help? .. i have a friend with WAY too many cats .. over 30 .. does anyone have an article on too many cats and the subsequent health and behavioral problems that i could get this woman to read, that she might see some sense? .. i have tried to tell her but she denies that she has too many .. she fits the profile of the "cat collector" .. the cats act feral, they are not socialized, not healthy and do not seem happy to me .. only one is "fixed" so she keeps having more litters .. she cannot bear to part with any of them .. though i have found good homes she always refuses to give them up or gives the prospective new owners a "lecture" on how they are to treat the cats and they back out ..
help???
need advice - too many cats
I don't really know if just reading an article would help someone with a cat collecting problem. Generally they need some kind of counceling, and if they're not willing to see someone, there's not much that you can do.
I would however suggest calling an animal welfare group about her. It may seem mean if you care about this woman, but it would be for her own good and especially for the good of the cats. And MAYBE if they come and inspect her home and tell her she HAS to get the cats medical care, alternate homes, etc, it will be the wake up call she needs. If not, the animals will eventually be seized and given to healthier homes (Or put down if that's the unfortunate thing that needs to be done). This is all a good thing.
This was my first result after googling "Cat collecting". I'm sure you can find more interesting things if you try keywords like that yourself.
http://www.messybeast.com/collector.htm
I would however suggest calling an animal welfare group about her. It may seem mean if you care about this woman, but it would be for her own good and especially for the good of the cats. And MAYBE if they come and inspect her home and tell her she HAS to get the cats medical care, alternate homes, etc, it will be the wake up call she needs. If not, the animals will eventually be seized and given to healthier homes (Or put down if that's the unfortunate thing that needs to be done). This is all a good thing.
This was my first result after googling "Cat collecting". I'm sure you can find more interesting things if you try keywords like that yourself.
http://www.messybeast.com/collector.htm
Re: need advice - too many cats
I agree, there are hundreds of articles online about hoarding and cat collectors, and YOU could read them and discuss them with her, BUT, it is common for collectors to be in a constant state of denial, so this truly isn't going to do a thing for her.
Personally, I would call a rescue organization (NOT a shelter, and NOT a kill-shelter), but a rescue organization who can give you tips and leads to help get these cats in a better environment.
It depends on the environment. If the home is a mess, unsanitary, and not fit for human life, then it isn't fit for animal life.
If the cats don't recieve regular veterinary care, then she could get in a heap of trouble. I'm surprised her neighbors haven't complained by now. If neighbors complain, then she WILL be forced (legally) to respond to complaints or face relinquishment of the cats....and sadly, she will have NO power to oversee where the cats go.
Not spaying/neutering is just plain ignorant and WRONG. She is contributing to the over population of pets, putting them at severe risks of health problems, and if she isn't getting them regular veterinary care, then she is in fact, negligent, and could face heavy fines from law enforcement, including jail or prison time. How is that fair to the cats?
Go to your state's website, and check the animal welfare laws that apply to your state or particular city. Most likely, she is in violation of many of them, and she could be in a world of trouble. If YOU are aware of the situation, chances are others are as well, and it's only a matter of time before those poor cats are in an even worse situation. Maybe explain that to her before it's too late.
You could also try helping her to become involved with rescue orgs in the area, so she can take proper steps to care for the cats, get them spayed/neutered, veterinary care, proper food and housing for them, and the rescue groups can help her place some of them into decent appropriate homes, where she can be involved in the process. Most rescue organizations have strict policies about adoptions, pre and post visitations, followups, etc. There are generally also various spay/neuter programs in place where the cats can get spayed/neutered at low costs, perhaps even low-cost veterinary care.
If she is in the least willing to take proper steps, she actually could care for the cats, but, she has to be willing to accept help from others (rescue people), and be willing to adopt some of them into proper homes. She also has to be willing to work with rescue orgs to place any new cats, or to be taught there are LIMITS to keeping certain numbers of cats in a home. If she isn't willing, then I fear the cats are the only ones suffering, and she is totally responsible for that.
Personally, I would call a rescue organization (NOT a shelter, and NOT a kill-shelter), but a rescue organization who can give you tips and leads to help get these cats in a better environment.
It depends on the environment. If the home is a mess, unsanitary, and not fit for human life, then it isn't fit for animal life.
If the cats don't recieve regular veterinary care, then she could get in a heap of trouble. I'm surprised her neighbors haven't complained by now. If neighbors complain, then she WILL be forced (legally) to respond to complaints or face relinquishment of the cats....and sadly, she will have NO power to oversee where the cats go.
Not spaying/neutering is just plain ignorant and WRONG. She is contributing to the over population of pets, putting them at severe risks of health problems, and if she isn't getting them regular veterinary care, then she is in fact, negligent, and could face heavy fines from law enforcement, including jail or prison time. How is that fair to the cats?
Go to your state's website, and check the animal welfare laws that apply to your state or particular city. Most likely, she is in violation of many of them, and she could be in a world of trouble. If YOU are aware of the situation, chances are others are as well, and it's only a matter of time before those poor cats are in an even worse situation. Maybe explain that to her before it's too late.
You could also try helping her to become involved with rescue orgs in the area, so she can take proper steps to care for the cats, get them spayed/neutered, veterinary care, proper food and housing for them, and the rescue groups can help her place some of them into decent appropriate homes, where she can be involved in the process. Most rescue organizations have strict policies about adoptions, pre and post visitations, followups, etc. There are generally also various spay/neuter programs in place where the cats can get spayed/neutered at low costs, perhaps even low-cost veterinary care.
If she is in the least willing to take proper steps, she actually could care for the cats, but, she has to be willing to accept help from others (rescue people), and be willing to adopt some of them into proper homes. She also has to be willing to work with rescue orgs to place any new cats, or to be taught there are LIMITS to keeping certain numbers of cats in a home. If she isn't willing, then I fear the cats are the only ones suffering, and she is totally responsible for that.
..........Traci