How many cats does it take to be hoarding?

Question

I really think we have too many. I don't want to give numbers.... we have a few that are outside cats and some that just stay in my sister's old bedroom and several that stay in the main part of our house. I just need to know how many is concidered hoarding. I don't want to be breaking any laws, I just wish my parents would see that they are in over their heads...

I really think we have too many. I don't want to give numbers.... we have a few that are outside cats and some that just stay in my sister's old bedroom and several that stay in the main part of our house. I just need to know how many is concidered hoarding. I don't want to be breaking any laws, I just wish my parents would see that they are in over their heads...
~more info~
ok, the cats in the bedroom were my sisters cats and she moved and left them. they don't socialize with our other cats... The boxes do get scooped EVERY day and changed 2/3 times a week. they all get plenty of water and food, wet and dry, And we do take the sick ones to the vet. The males are neutered. The females have never had shots. The house does smell of cats, but only when they are out, (they have a room to sleep in at night) I think its just the fur that smells. I can't keep my bedroom door open because they have had accidents in there in the past. My parents do take care of these cats.

Answer 1

I think it's hoarding when you have more than you can properly care for.

If the cats are clean, well-fed, healthy, get regular veterinary care as needed, their boxes are kept clean and get enough attention, then they're okay.

If they're dirty and/or matted, don't get enough food, have illnesses or injuries that aren't treated, the box is always full and they're messing all over, then there's too many, even if there's only one.

I'd worry a bit about the ones in the room by themselves. What's the point of having them if they aren't part of the family?

Answer 2

Most hoarders that I see on tv that have their cats taken away from them have 60, 80, 100, or more.

I live on a farm and have quite a few myself. They are well taken care of. All females are spayed, most males are neutered (still working on it.) They are all very healthy. But, the main thing is most are outside.

I have 4 that stay inside. When one acts strange like it may be sick or getting sick, it comes in until it gets better. They have a barn to sleep in, some like to sleep under the house, so they aren't out in the elements.

What I don't understand is why all cat hoarders that I have seen always have all of them in the house. Just a few cats stink up the house, I can imagine what even 20 or more in the house must do. There's no way you could keep your house even halfway clean.

The cats that stay locked away in a bedroom are terribly neglected. I once read you should give your cat 15 minutes total attention a day. In my case that isn't possible, but everyday I go outside and play with, pet, and talk to all of my cats so that they know they are loved and cared for. Of course the indoor cats get more attention, but at least all get some attention.

Those that stay locked away really should be given homes where they get attention. Even if they are well fed and cared for, it's not fair to them that they rarely have human interaction.

I don't think you're breaking any laws. There are usually no limits on the amount of animals that live in your house, especially cats. Unless some one turns you in for abusing your cats, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I would consider having more outside cats, than indoor ones though.

If you really think your parents are over their heads, try to talk to them about it and show them all the answers to your question. Good luck, it obvious you do care about them.

Answer 3

"Animal Hoarding" is pathological, and most "hoarders" are not consciously aware of their compulsion. Hoarders generally have hundreds of animals that are not properly cared for.

You need to know, however, what the laws are in your area regarding not only the number of cats allowed in your community, but also what sort of vaccinations the cats must have. If your folks cannot properly vaccinate and feed the cats, they have "too many" even if they have only a couple of cats.

If sanitation is an issue, then you have too many animals.

Call your local Animal Control office and ask what the regulations are. Ignorance of the law is no excuse... and if the number of cats you have is a nuisance to your neighbors, they can file complaints against your folks. Be prepared; get the facts; and make sure the cats are properly seen to.

Answer 4

Well, I would have to say that depends on the law in your area. I would also have to say that it depends on if the animals are being taken care of completely. If there is an animal that is not getting the medical attention it needs, and the litter boxes are not cleaned everyday, and the food and water is not available or adequately then I would consider that hoarding.
Some say 30 is too much, some say 15 is too much. So, I would look into your laws and find out for yourself.

Answer 5

Each city it's own laws, call animal control to find out how many your city allows.
Hoarding is more of a mental disorder. If your 'rents have too many and feel like only they can give the cats the care they need (even if they aren't), you should probably seek help.

Answer 6

Animal hoarding is a form of compulsive hoarding that involves keeping higher than typical numbers of animals as pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability [1]. An animal hoarder must be distinguished from an animal fancier (who merely keeps an unusually large number of pets, but has the ability to care for all of them) or an animal breeder (who would have a large number of pets due to the business). The distinguishing feature is that a hoarder "fails to provide the animals with adequate food, water, sanitation, and veterinary care, and … is in denial about this inability to provide adequate care." [2]

Along with other compulsive hoarding behaviours, it is linked in the DSM-IV to obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder [3] . Alternatively, animal hoarding could be related to addiction, zoophilia, dementia, or even focal delusion. [2]

The presence of so many animals is dangerous both for the animals and the hoarders. At the very least, because hoarders, by definition, fail to clean up after the animals, urine and feces accumulate. The feces is a vector for a number of diseases. Ammonia from the urine rises to unhealthy concentrations in the air. OSHA set the permissible exposure limit for ammonia at 50 parts per million; 300 is life-threatening. [4] In one case, the ammonia concentration of the air in one hoarder's house, after being ventilated, was still 152 ppm. [2]

Animal hoarding is also a serious animal welfare issue, affecting up to 250,000 animals—mostly dogs and cats—in communities throughout the United States. [1] Hoarders keep abnormally large numbers of animals for which they may not provide even the most basic care. The sometimes hundreds of dogs or cats kept by a single hoarder generally show signs of abuse such as severe malnutrition, untreated medical conditions including open sores, cancers, and advanced dental and eye diseases, and severe psychological distress. In 80 percent of the cases studied, authorities found either dead or severely ill animals in hoarders' homes. [5]

Animal hoarding is also a public health threat, as hoarding creates highly unsanitary conditions on the properties of hoarders.

Answer 7

Is there really a number that is illegal to how many cats you can have?? we have 12. 10 outside and 2 inside. I know in some communities they have rules as to how many animals you can have but I don't think there is an acutal law against it. You can google it!

Answer 8

i would contact your local police department and just ask what the number of cats you can have without breaking the law. and as long as your taking care of them then its ok. but it might seem like you need to get rid of some though. there are plenty of non kill shelters out there that would take them. and give them to good homes..

Answer 9

It is my feeling depending on the size of your home- large house-6 cats should be plenty. Small home like mine-I have had 4 at one time.

Answer 10

Check this website out it might help you in your decision.

http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/animal_cruelty/hoarding.php

It is very informative. Perhaps you should ask your parents to read it and go here there. Hoarding is considered animal abuse/cruelty. It's not always about numbers. Good luck!