Do you ever wonder "how many cats are too many"? Are you afraid of ending up like an old cat lady? Cat lovers often fantasize about adding a new cat to their home. We all find cute kittens or rescue cats and wish we could help them find a loving environment. There is no exact answer to the question: for some people 2 cats could be too many, in other cases 4 cats are happy sharing a house. Each person should realize what is the best option. You should consider the following points:

• Your living environment: do you own your apartment? do you rent or do you share an apartment? A cat is a life time commitment, you should be able to secure a safe home environment for all your cats for an average of 15-18 years!
  
• How many cats do you already have? Are they social and outgoing? If you have a shy cat who grew up closer to you over the years she won't like to have new kitty friends. Introducing and adjusting the social structure among cats can be difficult and stressful, it could even lead to constant hissing, fighting and litter box issues
  
• A cat costs money! Take into account vet bills, litter and cat food, cat sitting or in-home boarding services when you're away. It all adds up and your bill could get high
  
• Are you in good health? Do you feel you will be able to take care of yourself and your cat companions for a long time? You are their provider, they depend on you.
  
• Will you have time to devote to your cat friends? If your work is very demanding you could have an independent cat waiting for you in your aparment but you should limit the number of cats
  
• Think carefully about the reasons why you would like to have more cats. You need to understand if you're replacing with cats other needs in your life. Cats are living beings and will give you company and endless rewards but one or two cats do just that
  
• How does your family and friends feel about your cats? You want to mantain a social life with your closer friends and relatives, your cats are part of your life but your home should be a welcoming and healthy place for everyone in your life
  
• Be careful and review your lease or coop/condo regulations! Many apartment have strict pet policies. Your building could allow pets (or just cats) and also limit the number of cats per apartment
  

Many of us, who just can't help loving every cat we cross, would like to rescue any lonely kitten or older cat along the way. Sometimes our own homes are not the best alternative. There are so many things you could do to help organizations and shelters. You could play an active role in your community helping find forever homes for abandoned pets. You could also volunteer at the local shelter. Spread the importance of neutering and spaying and the importance of getting a cat as a long term commitment.

A cat is not an article we purchase and return, that can be replaced or thrown out when it gets older (or sick) or when she's in the way of a long vation or a work promotion overseas. Your cat is going to be there for a long time! Having one (or a multicat household) will bring you joy and make you a better person but along comes a big responsibility. Adding new cats to your home should be a mature decision, taking into account your personal situation, the cats who already share your life and your future 15 years.

If you need more information about how to add a new cat to your home we recommend you read Cat Vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat. You will find lots of tips and advice about how to make a smooth transition.

At Kitty in NY we can help you find a solution for your vacations and holidays. We will take care of your cats when you're away. Our in-home boarding and cat sitting service provide peace of mind to our clients. They know their cats are in good hands. Our regular updates will help you enjoy your vacation or focus on your business without ever worrying about your cat/s. Contact us with more details about the service you need.

Read on to discover three cat mysteries that have had readers purring. You might enjoy curling up with one - assuming, of course, that your cats allow you to share their sofa.

Sam the Cat Detective, by Linda Stewart. Published in 1993 by Scholastic as a trade paperback. Stewart tells a classic urban noir tale -- with all the key roles, from gumshoe to bimbo, played by cats. Sam, the P.I., is a handsome Russian blue who, with his human partner, runs a specialty bookstore. His client is Sugary, a sultry longhaired cat from the building's penthouse who comes to Sam for help after her owners are burglarized. The thieves took off with a jade necklace that one of her owners had made for a customer; it's not insured, and her owner faces financial ruin. After negotiating his fee -- half a pound of lox, plus expenses, and a small can of tuna in advance -- Sam goes to work. He enlists a few toughs (like Spike, a big black cat who lives upstairs, and Butch, who lives in an adjacent alley) and checks out the buzz on the street with a feline fatale by the name of Angie ("Tan-colored. Tough. You go to see Angie, man, you better sharpen your nails"). This book is a gem, right down to the cover illustration by Chuck Leslie. It shows Sam on a dark street corner with his shadow, cast by the streetlight behind him, sporting a tough-guy fedora.

The Man with My Cat (1999) is Paul Engleman's wickedly funny take on the cat mystery subgenre. It opens with Phil Mooney and his wife Frankie on the doorstep of a Chicago cat shelter, trying to summon up the nerve to unload a Maine Coon cat named Phull -- a charmless and destructive beast they have inherited from Phil's dad. They wind up taking Phull to the local vet instead, in the dim hope that neutering may discourage him from spraying the Mooney household from top to bottom. But when they return to pick up the cat, they discover that he's been stolen -- and a nasty fellow who cost Phil his career with the city fire department appears to be mixed up in it. The Man with My Cat is a wise-cracking urban mystery with the hard-bitten "sez who? sez me!" ambiance of a Mike Royko column. It will be treasured by anyone who's ever had a love/hate relationship with a cat.

A Cat of One's Own (1999) is the 17th book in the popular series about ailurophilic actress and amateur detective Alice Nestleton, written by Lydia Adamson. (Adamson is the nom de plume of Frank King, who also employs it for an animal-oriented series involving veterinarian Deirdre Nightingale and for a bird-oriented series with sleuth Lucy Wayles; in addition, King wrote a dog-oriented series under his own name.) While most cat mystery series follow a particular feline/detective team, Adamson sticks with one sleuth but cleverly introduces a new cat -- or cats -- in each book. In A Cat of One's Own, Alice has helped her recently widowed friend Amanda select Jake, a distinctive brindle cat, from the local shelter. When Jake is catnapped, Amanda pays $15,000 in ransom -- but then is found murdered with Jake, unharmed, by her side. Alice, who was watching the ransom pick-up, becomes a murder suspect. This New York series has more drama and passion than the usual cat cozy, plus a fascinating array of feline breeds and personalities.

Kitty in NY provides the best in-home boarding and cat sitting solutions. When you go out of town contact us. We'll be glad to connect you with one of our loving temporary homes or with a professional cat sitter in your area. We look forward to helping you with your cat!

If you're looking for a calm cat like a Persian but easy to care for, look no further, the Exotic Shorthair is what you've been looking for. Their shedding is minimal but they still have a silky, plush and luxurious coat.

A breed with barely 50 years of history, the Exotic can be described as a short-haired Persian. American Shorthair breeders bred to Persians to obtain new coat colors and green eyes. The kittens were so pretty to look at, just like Persians but with a short, dense plush coat. Very fast they have become a popular breed and there are many reasons to explain this popularity.

The Exotic Shorthair is easy-going and affectionate, a gentle cat who rarely meows. They will follow you from room to room and demand attention. They get close to their humans! Exotic Shorthair cats enjoy simple pleasures. They can play with a paper ball and will happily curl up on your lap while you read or use your computer. They don't need much space, which makes them ideal for an apartment, a true companion pet.

Exotic Shorthair cats meet every standard for the Persian breed except for the coat. The Exotic does not require daily combing, a weekly combing is recommended to avoid hairballs. It is a fairly short cat, a round and muscular physique with lines softened by the thick/dense coat. Their coat comes in every color and pattern. Their faces are identical to the Persians, short and broad with a flattened muzzle. The Exotic retains a kittenish look all their life, with big round eyes, small ears and short nose. Their irresistable looks along with their ease of grooming and their easy-going personality make the Exotic the perfect pet.

Kitty in NY has some Exotic clients. Our caregivers love all cats, your cat will enjoy a home environment while you're away. We also propose cat sitting services for short periods. Contact us with more details about the service you need, we'll get back to you as soon as possible to help you find the best in-home boarding or cat sitting solution.