Cat Hoarding: How It Starts

Several of my friends and colleagues have multiple pets, and I’ve often considered adopting a cat or dog to entertain Olga and keep her company when I’m away. When I was growing up, my family had a Cocker Spaniel, and I had a Parakeet, but that was the only time I cared for more than one pet. Honestly, my parents did most of the hard work, like taking them to veterinary appointments, since I was a lazy, selfish kid.

Cat Lover or Cat Hoarder?

I respect pet owners who love and properly care for numerous animals, and I’ve known a few “crazy cat ladies” with healthy, energetic felines, but I’ve also encountered cat hoarders. I won’t discuss the psychological aspects of hoarding, but regarding cat hoarding, the number of cats is less important than their health or the condition of their environment.

The Pungent Residence

In college, I visited an old friend who had recently moved into a small house with two roommates and at least 20 cats. I didn’t see any felines when I walked in, but the ammonia odor was overpowering and made me gag. When I walked into the kitchen, the smell of feces became more prominent, and it seemed to be battling the urine aroma for dominance.

The kitchen was a horror show I cannot erase from my memory. Most of the cats were sitting near the overflowing litter box; some were on the tables, chairs, and counters, and one was resting on the refrigerator. The kitchen floors and counters were covered with excrement, and I had to leave because the odor was so pungent. It’s an extreme example of cat hoarding, but I don’t think it’s uncommon.

Transitioning from Pet Parent to Hoarder

Most cat owners have good intentions when they want to rescue as many cats as possible; they don’t aspire to be hoarders. They start with a few cats, but they frequently check online ads from rescue centers and shelters, and they eventually give in and adopt more. It’s hard for them to ignore the photos they receive daily of needy, adorable cats.

However, as they add more cats, caring for them and giving them attention becomes more challenging. Like people, some cats aren’t happy to share their homes with strangers, and fighting is more likely to occur when several animals share a small territory.

Unsustainable Environment

Vaccinating 20 cats and ensuring they visit the vet every year is expensive, and most cat hoarders, at least the ones I’ve met, avoid the vet unless one of their cats is severely injured. They may be better off in a crowded house than in a tiny cage at a shelter, but they won’t live as long or be as happy or healthy as other pet cats in more favorable environments.

Most states don’t limit the number of cats you can own as long as you can care for them, and they’re not a threat to public safety. Cities are more restrictive, but hoarders are rarely fined unless they have dozens of felines and the neighbors notify the authorities.

I’m okay with caring for one cat, but I like visiting friends with several cats and dogs. It’s nice to have a colony of animals following you and begging for your attention. It’s only a problem when the home becomes unsanitary and smells like a landfill.