Does Everyone Think You're Crazy?

[Freedom]

I don't think you are crazy. How can I, when I have SEVEN! But yeah, people do think it is odd. Bah, they don't know what they are missing.

I was thinking about your immediate situation. Your husband. If he doesn't bond with them, that is one thing. But is he is being upset by them, then maybe think about what bothers him. You wrote that the cats are scratching up the house. Um . . . I would have a problem with that, too!

I have many shapes and sizes of scratching posts all through the house - just none in Dad's bedroom. All get used, often. The two oldest, I have replaced the rug on them. With this many cats, I find I just HAVE to have this stuff.

I often wonder about those "kitty starter kits" they sell. Litter pan, scoop, 2 plastic dishes (food and water), and maybe a catnip mouse. WHERE'S THE SCRATCHER? It is really a required thing with a cat. Sigh.

Because we have been spending so much time up at Dad's house this year, I bought another scratching post for up there as well. A tall, tall one with perches on it too.

And yes, I also have moments when I think I must have gone around Jupiter a time or two! But I just pick up and cuddle someone and that feeling disappears real fast.

[Purr-tender]

Freedom, the cats do have several scratching posts around the house and they are very good at using them. But my one little one, Squeak, is naughty and have caught him scratching the loveseat in the tv room. When I catch him or any of the others I tell them "NO" and move them to a post and take their paws and make scratches on the post to show them what I want. I even put catnip on the posts. My husband's feelings are very important to me, and it is very upsetting knowing that this is his home too. But what am I going to do with the babies. I have tried posting "wanted good homes" posters at my local vet's and my friend's (who is an animal lover, too) beauty shop, not to mention all the calls that I have made. But thanks to irresponsible owners not spaying and neutering their pets, all the "no kill" shelters are FULL and so many here are already caring for drop off cats and kittens!! I know that I did the right thing in taking in Momma Lily but I feel like it backfired on me. But I would not trade this experience with her and her babies for anything in the world!!

[CultureJunky]

I've been told by my Sister in law that I'm sad cause I'm always talking about cats and I look after the ferals with my mum, plus my own two.
But I don't care, it kind of hurt my feelings though.
But I think that people who don't have a bond with cats or any animal just don't understand what it's like.
They don't get what it's like to see them happy and contented, and they certainly don't get how it feels to have the company and companionship of a cat, how it makes you feel secure and how they interact.
I guess those kind of people are the ones that don't see that cats have personalities and are all individuals. The kind of people who think animals are 'dumb' cause they're an animal.
You're not crazy, you find happiness in having cats, I do, I know that having my two has made me feel so much better, they're there when I feel sad, when I feel happy, they make me happy.
I have depression and have had for years since I was very young, and I know that my cats bring me comfort and help me when I'm not well.
I think people who don't like animals are the crazy ones!

[K & L]

After we've now hit, I believe, the 30 mark...everyone has pretty much given up on lecturing us! Crazy? Yes! But we both love this so I do not justify my household anymore. Like you, my house is very clean, litters are clean, cats are fixed, shots, healthy, well fed, have access to a nice outdoor cat run, so to those that don't understand.

Our garage could really use some sprucing up, and as soon as we have some more funds, this will happen.

I say hats off to all who rescue, have even one cat, and LOVE these precious creatures!

[fragrancehound]

I get that from my boyfriend too! I simply tell him that they are my babies. Quite frankly I like animals a lot more than humans these days,

[catnapper]

Yup, we have 5 and people's eyes usually bug out when they hear that. It seems perfectly normal to me.... I guess until you live with that many it seems outrageous. 5 is my limit for taking care of them financially... even then its a stretch - thank goodness I work for a petstore to get a discount off everything

The funny thing is hubby - who did not want cats in the first place. I swear he loves them more and just last night he was making plans to build them a new cat tree for Chritsmas! Take into consideration this is also the same man who took 3 years to patch a hole in the wall that only required slapping a board up near the ceiling of the mudroom... and he's going ot build a whole cat tree? I'm confident he'll actually build it since its for HIS cats. So maybe he's the one who's nuts around here!

[jazzcat]

I have 5 that are definitely mine and the two rescued kittens who will probably end up being mine. Honestly I don't know if I'm up for two more cats. I feel 5 is my limit but I don't know what else to do. It would be very hard to find a good home for Decker, the little wild kitten. None of the rescues are willing to take him because of his feral behavior and the best I can probably find for him on my own would be a home as a barn cat. With some of the behavior he has started the past few days I don't know if I can keep him in the house.

My family and friends think I'm nuts to have as many as I do with my orginal five. I don't want to tell them about these other two. I just try to laugh it off and say I'm a card carrying member of the Crazy Cat Lady Club but the jokes and comments do get old.

[jenluckenbach]

Does Everyone Think You're Crazy?

YES (But not necessarily because of the cats. LOL LOL LOL)

but seriously, I swear to you, people never liked me....not in grade school, not in high school, not in collage, not at work, not even in my own family. So why on EARTH would I care if they think I am crazy or not for caring for a (more than a normal number) of cats?!?!?!

I have always danced to the beat of a different drum and it sure as heck never bothered me not to be like everyone else.

And I too agree whole-heartedly with CCL, well said!

[KitCat]

So long as they are well cared for and you have been keeping up with the litter box I think it's OK. The problem is when the houses are filthy and the cats are not well cared for.

[Marigold2]

Good Morning,
I have just been reading all the posts here. I too would have more cats if only my husband let me. We have two now. But we also have a bunny, a bird, one hamster, two rats, three frogs.
No I don't think anyone here is crazy except perhaps me. I think everyone is doing a great job with the time, funds and training they have. The problem is that people don't get their animals fixed and one female cat can have hundreds of kittens in her life time and they can and so forth. With over one million animals being put down every year due to overcrowding it is no wonder many people can not take on another animal in their household. I congratulate anyone who is helping to control the pet population and adopting. More money needs to be given to no kill shelters. Perhaps a vet in your local area can do low cost spaying and neutering one weekend a month. I don't really have an answer that hasn't been suggested before, just a lot of postive thoughts on what everyone here is doing. You are all doing such good work. Be proud.