Cat hoarding refers to the behavior of harboring large numbers of cats in a private home, often to the extent that the cats become feral. As a result, the cat hoarder's home often becomes infested with both live and dead cats to the extent that, because of cat feces, parasites and odors, the home is condemned by local authorities. When such homes are discovered and raided by police or animal control, cat colonies in excess of one hundred animals are not uncommon.
The psychological conditions leading to cat hoarding are complex, and often the cat hoarder feels persecuted for doing what he or she believes is a humane endeavor to provide a home to stray cats.
The no-kill shelter program has been accused of cat hoarding by PETA[1].
References
^ A website about cat hoarding at PETA
External links
- A website explaining cat hoarding
- An article detailing an instance of cat hoarding in Mount Vernon, Virginia
- Northern Virginia Cat Hoarding Case
- Cat hoarder in Boston
- Cat hoarding in Saskatoon