pets - Jezebel

posts about #pets more →
GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
"That's What Sets Me Apart, Boxing With The Lads" • Town Outlaws Owning More Than 3 Cats
Slutoween Has Gone To The Dogs
Fine, Furry Friends
Former Cop Charged With Raping His Twin's Girlfriend • Scots To Start Sex Ed At Age 4
You Can't Teach Old Dogs New Tricks... Or How To Use A Condom
Woman Fries, Eats Ex's Goldfish • Judge Caught Masturbating At Hearing
Im In Ur Internet, Banning Ur Cats
Little Bo Poop
Japanese Cafe Lets Customers Dine With Bunnies

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

BytheSea
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
Wow, the Dorothy Hamil. It's been a while.

Ykno, most of the time when they clean out a cat nest on Animal Cops, it's an old man's house. But maybe you could say, people report old men cat hoarders b/c it's unnatural and wrong? Or not, ionno. #catladies
Reply

BytheSea was starred BytheSea was unstarred

Scout
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
that dog is hating life. yep, that is ALL i got from watching this ridiculous "news story" #catladies
Reply

Scout was starred Scout was unstarred

lastsinglestanding
11/13/09

@Scout: that and cat ladies read Cosmo #catladies
Reply

Scout promoted this comment lastsinglestanding was starred

JessickerFletcher
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
Normally I would make some type of hilarious quip about it being an extremely slow news day over at 20/20, but in truth there are infinitely more important things going on in the world which makes this broadcast (which seems to score a "conservative grandmother" on my scale of judginess) so upsettingly pathetic. #catladies
Reply

JessickerFletcher was starred

BytheSea
11/13/09

@JessickerFletcher: I can't watch the clip at the mo so I dunno how badly reported it was, but cat hoarding is a major issue for local govn't and public health. The people who do it usually aren't all well put together except for their cats. Often they're living in squalor and breeding diseases, not to mention breeding hundreds of cats and not supporting them. Often the house is in seriously poor condition too, which again is a problem for public health, esp w/ this H1N1 outbreak. It's very sad when a person who can't afford to care for themselves is spending hundreds of dollars on cat food a month b/c they can't control the population and can't afford to get the cats fixed. #catladies
Reply

BytheSea was starred BytheSea was unstarred

samethingwedoeverynightpinky
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
This was not the article to read after returning from the kitchen, where I attempted to get a bowl out of the cabinet, and a cat jumpe out instead. There are only two of them, I swear! and they know they aren't supposed to be on the counters! #catladies
Reply

bluebears
11/13/09

@samethingwedoeverynightpinky: dude, a month ago I accidentally shut my cat in the fridge, she has a bad habit of climbing in there whenever I open it (she knows I keep her wet food in there). After 5 minutes I heard muffled meowing and finally tracked it down. #catladies
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

samethingwedoeverynightpinky
11/13/09

@bluebears: My new cat did that once, and now I obsessively check the fridge before I leave the house, because I'm afraid of shutting her in there all day. I can't tell whether she's actually not that bright, or just enjoys causing me anxiety. #catladies
Reply

Dorilys
11/14/09

@samethingwedoeverynightpinky: two of mine like to lay on the towels in the linen closet. there have been multiple occasions where i wake up in the morning and open the closet and there is kitteh, blinking at me after being locked in for who knows how many hours. However, they seem not to mind. #catladies
Reply

Dorilys was starred Dorilys was unstarred

bluebears
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"

This guy thinks this report is bullshit #catladies
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Lulamaybelle
11/13/09

@bluebears: OMG- you are funny! #catladies
Reply

bluebears promoted this comment Lulamaybelle was starred Lulamaybelle was unstarred

bluebears
11/13/09

@Lulamaybelle: I usually use this picture to illustrate what I look like at work when I'm trying to read someone's illegible handwriting. #catladies
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Lulamaybelle
11/13/09

@bluebears: its so fitting for this story (& to express displeasure in any form). Thanks for my laugh out loud moment of the day! #catladies
Reply

Lulamaybelle was starred Lulamaybelle was unstarred

bluebears
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
I had two cats (one passed away) and a human man actually managed to find me desirable! GASP! If I had more money and lived in a bigger house I'd have like multiple cats and a couple dogs. Unless you have so many you're basically living in squalor who cares?

Oh noes! Someone likes cute animals!!! I mean really people. #catladies
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Ratinski
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
I'm pretty sure that it's only the fact that His Serene Majesty would be unamused by an interloper that's keeping me at one cat. My neighborhood is full of kitties - this weekend I saw the most adorable tortoiseshell kitten - and I would love, love, love to adopt one.

But I also enjoy my bed linens staying in pristine condition, if you know what I mean. And I think you do. #catladies
Reply

Ratinski was starred Ratinski was unstarred

happysquid
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"

Crazy Cat Lady = stereotype perpetuated by the Man. And the Dog Loving community.

Also, what about Caboodle Ranch? which is run by a MAN? (and I love the idea of Caboodle ranch, by the way - just sayin'). #catladies
Reply

happysquid was starred happysquid was unstarred

cate3710
11/13/09

@happysquid: God, Caboodle Ranch. I want to go live there with all the kitties. #catladies
Reply

cate3710 was starred cate3710 was unstarred

PilgrimSoul
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
WHAT WILL I DO IF I CAN'T FIND A MAN LADIES? #catladies
Reply

PilgrimSoul was starred PilgrimSoul was unstarred

Penny
11/13/09

@PilgrimSoul: Take up with many cats and bake pies. #catladies
Reply

Penny was starred Penny was unstarred

CoalMineCanary
11/13/09

@PilgrimSoul: Get yourself an awesome bowl cut (see above clip) and dance to Yoko Ono in your skivvies. #catladies
Reply

PilgrimSoul promoted this comment CoalMineCanary was starred CoalMineCanary was unstarred

nolongerinacubiclestillawhore
11/13/09

@PilgrimSoul: MOAR KITTEHS!!! #catladies
Reply

PilgrimSoul
11/13/09

@Penny: Can it be cookies instead of pies?

I mean, Mamma Mia. I didn't think in this post-feminist age anyone said "She can't get a man." Yes, and consequently, she can't get an STD from her unfaithful husband, if we're going to paint with broad strokes? #catladies
Reply

PilgrimSoul was starred PilgrimSoul was unstarred

JessickerFletcher
11/13/09

@PilgrimSoul: No, it must be pies.

Plus, everyone knows that it's every woman's duty to bag herself a husband and then wait on his every demand. Sheesh, where have you been? Gah, what's next? I suppose you'll be wanting to vote and drive soon. #catladies
Reply

JessickerFletcher was starred

morninggloria
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
"Now she's protecting herself with a wall of cats."

How does she get them to stay stacked up like that? And are cat walls that great, fortification-wise? #catladies
Reply

morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred

Aesop's Foibles. YES.
11/13/09

@morninggloria: Yeah, aside from the squirminess. Cat walls are also an excellent source of heat, too. #catladies
Reply

The HZA.
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
There was a CCL who lived across the street from me. She had 150 cats in her house. I'm not joking. They were crawling in the walls and the ceiling. I'm leaving off a bunch of other unsavory details. The point is, know your city's legal limit for having cats and if someone has more than that, report them to the proper channel. A lot of the time the animals aren't being cared for properly. #catladies
Reply

The HZA. was starred The HZA. was unstarred

HarpMadness
11/13/09

@The HZA.: I agree. There is a line. I mean, there are the people who have maybe more cats than I would have, but if they are well-cared for, it's none of my business. However, if they are a true animal hoarder and the animals are suffering, it's unfortunately time to get the proper authorities involved. #catladies
Reply

HarpMadness was starred HarpMadness was unstarred

TheExperience
11/13/09

@The HZA.: Yeah, THAT's CCL/Hoarder behavior. Personally, I don't think there's a number attached to how many cats are too many. It's too many when you and they cannot live comfortably in the same space because it gets too crowded, compromising your ability to properly care for them. But if you can properly take care of 16 of them, sure, whatever, go for it. #catladies
Reply

The HZA. promoted this comment TheExperience was starred TheExperience was unstarred

ozu
11/13/09

@The HZA.: Did you happen to see the episode of Hoarders with the elderly lady who refused to get rid of the scores of cats living in her house?

When the cleanup crews finished, they found something like 40 dead cat carcasses in the attic, garage, under the sofa, etc... nauseating. #catladies
Reply

The HZA. promoted this comment ozu was starred ozu was unstarred

PhDelish
11/13/09

@The HZA.: Kind of uncool /definitely gross story - an old woman on my street years and years ago was super weird. She had like 15 cats, and because her husband had died before her, no one noticed when she stopped coming around. When they found her they discovered her cats had eaten her. And her husband was buried in the backyard, but that's a different story. #catladies
Reply

The HZA. promoted this comment PhDelish was starred PhDelish was unstarred

PhDelish
11/13/09

@PhDelish: The point of which being that she was in no condition to take care of that many animals, and it literally came back to er...bite her in the ass. And if someone had called animal services, maybe we wouldn't have had such a nasty story. #catladies
Reply

The HZA. promoted this comment PhDelish was starred PhDelish was unstarred

The HZA.
11/13/09

@PhDelish: Yes I can see how some people can have the space to take care of many animals and that's fine. But that seems to be a rare exception, you know? #catladies
Reply

The HZA. was starred The HZA. was unstarred

Dorilys
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
In these cases, I think having cats is incidental. These women clearly have some issues ("not on medication... anymore").

Also, I consider myself a crazy cat lady (4 kittehs + 1 husband). #catladies
Reply

Dorilys was starred Dorilys was unstarred

lovelyleela
11/13/09

@Dorilys: I have the same stats as you. I told my guy the other day that there would be more if he wasn't around, tho. Too many cute skinny strays in my neighborhood... #catladies
Reply

Dorilys promoted this comment lovelyleela was starred lovelyleela was unstarred

Dorilys
11/13/09

@lovelyleela: Agreed on more kitties. Its not my fault they come to me... and need LOVE! Or, at least, that's what I tell mr dorilys. #catladies
Reply

Dorilys was starred Dorilys was unstarred

LaComtesse
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
I've always kinda wondered what the cut-off is for a "crazy cat lady." What are the precise criteria? What's the number that makes you crazy? My mom has four--does it make a difference that she lives in a huge house and is married? Would a single woman living in a huge house with 4 cats be a crazy cat lady? And, after a while, it doesn't matter how married you are or how big your house is, it's weird. #catladies
Reply

LaComtesse was starred LaComtesse was unstarred

Mary McCarthyite
11/13/09

@LaComtesse: I think you have to consider the number of cats living with you, together with the size of the living space. Four cats + huge house = acceptable. Four cats + studio apartment = crazy. I don't know how to work the single vs. married thing in here, but the ratio of square footage to number of cats is, I think, a good place to start. #catladies
Reply

Mary McCarthyite was starred Mary McCarthyite was unstarred

staryberry
11/13/09

@LaComtesse: I think they hit the nail on the head when they said that the difference between a cat lady and a crazy cat lady is when you stop being able to take care of the cats and yourself. All of these women are suffering on one level or another because of their cat hoarding tendencies. #catladies
Reply

LaComtesse promoted this comment staryberry was starred staryberry was unstarred

LaComtesse
11/13/09

@staryberry: @Mary McCarthyite: Per married/unmarried/mental health issues, I'm talking socially rather than clinically. #catladies
Reply

LaComtesse was starred LaComtesse was unstarred

Mary McCarthyite
11/13/09

@LaComtesse: One of my friends and his gf live in a 1 bedroom apartment -- not large at all -- and have four cats. They are both socially awkward, and I think with the acquisition of their fourth cat came the realization that they are, together, a crazy cat couple (in a social rather than clinical way). #catladies
Reply

Mary McCarthyite was starred Mary McCarthyite was unstarred

funnyface
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
My eyes were burning just watching this. I used to pet sit for someone who had 3 cats and 3 dogs, and the smell of the ammonia in the house was pretty overwhelming. I can't even imagine 16, let alone over 100. #catladies
Reply

funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred

KATE!
11/13/09

In reply to GMA Goes "Inside The Secret World Of Cat Ladies"
wow, they really shattered through the sad, lonely cat-lady myth with that one. i like journalism that neither challenges my preconceived notions or tells me anything new. thanks, gma! #catladies
Reply

KATE! was starred KATE! was unstarred

Justine
11/13/09

@KATE!: I wouldn't be surprised if the documentary actually did shatter some stereotypes, and GMA just chose the most status quo-affirming clips. #catladies
Reply

KATE! promoted this comment Justine was starred Justine was unstarred

KATE!
11/13/09

@Justine: yeah i think you're right. i didn't see the film when it was screening as a part of the silverdoc festival because i was hosting a house party that night, but i had some friends (one of whom certainly is a cat-lady-in-trainings) who went before the party and said that it was great.

from the doc's website: "CAT LADIES is a one hour verité documentary that unravels the real story behind the oft-ridiculed 'cat lady' - a cultural stereotype and figure of ridicule for women of a certain age with too many furry companions. Through the intimate portrait of four unique 'cat ladies' we create a sensitive and emotionally honest portrait of women whose lives and self-worth have become intractably linked to cats." #catladies
Reply

KATE! was starred KATE! was unstarred

HarpMadness
11/13/09

@KATE!: But ... but it's EASIER to just regurgitate stereotypes! I mean, these people have LIVES -- they can't spend time researching and discovering new ways to think about stuff ... #catladies
Reply

HarpMadness was starred HarpMadness was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

SUBSCRIBE TO Jezebel

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment