Loungers, allow me to shock you:

[bertha katzenengel]

I HAVE TOO MANY CATS!

Due to my inability to say "no," we have TOO MANY CATS!

Allow me to tell the tale of Katzenengel and the nine cats:

• Harry & Richard were six years old when they drove cross-country with Mrs. V. and me in 2000. I got them when they were eight weeks old.


• Our first feral cat had kittens in our basement on 9/11/01. We kept two from that litter: Petey & Toby.


• Daddy was a torn-up, starving stray who let himself be befriended over time, and I finally brought into the house. We eventually found he has asthma.


• Cocoa was a tiny kitten dropped off at the vet's office on a day when Daddy was getting a shot. I offered to take her, to find her a foster home. But on the day I was to take her there, Mrs. V., who had been very ill and was recovering, had bonded with her and I couldn't take her away.


• And almost two years ago, another feral - a dilute tortie named Ringtail who is too smart to be trapped - had a litter. She had one orange tabby, one dilute tortie, one black & brown tabby, and one all black kitten. Intending to socialize the kits and find them home, I succeeded in trapping only two. We were unable to socialize them, but they became semi-friendly and remain members of the household. Their names are Skittles & Charley (aka Charley Girl). That makes eight.


• Number nine is Moose (aka Ginger), the orange tabby from that litter.

Now, since we installed a cat door, which remains open all daylight hours, things have gotten better. All the cats go outside, but some stay longer than others.

I love them all and don't resent caring for them; how on earth could I?! But sometimes, god, they are just too much.

As much as I worry about my ferals when we go on vacation, it is REALLY nice to get away . . .

Shocked?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Cats kill endangered species.

Haven't you heard of the Key Largo Mouse? What if one of your cats kills a Key Largo Mouse? Endangered species killer. ;)

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Well, I am really glad I don't live in the Florida Keys.

The mouse would be prey to other wildlife, too. It ain't just feral cats endangering the critter; feral cat associations are popular targets, though.

That's my serious answer to a frivolous post. I know you're teasing me. ;)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. I couldn't resist.

My cats were once accused of killing the precious Key Largo Mouse. An amazing feat, killing the Key Largo mouse all the way from NW Jersey.

Here's a new picture of Midnight out in the killing fields:

[bertha katzenengel]

9. "An amazing feat" -- LOLOL!

:rofl: I hope you let the accuser have it!

Midnight is just gorgeous.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Not shocked.

When I was a kid we started with one cat. One stray led to another, and at some point in the 80s, it was up to about eight, but really ten if you count a couple of neighborhood cats who basically lived at our house. It was just too many.

I now have a 13-year-old female who was originally a homeless kitten, an 8-year-old male who showed up on our doorstep when he was a skinny and parasite-infested kitten, and a 3-year-old male that we got from the pound. We also have a bunny who had been dumped in our neighborhood. They're all indoor critters, so it's tricky dealing w/ all the, um, products of their digestive systems. That and the $$$ for vet bills are the reasons we don't have more kitties.

[bertha katzenengel]

10. So you know how it happens.

:pals:

The food, the boxes, the vet bills . . . they all add up. But I love them all and wouldn't part with a one. Go figure. :)

[KamaAina]

3. I could have sworn that nothing shocked me anymore.

Wonder what'll happen when you-know-who sees this?

[Flaxbee]

6. god, "vacation", what's that again?

We have seven. Came here with 2, added one, then found a home for one stray (another wonderful DUer). Then MommaKitty showed up with her three girls. It all happened so fast, and I love them dearly, each and every one, but shit it's hard to go away for a weekend, let alone a substantial vacation.

If you live in a rural area, if you've got a heart (and don't have fierce dogs), it is almost impossible not to attract cats. I know exactly how you feel.

My former neighbor in Virginia had at one time, 20. She's now down to 10, but the only time she and her husband ever got away was after we moved into the neighborhood and could take care of her cats should she decide she needed a break.

If you lived closer to me, or I to you, bk, we'd have no doubt a good system in place for vacations! But finding someone to trust with your babies is very hard to do. Only other cat people understand how important clean litter boxes, fresh water, etc. are. My neighbor is nice, and she's got two of her own, but I don't feel like I could ask her to care for 7 and not fret constantly while away.

[Jamastiene]

7. I used to have 7 cats and I no matter how much I loved them...

I noticed that I only have 2 hands for petting. I couldn't give them all the same amount of attention I can give three. I didn't want to give the other 4 up, but I am able to pay attention to the three I have now. I am going to be more hurt when these go though, because I am way way way more attached to them than ever before. I rely on them for all my lovin' considering I am alone in life. It's hard to even think about what would happen if anyone tried to hurt them.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. Are you the one they will write about in the Local page of the paper

--the one that says "Cat Lady arrested- Elderly woman discovered with over a hundred cats inside her once-pristine home"??

If so, cool!

:yourock:

[Gormy Cuss]

11. You should have thought of that before you adopted so many.

Just the other day you posted a picture of yet another preggers cat that you've set your sights on. Good God, woman. Show some restraint. You're well on your way to being a crazy cat woman.

I'm kidding, as I hope you know. You're doing a great job rescuing ferals. When I was a child all of our family cats had been kittens of ferals or strays. :hi:

[Phillycat]

12. One of my goals in life is to become TCLOTCWATC

That's "the crazy lady on the corner with all the cats". :D

Seriously, your heart is open and you've saved a lot of lives. For that, you should be commended.