To think having 30 cats is a bit too many??

[SarahH12]

Friend of ours is a foster Mum to cats. Speaking to her last night she said she has 30 cats at the minute

Whilst I think it's great she looks after cats (I couldn't do it, I'd get too attached!!) I'm not sure 30 is in the best interests of the cats? I suppose what's worse - not taking them in or then having 20-30 cats in your quite small house?

Bet the house stinks
Surely people can see that 30 cats- regardless of if she's fostering them is crazy? It can't be good for the cats.

OP if you are still around we need some more info I think!

Way too many - I've only got 2 and they hog my bed at night. 30 on a bed and I'd be sleeping on the floor. But, think of all the fuss you could have with them, cuddles on tap. And if there's kittens...

If she's a responsible person she will have them spayed/neutered. Otherwise she'll be like one of those owners who gets prosecuted for animal cruelty.

How does she dispose of the waste, and are they all wormed and vaccinated? And I mean by the vet, not crappy OTC meds.

cinemalover My last rescue cat came from a house where there were about 25 cats being fostered and it smelt of cats, naturally, but it didn't stink of litter. The cats were spread out amongst her large house and also had the run of a big garden.

If they're all neutered and healthy, it's easy. Keep the litter trays clean, vacuum regularly, and don't want black clothes. Simple.

A proper foster carer would ensure all the health needs of the cats are met in accordance with the rescue's policies.

Well as shes fostering and doesn't own them then which ever rescue centre she fosters for will require monthly vet checks, flea & worm treatment and this is paid for by the rescue centre. They will be neutered by the time they leave her car at least and this is also paid for by the rescue centre. I foster for the RSPCA and this is what happens with them.

Fostering 30 cats is NOT the same as having 30 pet cats.

The organisation who has arranged the fostering (e.g., Cats Protection or a cat and dog shelter) are usually responsible for all care costs such as vet bills, food, litter, medications, etc.

The cats will have already been neutered before going into fostering or, if too young or sick etc, will be neutered shortly after.

They have to be kept seperate from your own pets, if you have any, and usually aren't allowed outside except in an enclosure such as a cattery.

They won't let you take more cats than you can safely house and care for. If this woman has 30 then she obviously has room for them and, as PP have said, some of that number are likely litters of kittens.

She has 30 "at the minute". Foster cats don't usually stay forever, they stay anything from a few days to a few weeks to a few months before they're ready to be rehomed. 30 will be a transient number that frequently changes.

DH's aunt fosters cats and her house does not stink, it is not full of cats, she has had no surprise litters, and they're all fed, wormed, flea treated, cleaned out, and cared for. She has a cattery in her outhouse.

@ScreamingValenta but I would hate to go somewhere that smelt of cats anyway? I have one dog and I'm literally afraid of people thinking it would smell doggy if they came round! It's not pleasant for your home to smell like animals, litter or not!

I don't actually mind the smell of clean cats and dogs (I have a dog too).

Teachers manage it with children so why not crazy cat woman lovely cat lady with 30 cats? Good for her for caring for them.

I have five cats—I thought that was a little OTT In all seriousness though it depends entirely on how she is keeping them, the mix of personalities, if she is genuinely fostering and not just hoarding, how many she’s moved on to new homes in the past year and how she’s chosen those homes, her financial status and more factors. And a lot of these are her business alone tbh. If she’s coping and the cats are happy and finding new homes then what’s the problem? Some people are just really passionate about animals 🤷‍♀️

I'm imagining 30 litter trays - no thanks.

I used to have three, and I wasn't a crazy cat lady, just couldn't decide which kit to leave behind at the shelter. They had long and happy lives and were loved and looked after.

One can never have too many cats

I think it would only work if you had a very large property (maybe a farm?) which could serve as a makeshift animal sanctuary rather than them all in one house

Silvery 31 if you follow 1 per cat plus one!

I quite agree, there is no such thing as too many cats - if you have pad the size of Downton Abbey

Very wrong. A form of hoarding and a mental illness - and yes I'm going to make that assertion even though I'm not a health professional.
With such a large number, the house can't be kept clean and the cats won't be cared for properly.

I'd imagine she'd prefer not to have 30 cats but shelters are often overflowing. I volunteered at a shelter where all the cats were in a caravan-type thing with rows of litter boxes, food and water bowls. They seemed to all have their own little spots and live happily enough alongside each other although obviously we really wanted them to find homes quickly. It didn't smell too good though

RTFT and seen that this is an official fostering programme and not just someone volunteering to do this.

I'm not so sure if all cats are solitary. I know someone who used to have 7 cats (a few died of old age) and half of them were outside cats who belonged to someone else but decided they wanted to live in his house with other cats, showed up and never left. He tried to find the original owner each time. Once he succeeded l, gave the cat back but the cat didn't want to stay home but ran away and came back to him every time. After two years of this the original owner gave up. If cats are so solitary why would they actively choose to live in a small two bed house where there already are 4,5,6 cats?

Better than being in cages, as long as they’re under control. The problem with too many cats is that then can go a bit feral and start weeing places they shouldn’t. Once one starts, it’s hard to get them to stop.

I once had between 10 and 20 that I was fostering. That was too many for me.