BIG Decision made... and I'm sticking to it!!!

Kim,

I don't come over the kittie section often, but WOW - 22 cats ........ that in itself is pretty amazing!

WHO cares what ANYONE else thinks or says - it is your life, your home and your cats!!!!

Bravo to you!

I can totally understand your decision and I think everything you've done so far is absolutely wonderful. Now you are continuing on by giving the best home to all 22 cats.

I really admire all the work you do.

I could never foster -I know that I just couldn't give them away;)

And taking care of 22 cats is already a really hard work -you are an angel anyway. I wish you the strength to stick with that:)

Kim, I'm just curious but did the adoption of Tess help make this decision? She was such a cutie and you hand raised her and Tony correct? I'm wondering how much of your heart went with her? I know you found her a wonderful home but it still had to be very hard to let her go.

kimreallydoeslovecats !!!

I had no idea you had so many cats, your HOME must be heaven with all those furkids for company! I also understand that fostering must be extremely difficult, it must be soooo hard to give a kitty up when you've grown to love it !!! You are an absolute angel (like many others on PT) and as others said, who cares what people think, if people don't like it so what, its your life and your happy !!! BRAVO and I wish you many happy years with all 22 of your furkids !!!

June

I think your decision is great.:) If this is what you need to do then I support you in that decision. I personally think you are great for doing what you have, If you want to stop at 22 you have every right. I have to say it does sound kind of funny saying stop at 22.;)

I am not quite sure where the 'hoarder' comment came from. However, I just wanted to let you know that even though you love all of your babies. I have never had any doubt that if you need to you would do what is best for the kitty. Just wanted to throw that in.

I too am jelous that you have so many, if I had the energy to have thay many I would too.:D

Lisa.... you are exactly correct.... giving up Tess was extremely difficult, and if only I had made my decision a few days sooner, she would still be here! :( However, I have to keep telling my self that Tessie is in a good home. (Must repeat to self regularly!!)

Bryan.... the "hoarder" comment was an insecure edit I made after seeing no comments and about 38 views! :rolleyes:
I know there are some people who are just waiting for me to be on the news some day! :eek: But I assure you, that won't happen!!! The only way me and my babies will be on the news is if I start growing fur and whiskers and eating kibble!!! :D

Kim, you got my vote! Oops.. I mean support. ;) :D

I'm okay with your decision...and even if someone wasn't, it's YOUR decision to make. Give all the kitties kisses for me! :)

Kim, I don't know how you have managed to do all that you do. I'm sure it was a hard decision to come to but one that you, and only you can make. I understand just where you are coming from.

I too am jealsous of what you do and how many furbabies that your heart has room for. I would love to do what you do but I really think my husband is scared to death that I would not be able to give them up for adoption. I feel in my heart that I'm still missing out on the big picture but I also don't want to upset my husband, so I do all that I can for the babies that I have and I support several different groups here in CT.

By the way, you are NOT a hoarder in any sense of the word (at least in my book) because a hoarder is someone who just collects the cat and does not care what happens, and you are NOT that way. You can see it in the pictures of all of your babies you take and share with us here, you can tell by the stories that you have about all of your babies and you can tell by the wisdom, and knowledge that you have for your babies. --- Meg

Thank you, Meg! Well, one thing I can tell any skeptics ... I have taken in over 60 cats in the past two years, and ONLY kept 22!!!
:rolleyes: :D

Kim, I know you made a very tough decision here, and I applaud you for making it. Only you know what you can handle and what you can't, and it's great that you've made this decision before getting in way over your head. And I love this statement

Quote:

---

I know that the younger ones would do better, but when I am strong enough to say "so and so" needs to go now, then my hubby says "NO, not so and so!!"

---

It must be sooo wonderful to have a husband that supports you in what you do and it's obvious that he loves them all as much as you do.

I'm sooooo glad you made this decision after Angel because I get the feeling you might just have had to breakdown for her. ;) :D And yes, Tessie did go to a wonderful home, yes, she went to a good home, yes she went to a good home, yes......;)

It's obvious to most of us here that you are not hoarders. Your cats are way too well taken care of for us to even consider that. I think 22 cats would be heavenly (as long as hubby was around to do all the scooping ;) ) so don't worry about what anyone else thinks. You are doing what is best for yourself and all the ones that you already have. Hopefully this will help Tucker to stop his nervous licking, and all the others will remain healthy too.

I'm also glad to see you are introducing the ones that you had considered adopting out but are not keeping. When you said 22, I knew there were a few we had seen yet. I love Pee Wee, what an adorable little orangie. And of course.....whew....you're not adopting him out so I don't have to worry about wanting Jetson. ;)

Thank you for all you've done for the many that have passed through your home. You are a total angel to all of them, and good luck with all those you have decided to keep.

One last thing, can you give each and everyone of them a hug and smooch from me please? :)

Thanks Debbie... and YES, I will definitely give them huggies for you! Oh, and I promise to post frequent pics of Jetson too!
;)

I had to smile when I read your post. I totally understand. All my cats were strays. I now have 4 in the house and was determined not to feed ANY MORE strays. Then a pregnant stray had two babies and she brought them to me to feed. I couldn't turn a baby away, so fed them and they are finally where I can pet them. I had the female spayed just a few weeks ago. One morning when it was freezing I went out to feed them, there were 10 hungry pairs of eyes looking at me. I couldn't let any of them leave in that cold without a meal. Yep, I totally understand and support you. Good luck on sticking to it!;) :D

22 IS a lot of cats, I think you made a good decision. You've already done so much for cats, I'm sure it's a LOT of work physically, emotionally, and financially. I think you should feel satisfied with what you've done already and help others realize the importance of helping animals in need. You rock! :D I would love to be around 22 cats all the time! hehehe.

Sorry for the late response Kim, but you know I totally support and understand your decision. You have done a world of good for all the foster kitties that you have taken care of and found homes for. You were so devoted to these precious babies, now it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy all 22 gorgeous, adorable kitties that surround you. (I'M SO JEALOUS):D
If you have the time, give them all hugs and kisses for me and huggies to you Kim, for ALL the wonderful work that you have done. Always we can't leave out that wonderul husband of yours who has backed you up 110%.
:)