Memorable Guests

With 81 cats and six dogs, Kathryn's pets were taking over her life and putting a strain on her relationship with her embarrassed daughter. Kathryn's animal hoarding problem began about 10 years ago when she started bringing homeless cats into her home. "It's difficult to keep the house clean because of the food mess," Kathryn says. "It's fur. It's cat litter. I'm in heavy denial. I'm attached to every cat. All of my animals are named. My cats sleep with me. My dogs sleep with me. I don't want to part with any of them. When I saw a homeless cat, I felt it very difficult to walk away. The reality is I don't want to live like this anymore. I'm hoping that I'll be able to part with them."