# Why do crazy ladies often have cats?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 27, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449 "2006-05-27T14:44:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/1 "2006-05-27T14:44:50Z")
I’m wondering where the crazy woman with cats relation comes from. It seems that most people know at least one old lady in town that seems little off her rocker and who also has 42 cats.
I know I couldn’t be the only one. It’s at least popular enough that the Simpsons has a crazy cat lady.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/2 "2006-05-27T14:48:43Z")
Animal hoarding is a common behavior among the mentally ill, I believe.
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/3 "2006-05-27T14:50:16Z")
The Crazy Cat Lady is a stereotype, but there’s a seriously sad and puzzling truth to it. Read here about [animal hoarders](http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p000425.html) from the psychological point of view.
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/4 "2006-05-27T14:50:50Z")
Ever try to walk 42 dogs? :smack:
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### Author:  [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/5 "2006-05-27T14:51:53Z")
Because we are lonely. Prick.
(joke-sort of)
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/6 "2006-05-27T14:54:00Z")
> [@Jinx](#):
>
> Ever try to walk 42 dogs?
Good one, but that’s the point. No single person with so many pets can give them all the care they deserve. And these folks typically live alone as recluses.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/7 "2006-05-27T14:59:15Z")
If you’re lonely and kind of crazy and hoard animals for companioship, cats are the logical choice, aren’t they? They’re common to the point of being a free resource, as least in terms of acquisition, they’re affectionate, they’re cheap to feed and take care of, and an individual can keep up with a lot of them at least to a certain point. Dogs are far more trouble to take care of.
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/8 "2006-05-27T15:30:45Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#):
>
> Good one, but that’s the point. No single person with so many pets can give them all the care they deserve. And these folks typically live alone as recluses.
Not so. Cats are low maintenance. It’s not uncommon for good people who love animals to have many cats for this reason. It’s not too hard to feed them all and keep around a litterbox or two…even if they’re not changed as often as you might prefer.
As for the downtrodden: Many want companionship, and you can’t hug a tank of 42 fish. Also, the multitude of pets may be a manifestation of this loneliness - trying in vain to fill some unsatiable need. You can’t take a vacation from your loneliness. Taking in pet after pet is like trying to fill a bottomless pit…and makes one feel wanted. - Jinx
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/9 "2006-05-27T15:44:10Z")
> [@Jinx](#):
>
> Not so. Cats are low maintenance. It’s not uncommon for good people who love animals to have many cats for this reason. It’s not too hard to feed them all and keep around a litterbox or two…even if they’re not changed as often as you might prefer.
There’s many, and there’s TOO many - too many being defined as “more than you can take care of.” Cats are low-maintenance, but not _no_-maintenance. Check out some stories of hoarders sometime - many just leave the kitties to roll in filth, disease and neglect.
> [@](#):
>
> Many want companionship, and you can’t hug a tank of 42 fish.
Well, you could, but it wouldn’t be a very satisfying experience for you or the fish. 🙂
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/10 "2006-05-27T15:49:02Z")
> [@gitfiddle](#):
>
> It seems that most people know at least one old lady in town that seems little off her rocker and who also has 42 cats.
Something about “Birds Of A Feather” and all that?
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### Author:  [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/11 "2006-05-27T15:50:55Z")
Because, as everyone knows, cats are the familiars of witches, and crazy old ladies are witches. 😉
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/12 "2006-05-27T15:59:41Z")
Many of these people don’t bother to get said cats fixed, either, which just means you end up with even MORE cats.
And cats aren’t that low-maitenance-they’re very fussy about their litter boxes. If they aren’t kept clean and scooped daily, most cats stop using them.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/13 "2006-05-27T16:03:20Z")
> [@indecisive1](#):
>
> Because we are lonely. Prick.
>
> (joke-sort of)
I bet you can’t throw a cat over the house, though.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/14 "2006-05-27T16:21:19Z")
> [@Jinx](#):
>
> Ever try to walk 42 dogs? :smack:
Who says you can’t [walk a cat](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=54605)? 😉
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### Author:  [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/15 "2006-05-27T16:47:34Z")
Well, I don’t know; my daughter already has four cats and I’m getting worried…
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### Author:  [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/16 "2006-05-27T17:02:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> If you’re lonely and kind of crazy and hoard animals for companioship, cats are the logical choice, aren’t they?
I suppose I agree but I don’t know what to make of the fact that you used “kind of crazy” and “logical” in describing the same character. I’m fumbling over that one.
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### Author:  [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/17 "2006-05-27T17:15:53Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> And cats aren’t that low-maitenance-they’re very fussy about their litter boxes. If they aren’t kept clean and scooped daily, most cats stop using them.
Eventually, they get over that fussiness and just do their business anywhere.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/18 "2006-05-27T17:23:48Z")
> [@ScoobyTX](#):
>
> Eventually, they get over that fussiness and just do their business anywhere.
That was my point-if the litter box isn’t up to their approval, they’ll start shitting anywhere they please.
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### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/19 "2006-05-27T18:29:58Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#):
>
> Well, you could, but it wouldn’t be a very satisfying experience for you or the fish. 🙂
My cats don’t particularly like being hugged either.
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### Author:  [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crazy-ladies-often-have-cats/358449/20 "2006-05-27T19:38:34Z")
> [@Excalibre](#):
>
> My cats don’t particularly like being hugged either.
Most of mine do.
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