How Many Pets is Too Many???

[Lisa Rose]

New Animal Planet series

We are producing a new series for Animal Planet about people who own a lot of animals.

Some brand them as “animal hoarders.” We want to get to know them as people. We want to experience the special relationship they have with their pets and understand why they do what they do. We also recognize that trying to care for too many animals can sometimes be overwhelming. There can be financial burdens, health issues, family conflicts, even the run-ins with authorities. We want to see how animal lovers - and their families - deal with these challenges.

We also want to offer help. We have the resources to provide free veterinary care, spaying and neutering, even food if required. We will not force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. We will not report anyone to any authorities. If help is needed, we want to find solutions that work for everybody.

Our goal as TV producers is to tell true stories about people who are often misunderstood – and if we can, to address issues that are too often ignored. To learn more, contact us at [email protected] – or call us at our toll free number: 1-877-MY8-PETS.

[Karen]

I have heard from Lisa, and she's not a spammer. She works with Animal Planet, and would honestly love to hear from some of you that have multiple pets.

[lvpets2002]

:) Ok so Lisa what are some of the things you are wanting to ask & or know?? I myself have a multi home of cats.. Might I say Special Needs Handicapp Babies.. I do like Animal Planet & would support them with info in anyway if it helps..

[Lisa Rose]

Hi! I am so glad you are interested! We are very interested in the unique bond that people have with their pets. We find that they are often misunderstood. We want to tell their story about the relationship that they have with their pets. Some questions that we are asking are:

How Many Pets? What kinds-names, ages, breeds?

When did your love for animals start?

Bring us through your day-to-day activities.

Do you remember a specific memory about one of your pets from childhood and present day?

Do you have a favorite?

What is your living situation currently?

What about you!? What do you do, age, occupation...?

I hope this answers your question! If you know anyone who have 15 or more pets I would love to hear about it!

[catmandu]

And at the Found Cat Hotel there are 8 Cats , and some Porch Cats.
Sadly I dont have cable as I dont like whats on TV and the money gooes to a Vet Fund for My Senior Kittyzens, and for when there are BOGO Deals.
:love::love:
I get stares when I say how many Cats are here , but they are all loved and cared for,
Coupons for Cat Food and Litter would always be welcome especially for A/D and Wellness!!!:love:

[phesina]

I have five cats (was six, but one passed away in September.. may soon be six again) ..in a two-room apartment. Three of mine are special-needs cats (disorders with mobility and balance).. if I get another, it probably will be too.

[phesina]

I have five cats (was six, but one passed away in September.. may soon be six again) ..in a two-room apartment. Three of mine are special-needs cats (disorders with mobility and balance).. If/when I get another, it probably will be some type of special needs too.

[Twisterdog]

I am EVER so relieved to hear the cutoffs is fifteen. Makes me feel better about my nine dogs! :D

[moosmom]

Lisa,

This is a great way to show people that even though they have many pets, does not necessarily mean they are classified as hoarders.

I have 5 cats right now, all rescues. I will soon have 7, as my dear friend Clare, died at the age of 96 after a bad fall. Clare lived in East Dorset, VT and had two kitties, KitKat and Freckles. Kitkat was my very first cat, Mollie Rose's mama and Freckles was her sister. KitKat is 17 and Freckles is 16. Clare's daughter Bonnie called me with the news and said that her Mom asked that I adopt the cats, as I am the only one she trusts.

My cats are:

Maya Linn, 11 years old - Seal Lynx Point Torbie with white. She was found in a dumpster at the air port in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Shortie, 11 years old (show name Little Mews Faberge) is the most beautiful calico in the world. I met her at a cat show as I was carrying her back from the judging ring with another cat. Both cats hated each other and I would up getting bit by Shortie. It was love at first sight.

Murphy - a 15 year old tiger tabby I rescued from the Connecticut Humane Society just before she was to be euthanized. She's a cranky old lady at times, but I love her.

Bad A$$ Buddy - a 3 year old orange and white hell on wheels. A woman who was going into a battered women's shelter couldn't take her cat. I offered to foster him until she found a place of her own. She never came back for him.

Lucie Noel Lu - a 6 month old tortie found wandering the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Keeps Buddy on his toes and has someone to play with.

I lost Mollie Rose a tortoiseshell in September to Kidney Disease. She was my very first cat, my "heart" cat. When she died, I was devastated.

Then there was my absolutel soulmate, MooShoo. He was a Sphynx, one of 5 rescues from a terrible breeder.He was blind in one eye and had limited vision in the other. I loved my Shooman like no other. One night I woke up and heard yowling. MooShoo was on the floor. It was the worst night of my life. 1 a.m. I rushed him to the vet. Unfortunately, by the time I got him there, he was gone. He had a blood clot that went to his legs. He was 10 years old. My heart was shattered and I'm still, to this day, devastated.

MooShoo slept under the covers with his head on HIS pillow, as I would wrap my arms around him and go to sleep with my face burrowed in his skin drifting off to the lull of his purr. Shortie would come yowling, looking for him. Once she knew where he was, she curled up next to him and went to sleep. They had a very unique bond. MooShoo and I would go for walks in the park in back of my apartment building in his little cat buggy. People, especially the children, would stop us and ask me all sorts of questions about him. The kids were fascinated by him. He loved the attention. He was a real people cat.

I've had many cats in my life come and go, having been in animal rescue for over 13 years.

If there are any more questions you'd like answered, please let me know.

[Catherinedana]

I am EVER so relieved to hear the cutoffs is fifteen. Makes me feel better about my nine dogs! :D

or eleven birds! I actually emailed Lisa and told her about my flock. It was a good opportunity to take a look at how I actually ended up with 11 birds in my house and how my heart got stolen by birds in the first place.

[Cataholic]

15 is the cut-off? Pretty much gives me license....:D

[Purr-tender]

Hi Lisa,
Just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to address the issue of multiple animal households. Currently I have 24 cats and 2 dogs. No, I do not consider myself a hoarder, although I am sure some do. I do know that their are definitely people who are true hoarders. I live in a county that does not have a shelter for abandoned cats. Most of the cats that I have rescued would not be alive today if I would not have said "well, just one more." I don't have the time to list all their names and how I came to take them in. They are ALL loved very much and have become my "kids". I spend a small fortune on vetting (all are spayed/neutered and current on shots) and food. I would love to go back to just 1 dog and 2 cats but I don't see that happening for a very long time. I have finally said absolutely no more and plan on sticking to that. It is a shame that so many people consider these precious animals as disposable and people like myself take them in and become labled as either "the crazy cat lady" or "hoarders" because we can't stand to see an animal in need. I'd love to hear what you and the Animal Planet have in the works to show "our" side of the story.

Mary

[carole]

As you can see Lisa i come from down under New Zealand, we have hoarders here too, personally to me a hoarder is not about how many pets you have, but whether you take care of them properly, it does not matter how many you have as long as they are taken care of.,i see hoarders as people who have way too many pets, but cannot take care of them as they should be.

I did have four kitties recently loosing one,I only ended up with this many as i rescued two from a bad owner ,who was letting them breed continuously in our neighbourhood,not feeding them or taking care of them when needing vet treatment etc.

Good luck with your TV programme, should be really interesting.

[Purr-tender]

Carole, you put it perfectly on the difference between a hoarder and just a family with multiple pets. Thank you!

[carole]

You are most welcome, that is how i see it and i think that is how it is.

[GILL]

At this time we have 19 in house. We lost lily yesterday. 5 are fosters of htse 1 is feral that we are trying to socilize. The CREW goes from a tri-pod (Demetri), Deaf (Precious), blind (Dobe), big (Maincoon 26 lb) to small at 4.1 lb
During a transport we have had up 35 in house for a week.
I would not consider that we are horders at all.

[catmandu]

At the heyday of the Found Cat Hotel there were 13 Cats,
Then old age claimed Bo Bo , Moose the MagnfiCat , Precious and Sam, Pouncer and Mr Scrappy.
And the Cats I got from a breeder had flaws and Rocca, John Hancock and BJ all passed on around 10.
That makes me worried about Miquelito and Pouncierge who are hitting 5 I believe , she has never set the papers she claims she has.
Hmmm?:confused:
I love my 8 Found Cats and travel all over the City to get the best deals on Cat Food!!:love::love:
I am on limited funds but My Ctas eat as well as I can afford.:love::love:

[lvpets2002]

:) I am so with you on the numbers.. Thank you Carole for your positive input as well.. I as well as Gill's household have = Deaf, Blind, Tripods, One Eyed, Deformed Limb & CH (brain disorder) & Cattitude Babies in my Loving Household.. My door is always open to Special Needs Babies.. I call them God's Gifted Wittle Angels.. I so Love them All..
Hi Lisa,
Just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to address the issue of multiple animal households. Currently I have 24 cats and 2 dogs. No, I do not consider myself a hoarder, although I am sure some do. I do know that their are definitely people who are true hoarders. I live in a county that does not have a shelter for abandoned cats. Most of the cats that I have rescued would not be alive today if I would not have said "well, just one more." I don't have the time to list all their names and how I came to take them in. They are ALL loved very much and have become my "kids". I spend a small fortune on vetting (all are spayed/neutered and current on shots) and food. I would love to go back to just 1 dog and 2 cats but I don't see that happening for a very long time. I have finally said absolutely no more and plan on sticking to that. It is a shame that so many people consider these precious animals as disposable and people like myself take them in and become labled as either "the crazy cat lady" or "hoarders" because we can't stand to see an animal in need. I'd love to hear what you and the Animal Planet have in the works to show "our" side of the story.

Mary

[momtomany]

The Dunn gang consists of 14 cats (all indoor), all rescues or mom's failed attempts at fostering. In addition we have 4 dogs (indoor at night and most of the day) and 2 cockateils. I also do feral colony cat care and have about 30 that I care for doing that. This was the first year I didn't have kittens as I managed to spay/neuter all of them last year. It does get expensive, but well worth every penny we spend. We just lost our lab after a battle with necrosis from an injury. That bill as $1400 and that was with my vet of 25 years giving us a discount. I wouldn't have it any other way. I just wished I lived in the country and I would have more.

[phesina]

As you can see Lisa i come from down under New Zealand, we have hoarders here too, personally to me a hoarder is not about how many pets you have, but whether you take care of them properly, it does not matter how many you have as long as they are taken care of.,i see hoarders as people who have way too many pets, but cannot take care of them as they should be.

I did have four kitties recently loosing one,I only ended up with this many as i rescued two from a bad owner ,who was letting them breed continuously in our neighbourhood,not feeding them or taking care of them when needing vet treatment etc.

Good luck with your TV programme, should be really interesting.

Carole, I also think you are absolutely right on the difference between a hoarder and a family with multiple pets. Thank you for expressing it so well.

And it is deeply moving and heartwarming to me to see how many wonderful families-with-multiple-pets we have right here on Pet Talk!

[Animalhouse26]

I have 3 dogs and 1 cat Of my own. My Room mate has 3 dogs 2 cats. So we have a total of 9 here. Lol We are in a 2bedroom Apt.
I have always had a Cat since I was a child..so not having one was not a option. It took me pver 3 weeks of daily Shelter visits all over the area to find the purrfect one.
The 3 dogs I have now.. are all Rescues. My Oldest is a 10yr old Pitbull. He came from a ad in the paper..and my curiosity in the breed. I went to "Just look" And came home with him 9 yrs ago! He is my Heart and soul!
My next 2 are both 5 yrs old. But Falise I have had since she was 5 mo old. She was handed to me on the street in a bad area of town. Long story.. that if ure interested in.. I can tell ya. Lol She is a Freak,and we call her a "Pill head". The first year we had her.. she was hospitalized 3 times due to finding prescription meds in the house..and eating them.. :-/ But she has some serious Separation anxiety from me. And is Super protective of me.
And my most recent is Jade. She is a Blue/white Pit. And a female version of my 10yr old, Tyson. We adore her. She is also a big deal for me! I couldn't live without her. She was a "Foster" through a rescue grp. I have had her over a yr now. She has on going medical problems due to neglect. And she would be very difficult to adopt out and trust she would be cared for. So we kept her. Not that we mind! :)

My Roomie has 3 Chi's and her 2 cats.

And All the dogs get along beautifully! And Cats! lol

[Vette]

As long as all the animals are happy an being taken cared of i dont count it as hording. hording animals to me is when someone can no longer take care of the animals they have but yet dont seek out help to take care of them,, an stil keep getting more animals. thats hording in my book.

when i was growing up we had 12dogs at our place. not all of them were ours,, some were friends dogs we were looking after while they were in college. that was fun an a bit of a challenge at the sametime. kudos to those who take care that many animals an more. it really is rewarding to do so if you can

[IRescue452]

You have too many pets if you can't feed them quality food, give them vet care, and keep them in a sanitary environment. Also, if you are putting them in jepardy by having more than the law allows, you have too many pets.

I think most of my family used to think I was a rat/mouse hoarder. Anytime I'd get a call about a rodent being abandoned, home it came. However, they were quarentined, kept in cages of the proper size or larger for their numbers, cleaned daily, and I constantly researched better foods. Now I don't have any rodents though. I think if I were a hoarder I would still be taking them in.