How Many Cats Is Too Many In An Apartment? Will My Cats Be Happy?

How many cats is too many in an apartment? Could there be such a thing as too many cats?

Well, apparently, yes. After all, cats need space too. And thus, keeping them confined to a limited space can actually be bad for their health.

If you want to know how to keep your cats happy in a restricted space, you’re at the right place because we’re going to answer all of your burning questions, including

Is it cruel to keep a cat in a studio apartment?
Is a one-bedroom apartment too small for 2 cats?
How to keep a cat happy in a small apartment?

How many cats can I legally own?

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How Many Cats Is Too Many In An Apartment?

Overall, we would suggest not keeping more than two cats per person. But the persons in question are the caregivers only and not the number of people living in the house. Yes, some people, especially retired old ladies, do sometimes keep more cats, but what makes it okay is the fact that they can provide sufficient time, space, and affection.

As a general rule, domestic cats need at least 18 sq . feet of space to thrive. But bear in mind that this is only the bare minimum. Nevertheless, layout is often more important than the actual space. Plus, cats need vertical space and lots of it, so make sure to cater to that as well.

And, yes. There are certainly many pros and cons of keeping multiple cats . However, more pets mean more responsibility, and you also need to consider space. Is there enough space for you to get more cats? If the answer is no, we’d suggest you don’t risk it.

The truth is, there is no explicit answer to this question, and it really depends on your specific situation. For instance, how much responsibility can you handle, and of course, how much space can you provide for your cats?

You see, cats are very particular about placement. They want their food and water bowls to be placed in different locations and also far away from their litter box. Moreover, they want at least two litter boxes around the house so they can defecate as they please. And this would probably not be possible in a very restricted space.

Tips To Catify A Small Space For Multiple Cats

You can’t just put all your cats in one room and expect anything less than total chaos. Cats tend to get bored quickly, but fortunately, you can easily cat-proof your apartment for your feline friends.

Here are a few tips on choosing the correct litter box, bedding, and other items for your cats if you live in a small space:

#1: Get A Small But Efficient Litter Box

Cats don’t compromise on litter box accommodation, so you need to make sure it’s perfect to avoid your cat defecating in places it really shouldn’t, like your carpet or couch.

When it comes to choosing a litter box that would fit a small space, you still need to make sure your cats’ needs are met. First of all, the litter box should be big enough for your cat to step in and be able to take at least one step in each direction.

Also, for cats in the habit of kicking and spraying in the litter box, you might want to opt for a deeper box so that everything stays inside the litter box. Moreover, covered litter boxes are better than uncovered ones, though you could always remove the lid if your cat doesn’t like it.

We recommend the following litter boxes for small spaces:

Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan

#2 Get The Right Cat Bed

There are many bedding options for cat owners to choose from, but if you don’t have a lot of space to spare, you might have to be more careful when investing in bedding. Just because a bed looks cute doesn’t mean your cat will like it- cats don’t like things because they’re cute.

Just make sure the bed has enough space for your little friend to stretch as well as some sort of support to hold their weight without collapsing. Or, you could also opt for a more enclosed design if your cat likes to hide around the house but make sure they’re not allergic to the materials used.

Some of our favorite cat beds include:

Tempcore Igloo Cat Bed

#3 Invest In A Tree To Use Vertical Space

Vertical space is an absolute must for cats. Hence, it is crucial that you invest in the right cat tree, and even more so if you have a smaller space.

You see, cat trees are multipurpose. They’re useful for cats in many ways:

Cats can nap on them
They can climb them
They can hide inside

They can play
They can scratch

Thus, it’s no wonder cats love trees so much. We recommend getting one of the following trees if you’re low on space:

#4 Provide Interactive Toys

If you’re wondering how you can bond with multiple cats , playtime is a big factor. Plus, it’s also necessary for stimulating your cat, so make sure you get toys to keep them entertained. Hence, they will get enough exercise and also not wreak havoc due to boredom.

And obviously, you don’t need a huge space to accommodate your cats’ toys. And you don’t need a lot of toys either. Just switch up your cats’ toy collection every week or so, and they’ll never get bored!

#5 Get Window Perches

Resting on a window perch to judge the outside world more carefully is a cat’s favorite pastime. Therefore, you should consider investing in a window perch to facilitate them- trust us when we say they’ll love you for it!

Here are a few options for you to try:

#6 Provide Scratching Surfaces

Scratching posts are essential for cats, but they take up space. Thus, you should get the ones that are relatively space-saving and still your kitty’s favorite. Cats want both horizontal and vertical scratching surfaces, so keep that in mind as well.

The most effective way to stop your cats from scratching your furniture is by providing surfaces for them to scratch! So, we’ve rounded up our favorite scratching surfaces just for you!

SmartyKat Sisal Angle Ramp Cat Scratcher with Catnip

#7 Provide Passive Entertainment

You might not always be home, but your cat probably is- and thus, it’s natural for them to get bored. So, you can’t really blame them for jumping around the house while you’re away. They don’t know what else to do.

Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that you provide ample passive entertainment options to keep your cat busy while you’re away. Some options to consider are:

How Many Cats Is Too Many In An Apartment FAQs

If you’re thinking of getting more cats, you should know that space can be an issue. While you might be perfectly fine living in a small space, your cat can still have problems adjusting, especially if there are other cats around- because cats don’t always get along with each other.

Although, of course, you can always get creative and make the most of your space to facilitate your cats. The good thing is that cats are not really concerned with square footage, so they’ll be just fine if their needs are being sufficiently met.

But no, there is still such a thing as too many cats. And before you get carried away, you should know that having too many cats can adversely affect both your pet and your own health.

You see, if you adopt more cats than you can handle, there could be one of two possible outcomes.

The first option is that you’ll probably neglect your cats at one point or the other, and that is hopefully not something you want.

On the other hand, you might neglect your own health and well-being while catering to your feline friends. But either way- too many cats in an apartment is a big NO.

Is It Cruel To Keep A Cat In A Studio Apartment?

Like we said previously, cats don’t really care about the actual space in your home; they’re more concerned with the living conditions. And besides, an indoor cat that has never known the outside world will probably do just fine inside, unless, of course, it hasn’t been neutered or spayed yet.

So, is it cruel to keep a cat in a studio apartment?

Well, it really depends on how you keep the cat. If their needs are being met, then there’s really no reason for them to mind. But the equation becomes a little more complex if you throw in another cat.

Is it cruel to keep two or more cats in a studio apartment?

Well, probably yes, especially if they don’t get along together.

It might work, though, if they’re both from the same litter, but still, you must make sure your cat has everything it needs. Moreover, everything must be placed correctly, and your cat won’t have any problems. Just make sure to make the most of whatever little space you have!

Is A One-Bedroom Apartment Too Small For 2 Cats?

So long as they get along well together, two cats can live together peacefully. As for the ‘is a one-bedroom apartment too small for 2 cats?’ question, it depends on how you arrange the space.

The key to making the most of your space is to utilize vertical space. Also, since cats are territorial, make sure they each have their own space. You can definitely make a one-bedroom apartment work for two cats, but as we said, you’ll have to make arrangements accordingly.

If your cats’ needs are being met, they’ll be just fine but remember that two cats per person are more than enough.

And again, the persons considered here are the persons in charge of the pets. And kids can’t be counted because they most definitely can’t handle a kitty all on their own.

How To Keep A Cat Happy In A Small Apartment?

Did you know that cats are actually very accommodating?
Yes, we do mean accommodating.

You see, these seemingly hostile creatures can actually adjust their behavior according to how much attention they receive. In fact, some studies have even found that cats tend to mirror their owners’ personalities.

Hence, when it comes to keeping your cat happy, it largely depends on their personality. Are they super playful? Do they love to hide in nooks and crannies? Are they cuddlers? Are they one for treats– okay, maybe that’s just every cat on the planet!

Anyhow, the point is that cats will stay happy so long as you’re able to meet their needs adequately.

But when wondering how to keep a cat happy in a small apartment, you’ll need to consider your cat’s individual personality and what they consider ‘fun.’ Make use of vertical space, and make them feel like the royals that they think they are, and they’ll be great.

Oh, and you can never go wrong with toys, treats, and praise, so use them to your advantage.

How Many Cats Can I Legally Own?

While shelters are all too keen on getting all their residents adopted, there is a limit to the number of pets you’re allowed to have.

It largely depends on where you live, but the idea behind it is to ensure that ‘hoarders’ don’t get more cats than they can handle.

Most of the time, people adopting cats already have cats, and this warrants setting a specific limit so that they don’t go overboard. Generally speaking, there’s a 500-square foot limit for every cat, as well as a limit of one caregiver per two cats.

However, depending on your specific area, you’ll probably be limited to 3-5 cats per household.

The US is also no different, and while they don’t have any state or federal level laws to restrict the number of cats in a home, they do have local laws. Thus, if you’re asking ‘how many cats can I legally own?’, you can read up more on US laws on pet limits h e re.

The Bottomline

Now that you know too many cats is an actual thing, you might be wondering how many cats is too many in an apartment space. Well, that really just depends on how you use your space. At the same time, you must be able to financially support and take care of your cats.

So, it’s not cruel to keep a cat in a studio apartment, and 2 cats can easily live in a one-bedroom condo, but you should know how to keep a cat happy in a small apartment.

And thus, there are certain legal restrictions on how many cats you can own, but they’re only meant to prevent animal abuse and safeguard the rights of our beloved companion cats.

So, if you’re looking to adopt another cat, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself (and your cats) into before making a conscious decision!

Writers’s Bio:

This article was written by freelance writer Summaya Lucman

Summaya is a science major with a passion for reading and writing. Being a cat mom and ailurophile herself, she knows what it takes to raise a kitty kid, and wants to help other pet parents make the right choices when it comes to their beloved companion animals.

How Many Cats Is Too Many In An Apartment? Will My Cats Be Happy?

How Many Cats Is Too Many In An Apartment?