How many cats do you have?

[Lizzie]

I have 10 (soon to be 11), but I very seldom tell people that because they wouldn't understand. (Someone once told me that I am a "single woman of a certain age, with too many degrees, too much yarn , and too many cats. So I guess I qualify as that "crazy cat lady".) I figure I have a big enough house for everyone, they are well taken care of (I have a good relationship with my vet), and they don't go outside so no one actually knows how many I have

I can relate to that - the "certain age", happily calling myself a "crazy cat lady", and all indoor cats. I very carefully have only fosters in a double bedroom at the front so the neighbors only see those two at the windows. I also have a big enough house that they all have plenty of room, although they (fosters and mine) tend to be in the room I'm in. If one or two of them feel like some personal space, they can always find an empty bedroom where they can sit in the window.

I have my own cats (single digit) and I also have 7 fosters. It was 8 until a week ago when I lost my wonderful Alexander (18) to all the usual old-age ailments. It's strange how a home will feel emptier than it should when just one cat has gone even when you've known him for barely 2 years.

Another foster, Catullus, will be going out for adoption soon, and Challenge may be going to the social-feral area of the shelter for some extra socialization. My household is in constant flux. I've just volunteered to take on another foster that I saw at one of the shelter's adoption centers who the staff said no-one could touch. I don't know what they were thinking to put him straight out for adoption; I guess they were very busy and he's young and Siamese. He smells bad, and his coat looks clumpy, as though he isn't taking care of himself.