It's hell being a crazy cat lady.

[Bertha Venation]

No secret to many DUers, Mrs. V. and I have eleven cats. I'll answer the inevitable question: Why? Because for several years we could not say “no.” We can say it now. We love each of these animals and they are very well-cared-for.

We would be truly crazy if they all stayed in all the time. I know many people are of the opinion that cats mustn't go out, but most of our cats go outside. Most come in every night, too, but if they miss the evening call, they stay in the garage (which has a cat door).

With eleven cats come four average size litter boxes and two gigantor litter boxes (they're about as big as three bus pans side-by-side). With eleven cats come tons of hork. Someone barfs every day, despite the “sensitive stomach” kibble we feed. With eleven cats comes the rare but inevitable territory-marking. Most of all, with eleven cats comes aggravation that is hard to describe.

And here is why I am deeply cursed: I want every cat I think needs rescuing or needs a home. I did TNR* for quite a while, and as a result of that program and of the untimely death of our last two ferals, there are no more ferals or strays around our house. We get the odd lone straggler, but with our kids guarding the homestead they don't usually stay long. And our garage is always open to them (with heated kennel beds in the winter). But I want to keep those stragglers, bring them in, feed them and make them mine. I want all the kittens in the world. I want to go to the humane society and grab them all up.

What keeps me from doing it? Not wanting to epitomize the definition of “crazy cat lady.” Because for all I've said, I don't think having eleven cats fits the bill. But I am adopting no one new. Our brood will shrink by sad attrition and we'll make no new additions as that happens.

You want to know the TRUE definition of a Crazy Cat Lady? Someone who can tell the cats apart by the roughness of their tongues. :rofl:

Although I’m not a true crazy cat lady, I am a cat lady, and I am crazy.

This is my last cat post for . . . the day. :)

Now: post cat & kitten pictures!

* Trap-Neuter-Return, a system of spaying/neutering stray/feral cats to stop population growth.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I can't tell mine apart by tongue roughness

but I can identify them by their meows and the texture of their fur. Do I qualify?

[Bertha Venation]

12. I don't think so.

I can do that, too. :)

[soleiri]

28. we have a game we play at our house

one of us (me or one of my sons) sits blind-folded, another person brings in one of our 8 indoor cats and the person has to guess who it is by how the fur feels.

and that's an exciting Caturday night. :P

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. So can you do it?

Sounds like a great way to spend a Caturday evening.

[Call Me Wesley]

2. Ginger sends his love to aunt Bertha,

from his Fall/winter hammock which is attached to the radiator. Mmmmm, comfy and waaaaaaarm!

[Bertha Venation]

13. I love that Ginger.

Thank you, Wesley. :loveya:

[applegrove]

3. I think if your pets are well cared for you are not the crazy cat lady at 11. You just have a menage

. It is as if you have a hobby farm only for cats. Me? I'm not so good with the vacuuming cat hair up. I only empty my litter box every second day. So I can only handle two cats.

[Bertha Venation]

14. The vacuuming is part of why we put in wooden floors.

Now it's just a fight against the tumbleweeds . . . .

[applegrove]

20. Yup. I have tumbleweeds on my wood floor right now. The other day I tried to vacuum

but the fuse blew. So I stopped right there. Doesn't take much to stop me from vacuuming. LOL!

[elshiva]

4. My mom and I are Crazy Cat Ladies.

I got mom this:

[Bertha Venation]

15. I think it's only a matter of time before I get one of those.

:rofl:

[suzbaby]

5. Here's Oscar...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Is that the new kitty you rescued?

He's adorable! :loveya: Looks like he's doing well now.

[suzbaby]

8. That's him

He seems to be doing much better. :hi:

[busybl]

10. holy cow, is that little bitty kitty that you were hand feeding?

He looks great.

[Bertha Venation]

16. Yay, Oscar!

:yourock:

[applegrove]

21. Oscar is looking like one happy tubby little kitty. He's obviously well loved.

[DainBramaged]

6. In 1987 when my beloved ex and I were fostering kitteh for a local shelter

we had 15 at one point between ours and the fosters, FIFTEEN. And we loved them ALL. We eventually found homes for 4, a couple died of old age and Feline leukemia, but when we eventually moved to our new home in 1994, we had 8 left which we kept. Sadly, they are all gone, but they were wonderful and your thread brings back vivid and wonderful memories of them all........

[Bertha Venation]

17. I'm glad to have spurred good memories.

:)

[busybl]

9. You aren't crazy at all.

If I had my own home I too would take in kitties. You're well below the limit of even a collector.
Give one or more a cuddle for me. Can't have any where I live.

[Bertha Venation]

18. I'll try to pet even Skittles for you.

Skittles is skittish kittish. Although she grew up in the house, she is still semi-feral.

[Flaxbee]

11. I want to save them all, too, Bertha.

I know how you feel. We only have six, down from seven, and we're on the attrition plan, too, but once we get a permanent home of our own, I know I'll feed whomever stops by. Almost makes me want to live in a loft apartment or something to save me from myself. :D

[Bertha Venation]

19. You and I have so much in common.

:hug:

[VenusRising]

22. You are not even close to crazy.

Here is a video of a lady that has taken in 130 stray cats. She feeds them like chickens. :rofl:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ukbb_woman-lives-with-130-cats_fun

You are wonderful and you should be proud of all the fur babies you've loved and helped.

:hug::loveya::yourock:

[Bertha Venation]

32. Yipes!

She has no competition from me. Wow.

You are kind. :blush:

:hug:

[Ikonoklast]

23. Bertha, I know you aren't a Crazy Cat Lady.

Says the guy with eight kitties.


I can tell who is sleeping next to me by the sound of their purring. Funny how no two kitties seem to purr exactly alike.


Mu, having a snooze on my pillow.



When I throw his little rattley mousey toy, he chases it down the hallway, grabs it, and runs back and drops it in my lap.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

24. Little pink kitty feet!

:loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

33. Mu plays fetch!

How fun. I'm with you on the purring. And we have a couple whose purring could raise the dead.

:hi: :hug:

[Mutley]

25. Your kitties have it made!

This is Kitten. Or Mr. Mittens as my roommate calls him... even though he does not have mittens.

[Bertha Venation]

34. Ooh, Kitten is beautiful.

:loveya:

[Gormy Cuss]

26. You are a cat lady. The only part open to debate is whether 'crazy' applies.

I'd say no, because by definition a crazy cat lady is a hoarder who can't say no and would never let her cats be adopted by someone else. You fail my test.

:D

[Bertha Venation]

35. Yay! FAIL! Yay!

LOL

:hug:

[Arugula Latte]

27. Kitties are addictive.

I want to keep all of them I see. :loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

36. It's so hard to say no.

Even on days like today, when it seems everyone is picking on poor Rat Face, and I can't stop them. :(

[soleiri]

29. I'm there with you

8 indoor and 4 outdoor feral/semi-feral cats.

I always said if I won the lottery the first thing I'd do after paying off debts is open a shelter for cats.

[Bertha Venation]

37. We share a dream, soleiri.

I want to open a shelter, too. :)

[Individualist]

30. Salem says hi

[Bertha Venation]

38. LOL good one!

Salem is a beauty.

[mike_c]

31. the SO and I have nine, so I can totally relate....

I'm the crazy neighborhood cat dude.

[Bertha Venation]

39. . . . and the Dude abides.

:)