We have 9 cats, we have had 9-10 for several years, mostly ones that we took in from our own backyard and a few that were "drop offs" at my work, and while we love them dearly there are times when taking care of them puts us on stress overload, constantly scooping litter boxes, cleaning up poop and throw up and whatever else, dealing with their issues, them getting underfoot and in our way, running down the basement when we don't have time for that, you know, the usual stresses but with 9 cats it at times becomes a bit much. I was just wondering what "tips" anyone else has for dealing with this, how do you handle it if it starts to get to you? We love them dearly, we wouldn't trade it for the world as my wife says, we know that we saved their lives as they wouldn't have survived this long outside, really had "more heart than brains" years ago when we took them all in ha ha, but there are days when it gets you nuts, we both work full time jobs which adds to the stress, but we are looking at ways to cope. One thing that I do that does help is just lay on the floor and play string toys with them, it helps calm them and me, and it shows that we are a family, they need attention and we give it to them. Plus we live in a Cape Cod house, so while it isn't a huge mansion it is somewhat small for that many cats but it's not too bad, they all have their places that they can go to get away from each other and us! But they are well taken care for and loved, we never ignore anything about them, just sometimes we need a little breathing room from it.
Thanks, any tips would be appreciated as we will be locked in to caring for them for years yet!
Thanks, any tips would be appreciated as we will be locked in to caring for them for years yet!