The ‘5 Cat Rule’: Why Overcrowding Kills Catteries#

Have you ever visited a breeder where the cats looked “okay,” but every kitten had a runny nose? The breeder probably said, “Oh, it’s just a little cold.”

It wasn’t a cold. It was Overcrowding Stress.

Cats are not pack animals like dogs. They are solitary hunters who tolerate social groups if resources are plentiful. When you force too many cats into one space, their cortisol (stress hormone) spikes. [cite_start]Cortisol suppresses the immune system.

The Indicator Diseases#

Dr. Niels Pedersen identified specific diseases that act as “Canaries in the Coal Mine.” If you see these, you have too many cats:

Chronic URI (Sneezing/Eye Goop): Herpesvirus is activated by stress. If your adults are sneezing, they are stressed.
Giardia/Tritrichomonas: These parasites thrive in high-density litter boxes.
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis): This is the ultimate indicator. FIP kills kittens. It happens when the harmless Coronavirus mutates. [cite_start]High stress + High viral load = Mutation[cite: 5476].

The “5 Cat” Solution#

[cite_start]Pedersen recommends keeping breeding cats in small, stable “pods” of no more than 3 to 5 cats[cite: 5476].

Do not rotate cats. Moving a cat from Room A to Room B disrupts the hierarchy and causes stress.
Keep studs separate. Maine Coon studs are massive and can be aggressive; they need their own quarters.

Conclusion#

If you want to breed healthy Maine Coons, you must resist the urge to “keep just one more.” Be ruthless with your numbers. A cattery with 4 healthy queens is profitable. A cattery with 20 sick queens is a money pit.

References#

Pedersen, N.C. Feline Husbandry: Diseases and Management in the Multiple-Cat Environment. American Veterinary Publications, 1991.