrong and want to make changes, seeing a shrink can help. If not, your kitties are very lovely!

Best

 

[lakeriedog]

I don't think having four cats would make you a collector, but I personally would probably not have more than that number in such a small place. We once had nine for a few months when one of my first kitties had a litter of seven. Back then we lived in a very small house with two bedrooms and we were fairly over run.

The only thing that I would advise is to be sure you really have enough room for your kitties and their feeding and litter areas, and can afford to care for them (vet and feed).

Unless you are really worried that you are becoming compulsive about getting more kitties or something, or feeling unable to turn any cat in need away then I wouldn't worry.

 

[babybee]

Originally Posted by lakeriedog

I don't think having four cats would make you a collector, but I personally would probably not have more than that number in such a small place. We once had nine for a few months when one of my first kitties had a litter of seven. Back then we lived in a very small house with two bedrooms and we were fairly over run.

The only thing that I would advise is to be sure you really have enough room for your kitties and their feeding and litter areas, and can afford to care for them (vet and feed).

Unless you are really worried that you are becoming compulsive about getting more kitties or something, or feeling unable to turn any cat in need away then I wouldn't worry.

I have to agree. I wouldn't get more than what you have now, since it is a small space. We live in a big one bedroom apartment, about 800 square feet, with one cat. We thought about getting a little friend for her, but we decided not to until we buy a house with more space.

 

[juniper]

Oh, to clarify, I'm not worried that I have a psychogical problem or anything. I don't feel compelled to take in any more cats at all (in fact I plan to stay at four cats even if/when I move to a bigger place, as four just feels like a good number for me, a number at which I feel I can definitely take care of them, though I do plan to also have a very small dog in the near future), and my cats eat 'ultra premium' food (California Natural) and are up to date on vaxes, spayed/neutered, microchipped, flea and parasite free, and get any emergency vet care they need, etc. (I definitely have a limited budget, but I do what is needed so that they always get the care they need - for example, when Meeko needed $800 surgery recently, I extended my line of credit and am now working extra hours to pay it off, and I'm currently saving for Esmeralda to have her teeth cleaned at the beginning of August, as the vet says she needs it), and I honestly really don't feel cramped, believe it or not (usually there's a cat or two on my bed, one on the couch in the living room, and another on the cat tree in the dining room, for example, and it really doesn't feel uncomfortable) and am not having trouble keeping the place clean. I guess I'm more worried about them - what if they're suffering some ill effect from living together in 500 sq feet? They don't SEEM unhappy or stressed at all - they always use the litterboxes, they're affectionate and not feral or unsocialised in any way, they don't fight (well, Meeko and Henry like to play fight, but no 'real', violent fights), they are clean and to look at them at any given time during the day, they just seem relaxed and content - so I'm not really sure why I worry - I guess it has more to do with what other people think, if that makes any sense, you know? I know I'm happy and that it's not about a mental illness for me, and I know that as far as I can tell, they are happy, but the thought of what other people think of it is what makes me uncomfortable - it's not that *I* feel something is wrong, it's that I wonder if other people think that I'm wrong, I guess.

 

[talon]

Everyone sounds happy and healhty to me! So *phfftthhh* to what other people may think - as long as you and the cats are happy, healthy and have medical attention when needed -

 

[nano]

Most of the replies are from the perspective of a human's "right" to own cats...

I was answering from the side of how much space/room an indoors-only cat might need to feel happy.

With that said, maybe Juniper has four tame cats who are friendly and can co-exist together in 500 square feet. There is no way on earth four alpha cats would be able to peacefully share such close quarters.