Cat-lover dies, leaves behind 30 felines to fend for themselves

What a horrible story, pet owners really need to have plans in place for their pets if anything was to happen to them.. I hope these cats will be okay..

luisreyes has contributed a photo to this story.

Apparently this cat was abandoned and after listening to him yowling all night over several nights it was decided that some food and water was the least that could be given in way of relief for the sweet tempered cat. He apparently has decided to adopt us as his family.

tazziegirl3799 has contributed a photo to this story.

The lady who had that many cats most likely was a 'collector' rather than a regular cat lover.  This is a psychological condition related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.  It's a shame she did not get help in her lifetime, since it responds well to treatment. 

Of course, as long as people neglect to neuter and spay their pets there will always be homeless cats and dogs.  It is heartbreaking to see strays, and sometimes difficult to turn them away.  Most cities at least sponser capture/neuter/release programs to keep the population from growing further.       

When a person collects so many pets that they can't properly care for, it's called hoarding. These people think they are helping the animals when, in fact, they are hurting them. Disease can spread rapidly affecting both pets and humans and the sociability of the animals is usually questionable. Many times all the animals have to be euthanized because of sickness and fear of humans. Overpopulation of cats and dogs is an overwhelming problem that continues to grow. Please remember to spay or neuter your pet. Also, if you're looking for a new pet, always adopt from your local animal shelter. You'll save a life and get a best friend.

Southern Day has contributed a photo to this story.

I'm a Canadian who co-founded www.BARK-Taiwan.org 2 years ago and we've rescued/CNR over 200 animals since then. Many animals in Taiwan are not de-sexed because people think it's cruel. Many people also abandon their pets. Imagine 10,000 animals abandoned each year. Now add to that 90% of them are not de-sexed. It adds up to be an incredibly large stray overpopulation problem (over 1million) on a rather small island (36,000 sq km).

We once rescued 25 dogs from a 'hoarder'. Her heart was in the right place. She thought the dog catcher would come and take away the 3 or so dogs that lived on her street and kill them. So, she took them into her house. It didn't take long before the females got pregnant and had so many pups that the poor woman was overwhelmed! Simply put, 3 animals that were not de-sexed turned into 25 in a matter of months.

Please, educate yourself before getting a pet. If you are ready for the responsibility of caring for a pet, then get one from a shelter. Consider full-grown/ older pets as they are much harder to re-home but they give just as much love. And get your pet de-sexed! Don't add to the stray population and already overflowing animal shelters across the world.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Gandhi

The degree to which humans exhibit compassionate and ethical treatment of animals is solely dependent upon human consciousness. Education of the importance to spay/neuter pets is paramount in the move to change cultural attitudes and put an end to the swelling over-populations of domestic cats and dogs who suffer at the hands of our ignorance. It is NOT okay to destroy millions of homeless pets each year in "shelters."

Quizical Cat has contributed a photo to this story.

The spin I see on this story is that the old lady was lonely. I noticed that officials were going to attempt to track down this good for nothing daughter of hers. I am not the least bit surprised that these cats were left to fend for themselves after their care taker passed. It seems as if the felines may have been the poor old ladys sole companion. How sad.

Etarip8x

etarip8x has contributed a photo to this story.