How many pets do you have? Pondering thought after watching a show about pet hoarding

[carlyhippy]

I was watching a show about pet hoarding, I feel bad for these folks. They are wanting to save animals, and end up over their heads alot of the time.

I have 3 cats and a toy dog. The dog and one of the cats are very elderly, one cat is 6 and the other is a 4 month old kitten. All 4 different personalities, gotta love these creatures.

How many pets are too many?

[Luciferous]

1. I don't have any... but my husband and kids have been

talking about getting a puppy.

[carlyhippy]

3. so many times I have walked past the pet store and wanted to get a new pup

but I just can't justify bringing in another animal into the mix. I will probably lose 2 of them within the next year or so; they are way older than most dogs/cats are supposed to live to, I don't think I will replace with another pet.

[Luciferous]

9. I've thought about it, but right now we are renting a house and

we don't have a fenced yard. We are hoping to buy a house by spring, so maybe we will get one then... I'm thinking a dachshund or a beagle. I would get a dog from the shelter, but the only ones available in our area are all pit bulls and I'm NOT buying a pit bull.

[Sweet Charming Dem]

19. Well, pit bulls make incredible pets, very friendly, but if you do buy a dog...

go to a reputable breeder NOT a pet store. Also, look into rescue organizations for the breeds you're interested in.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

56. Dachshund rescue!!

See link in my signature line. Even if there are no dogs in your area C2CDR can help with transport. We got our Sammy from Tennessee via the Last Chance Highway folks. :hi:

[Archae]

2. 2 cats.

[carlyhippy]

5. they are too cute!

after having both cats and dogs, we prefer cats. They are independent, which is good for our lifestyle.

[LiberalAndProud]

4. The only thing I'm sure of, is that 219 cats is waaaaay too many.

[carlyhippy]

6. :O I just finished watching the episode with the lady having 200-300 cats

I just cannot imagine having that many animals. I was watching the show while watching my 3 cats playing and galloping thru the house and can't even imagine what kind of condition my house would be in if there were 216 more cats doing this in my living areas :O

[LiberalAndProud]

10. I was surprsed that Animal Control let them keep 85.

How can two people take care of 85 cats? It seems like a strange compromise. I thought the hoarding couple were adorable, though.

[carlyhippy]

12. yeah... I know I wouldn't be able to take care of 85 cats

They were a sweet couple, I had to laugh when they ran off the nosey neighbor ha.

[BlueJazz]

7. 2 Bunnies, 1 Chinchilla, ! dog and 3 HUGE RATS!

[carlyhippy]

8. cute!!!

I had rabbits growing up, and my kids had a rabbit when they were younger. I love chinchillas, have always wanted one, are they social pets, do they like to be held and played with like a cat or dog?

[BlueJazz]

16. Chinchillas are like adorable bi-polar sweethearts. I can pet and cuddle mine...

...one hour...and the next hour, she hates my guts!
They won't bite you or anything but they let you know that "I'll love you on MY terms" :) :)
.
.
.

[stuntcat]

57. omg :want:

I'm gonna have a rat or two someday! Never had one before but I know they're great!

[elleng]

11. I'd have ONE, if I could!

[carlyhippy]

13. one of my kids lives in an apartment, and can't have any pets

which is hard for her, because she has had the old dog and cat most of her life. Hopefully when they get a home she can have a cat or dog again.

[one_voice]

14. I have two dogs....

and that's plenty. :-)

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. 2+2

[Arugula Latte]

17. 3 kitties, 1 bunny, 2 hamsters, 3 fish

I'll be honest. I look forward to the day when we are back to only kitties. I'm getting a bit worn out from cleaning out hamster and bunny pee/poo.

Kitties are the best pets :loveya:. I can't live without 'em. :loveya:

[carlyhippy]

31. cats are awesome

:)

[WCIL]

18. We almost have 3 cats

Dexter and Rufus are 7 and 2, and we picked out a Siamese mix at the shelter yesterday. Sadly, when we went from the shelter to the vet to have the last of his shots, the vet said he needed to stay for a while due to a worrisome tail issue. We should have him next week.

My daughter pet sits for a woman who owns and takes excellent care of 15 cats. They are almost all strays that she takes to the vet for care/neutering and gets attached to.

[stuntcat]

55. yah 15

As long as they're happy, fed and clean then they'll have great lives! If I had a lot of room and money I could see being in love with 15 kitties myself :)

[kimi]

20. I can understand the impulse to take in strays, really

it's like they choose YOU, so if you don't take them in, it's as though you reject them. I resisted the impulse to take in my feral Bear, although I put him in a large outdoor pen every night to keep him safe from the raccoons around here, and he was warm and fed and seemed happy. Eventually, though, he just gravitated inside, and I've taken in at least 4 other strays from the neighborhood. But 20 or more? - that would push it, for me.

Right now I have 6 indoor cats, 4 indoor bunnies, and 1 outdoor feral (who I drag in during snowstorms or extreme cold weather). I really feel for pet hoarders. They have good impulses, but -- a lot of times it goes against them. Sad all the way around.

[csziggy]

21. In the past we had a lot more animals at one time - now six total

Four broodmares, one indoor/outdoor house cat and a barn cat. The family that is taking care of the farm have their own barn cat, but she is more of a powder puff. She is distinctly not my cat even if she does live on my property.

At one point in the past we had six house cats, two barn cats, two dogs and a whole lotta horses. But since our cats and dogs had the run of the sixty acre farm, it never felt as though we had too many. We've only ever had two litters of kittens - both times because the female cats did not look old enough to get spayed.

ALL our cats and dogs have been either "found" (abandoned or found on the side of the road) or adopted from shelters. ALL have been spayed or neutered as soon as possible. So even at our worst, I don't think we were candidates for animal hoarders.

[jmm]

22. Four chinchillas, but I'm giving two away soon

I had a boy and my brother had a girl. His moved in with me a couple of years ago in hopes of letting them get friendly. We had given up hope of them having any babies but this June they had a boy and girl. My brother's new cage arrived yesterday so any day now he's going to take the girls and I'll keep the boys. I'm going to feel bad separating mom and dad after all of this time but thankfully they won't have to be alone.

If I had the space and time to care for them I'd have more pets.

[XemaSab]

23. 3 dogs

Which is at least one too many. x(

[wickerwoman]

24. Reminds me of one of the creepiest news stories ever:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9560048

Toxoplasmosis in cat feces attracts rats to cats. Some scientists think this explains pet hoarding. The more you're exposed to the virus, the more you're attracted to cats.

Makes you wonder what else viruses (like the hypothetical e. chocolatae) are making you do.

[Lasher]

25. One cat, two dogs.

The two chihuahuas needed a home when our son got divorced. The domestic longhair cat came by one day, starving, and had noplace else to go.

[JCMach1]

26. 2 kittens, 2 orphan kittens being bottle fed, 1 dog, 3 turtles

All rescue :(

We had no choice with the kittens. Try to save them, or let them die.

[LaurenG]

27. How are they doing? The bottle babies?

I think about you everyday since you posted that and wonder how they're doing.

[JCMach1]

35. Was waiting to see to give an update- they see to be doing ok...

We are feeding 4-5 times a day 20ml via syringe. We made a decision to stick with the human formula in high concentration as the anti-regurgitation type we had seemed to be working wonders. I have raised kittens before on the bought formula specifically for cats and there is always some problem with bloating and diarrhea even if they are doing very well. This formula seems to nip that in the bud! However, one of their daily bottles gets added yogurt, a drop or two of syrup, and a tiny squeeze of mayonnaise just to keep things moving.

If they can just make it another week, I think we can get them on the fine, canned kitten food.

[LaurenG]

36. Awesome!

I am so glad, you good person you! :loveya:

[kimi]

42. Glad to hear this too!

I had been wondering also. You're doing a lovely thing, you and your family. Best wishes!

[Ineeda]

28. 2 cats and one bird

although one cat thinks he's a dog.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. Three cats.

Three active, enthusiastic cats. Sometimes it seems like there are many more than three. Love 'em all, though.

[carlyhippy]

32. my 3, in the middle of the night, decide it's time to wrestle and play

I have to laugh at times, sounds like a herd of horses galloping thru the house, the old dog tends to make himself as invisible as possible at night, he is not a willing participant in their big fun....he is trying to sleep, like the rest of us. Gotta love cats :)

[WillParkinson]

30. I have 8. 4 cats, 4 dogs...

Heidi is 16 and we're not sure how much longer she'll be with us. Star is about 10 or so.

I'm not sure what qualifies as hoarding, but all our family knows love on an individual basis each day.

[carlyhippy]

33. From what I have seen on these shows....

200 cats would qualify as hoarding, as one lady had. This other guy had like 30 or more dogs. These poor people, they all seem like caring people who truly love animals, their intentions are good but it's alot of work to take care of each pet, it just gets away from them and they are overwhelmed, then they give up. None of us are hoarders.

[realisticphish]

34. It's about quality of care, rather than number

if you can have 37 cats, and they are living in a clean, healthy environment with plenty of space, and are getting well fed and medically looked after, then go for it. I also know people who can't manage to take care of one single pet. :shrug:

I worked in a pet shop for 2 years, and it's easy to get in over your head. One of my friends who worked there had, at one point, two English Mastiffs, a jack russell terrier, 4 large turtles, a conure, two flying squirrils, 3 freshwater tanks, a saltwater tank, and three rats. In a small apartment. Going over there was... not an olfactory experience I care to repeat.

Personally, I have a cat, a blue-tongued skink, a red tiger oscar, and a community tank with Silver Dollars as the feature fish. And I'm looking to get rid of the fish; been looking for new homes (I'm moving soon, and I will be in a smaller place that won't have space for fish tanks).

Getting rid of the oscar will be tough, though. I raised him from a tiny baby, all the way to his current 12". Luckily, I found a monster fish rescue that will be taking care of him, so I don't have to worry about someone dumping him or mistreating him. Still, I think I will probably tear up when the time comes.

[soleiri]

37. We have 8 indoor cats

and at least 4 feral cats who we feed and care for.

Tomorrow, we will have one less indoor cat. Our 16 year old baby girl has cancer and is in kidney failure. We've decided to let her go.
I'm going to be a wreck these next few days, if not longer.

[Arugula Latte]

39. Aww, sorry to hear about your kitty girl.

:(

:hug:

[soleiri]

59. thank you

I just spent the day with her. Probably annoyed the hell out of her with all the cuddling.

[kimi]

43. Aw, condolences

It's a hard time. Safe passage to your sweet girl. Take care. Hugs.

[soleiri]

60. thank you

[sammytko]

38. I have 7 dogs and 3 INDOOR cats

I feed a bunch of semi-feral cats. They live here. I am trying to catch neuter and release. My pets are all fixed.

The first feral one I took in had FIV, so they/we had him put to sleep. The only way he would get better was if he became an indoor cat and that was just not possible. He was so beat up from all the fights he would get into. Things have really calmed down around here since his departure. I no longer hear loud yowling of cats. I guess the rest of the males just all get along.

[NV Whino]

40. Two cats (and a few fish in outdoor pond)

The most I had (not counting a couple of litters) was five, which is about three too many. It was a treat, though, to go on a walk on my twelve acres with five little tails sticking up out of the grass, following behind. One day I turned to count tails and counted six. Seems my resident fox had joined the kitty brigade. (She just wanted to make sure none of the cats encroached on her recent kill.)

[Bertha Venation]

41. We acknowledge that we have too many cats. 12.

But we manage well. All of our cats are healthy, well fed, well loved, well cared for, and, we hope, happy. They have plenty of space, several large litter boxes, and all the attention they want. There are frequent spats but no fights.

Their names, in descending age order, are Harry (the grand old man at age 16); Petey and Toby (born on 9/11/01); Daddy; Cocoa; Skittles, Charley Girl, Moose, Smudge (littermates), Mildred; and O'Malley and Rat Face (littermates).

[riderinthestorm]

44. 9 horses, 3 dogs, 1 house/barn cat, 2 full-time barn cats. I think I have too many pets...! Heh. nt

[kentauros]

45. One fifteen-pound cat

but that's more than enough for me. I don't know what I'd do with two or more, or what they'd do to me... :o

:7

[carlyhippy]

46. I have a 16 lb moose of a cat at my house

he is a gentle giant for sure. He's so big he should be counted as 2 cats :)

[backwoodsbob]

47. 5 total

two shepps..the famous in her own mind Parson Russell..a tabby..and a half nuts was a feral cat when we got her thing that divebombs the shepps off the kitchen cabinets :)

It's an interesting mix :)

[carlyhippy]

50. I bet it's fun and sometimes comical to watch them all in action

our kitten dive bombs the other 2 cats and us, she doesnt mess much with the dog, he's really old, and i think she realizes this.

[backwoodsbob]

52. our once feral..he's a baby now..divebombs them on the head

He will sleep with us at night some nights..laying back to back with the parson...however :) ..he has his days.He will literally divebomb the shepps off a 6 foot cabinet right on their heads.They are scared to death of him

[foxfeet]

48. Three dogs (two Cairn terriers and a big mixed-breed), three cats,

two turtles and a tank of guppies. The dogs, cats, and one of the turtles are all rescues. (If you're looking for a Cairn, I heartily recommend the Colonel Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue group. They're a good bunch of folks who take very good care of their rescues and who carefully screen prospective adopters. Google them--they have a well-done website.) This pack is enough for us, although we'd probably have more if we lived out in the country. There's a definite limit on how many pets one can care for responsibly, although the actual number varies according to circumstances. We definitely have no lack of love in this house.

[ceile]

49. 3 cats and one dog

Every Saturday when I sweep, I have enough hair to create a fourth animal....

eta: Can't believe I forgot about the outide babies. I feed 9 half ferals everyday. I say "half" because they don't run when they see me. One lives on the porch and she'll be coming with us if/when we move. Her brother may come too. They are sweet little ones that love to be petted.

[carlyhippy]

51. I know what you mean

3 of the 4 pets I have are long hair, I have to vacuum every day, or I have a real mess on my furniture and carpet. I wish they would let me vacuum them, it would be so much easier ha.

[supernova]

53. Four house cats, 1 stray

I am feeding and trying to get him to trust me.

Decending ordier, largest to smallest:

Sid - orange tabby alpha male and about 14 lbs. He's a BIG plushy toy of love. :loveya:

Nancy - Sid's tortie sister, and I'm guessing about 12 lbs. Sid and nancy are about 15 months old.

Ziggy Stardust - Sid and Nancy's smokey grey love child. He's about 8-10 lbs I guess. Oops! Everybody's fixed now, but he slid in before the bell. :silly: Ziggy is a little cuddlebug, just like his dad. :-)

Penelope - No relation to the other three. Total delicate prisspot tuxie. Probably the same weight as Ziggy. Does not want to be touched. Totally paranoid.

Everybody gets along for the most part, though Sid and Nancy do have their moments.

Last week, another little smokey grey showed up in my yard looking hagard and hungry. I'm guessing he's about 2-3 lbs, but can't tell. Can't get near him enough to pick him up. Though that is slowly changing. Eventually want to trap him and take him to the shelter to get medical attention and hopefully find a home for him.

[stuntcat]

54. 2 housecats, 2 more feral/soon-to-be housecats, 6 fishies, and lots of cheeky squirrels :D

So soon we'll have FOUR cats :o but this is not on purpose, the ferals just showed up and no one else was gonna take charge of them.

I am sorta sorry for hoarders and I know they don't mean to do any Evil, but their problem has more to do with their mental state than with their love of animals. Just my opinion. In these cases it's the animals I feel the worst for, they have horrible lives.
I won't watch news or shows about this on TV, it upsets me way too much.

[livetohike]

58. Two dogs, but if my husband weren't here I would be one of

those people who brings home every dog she sees. :-)

[Liberal_in_LA]

61. 2 cats

[femmocrat]

62. Three dogs.

We had a 20 year old cat, but he died last year. I don't think I will be able to take care of another elderly cat, so I won't get another one.

[The Midway Rebel]

63. Two dogs and one fat cat.

Would have more dogs if I had the time and money for them.

[Roon]

64. I have two kitty cats

that is enough for me!

[flvegan]

65. Hoarding isn't about numbers.

It's about ability to handle those numbers physically, financially and environmentally.

[TorchTheWitch]

66. one dog

He's all I need.