By Tricia Hopper

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A strong sense of compassion prompts some animal lovers to take in strays frequently, but caring for multiple pets in a single household may actually be detrimental to the animals' health and well being.

Dr. Stanley Robertson, Extension veterinarian at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said while the benefits of pets are reputed, studies have shown that having more than two may create a variety of problems, both for the animals and the owner.

"Problems that arise animal-wise are generally behavior related," Robertson said. "This includes a number of things such as aggression, urine marking (spraying), territorial problems, inappropriate defecation and excessive fighting."

Sanitation is a primary issue when homeowners decide to take in more than one pet, especially cats.

"Cats can be very spiteful," Robertson said. "They want their own litter boxes or else they'll go in a corner."

Spaying or neutering the animal decreases these behaviors slightly, but it does not solve the problem altogether.

"If the animals are overcrowded and fighting for attention, they are going to misbehave, regardless of whether they have been neutered or spayed," Robertson said.

Aggression is another concern, especially when children are present. Mark Russak, CVM assistant clinical professor, said animals act aggressively toward other pets, and they may begin to nip at people's feet or hands.

"Transferred aggression is when cats or other animals begin to regard people as prey," Russak said. "This raises many concerns because cats may carry diseases such as cat scratch fever, so one bad scratch could lead to a serious problem. Plus, there is a higher possibility of allergies."

When housing more than one animal, homeowners are faced with greater expenses for food and proper veterinary health care. It is also difficult to regulate which animals are eating what food, meaning the dominant pet could be eating it all before the others get a chance.

Multiple pets limit the owner's ability to give each pet one-on-one attention. Owners believe having multiple pets means these animals will always have playmates, but Russak said this assumption is not completely accurate. He said there is no substitute for the owner-pet bond.

"Dogs need attention or they become destructive," Russak said. "Having more than one dog equals less personal attention per animal."

While cats tend to become spiteful when overcrowded, dogs become restless and need plenty of opportunities to keep active. Russak said owners should give dogs jobs, such as jogging and chasing a tennis ball.

Animals that roam freely may become a danger, especially to children. If not restricted, the dogs may begin to terrorize the neighborhood. Russak said the old adage is true, "you can take the dog out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the dog."

"Dogs will form into a pack, much like wild wolves," Russak said. "This is when dog attacks occur. Even well-behaved, gentle pets have been known to attack when in a pack."

Likewise, unrestrained dogs face dangers of their own, such as being hit by an automobile or becoming the victim of malicious mischief.

When considering the question of how many is too many, keep in mind the physical abilities of the owner and the amount of time available to spend with each animal. The size of the house and yard are also factors.

Robertson said the general rule is that more than four or five animals may create a problem, but common sense should be the deciding factor.