Bluekat,

It's called Cat Hoarding. It's an illness. Read on:

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/13...illness+.shtml

http://www.wauu.de/Recreation/Pets/Issues/Hoarding/

While some people think they are doing the right thing by rescuing and giving homes to cats and dogs, they end up collecting them, forcing them to live in disgusting conditions. They are so overwhelmed by the number of animals, that they cannot properly care for them or get them the medical attention they need.

I posted a thread on a man in Detroit who had 249 cats in his home. All of them were very sick. The lived in deplorable conditions with no food, water, light or air. All had to be euthanized because they were too feral, sick and diseased to be placed.

It's a sad situation but it happens all over.