My aunty has 6 cats and there all well cared for and never want for anything. All neutured, chipped, vaccinated, flead, wormed and have mountains of toys.
Her whole life is based around her cats, but her neighbour passed away last week and her son didn't want the cat so she's taken him on. And she has her eye on another cat that she's seen advertised in a shop window!
But i wonder when we should say to her enough is enough.

Enough is when she can't take full care of all the cats financially since thats the most important besides love.

__________________




Have: 4 Cats 3 Dogs currently
Have had: 6 cats

Dogs: German Shepherds
Cats: Ginger Tabby & Torbies

RIP: Ducati, Cheetah, Joy, Claire & Sapphire - Torties
Chloe - Black & White

Me? I think enough is enough when you can't give each one the attention that they need - and when you add so many - others feel the stress.

She has time for them all, they are like 1 mass family! The cats are inseprable they all sleep together and generally love each other she sits on the sofa on a night and they all sit with her, they have individual beds but all choose to sleep together on the bed with her.
She doesnt work anymore she retired, so she is with them all the time, And money is not a problem for her.

I agree with both statements above!

You can tell her enough is enough when you are the queen!

Honestly, if my niece tried to interfere in my life when I was coping perfectly well I'd be mightily pi**ed off! These cats are all well looked after and she is managing very well - personally, I'd leave well alone!

__________________
please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

The danger is someone can become a "cat collector" and unfortunately care/attention does decrease for each individual cat the more numbers increase. There is no getting away from that fact.

IMO pet collecting is wrong, and we have to know when enough is enough.

I would say anymore than 6 cats, and you are verging into "cat collecting". Just my opinion.

I think itisi important for family members to look out for other family members, and advise them if they are perhaps getting a little carried away with trying to "help" too many animals. At the expense of the ones they already have.

I think enough is enough when the person can no longer care for them physically, financially and emotionaly. You say she doesnt work maybe she sees looking after cats as the next role in her life.

Its not a case of i'm interfering!
She's getting on a bit now, she's actually my great aunty, she had cancer a few years ago but thankfully recovered. But we worry that if it returns and she needs more treatment or if anything worse happens. There's no one there to look after the cats. And as i don't mind looking after a few, i cant look after them all and no one else in the family is willing to look after them.
Also her life is totally centred around her cats she hardly goes out and when she was ill at first she was refusing treatment because she didn't want to have to part with her cats. And she won't go to the doctors just incase they send her to hospital! As it was i stepped in last time to help thinking it wouldn't just be me, but it was, all her other family and mine said was to "get rid".
So like i say, i'm not being interfering at all, i love that she's happy but she deosn't seem to think on. She just see's a cat in need.

You clearly have your Great Aunt's AND the cats best interests at heart!!!!! I think considering all the circumstances you have highlighted above, you are well within your rights to "advise" her when you think she is taking on too much. As you are the one who will have to take care of the cats, if she falls ill again. And also the fact caring for so many cats could have a negative effect on her health.

Your Great Aunty is very lucky to have you looking out for her (and the cats).