'I never meant to end up with 10 indoor cats': Cat mom saves neighborhood feline family after animal control gets involved, then an $8,000 emergency pushes her overwhelmed home to the edge

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 20, 2026 1:30 PM EDT

There is a dark side to rescuing animals, and the line between doing good for them and keeping yourself afloat is a more slippery slope than most people think.

Adopting any sort of pet is a financial burden. Whether it's a pedigree cat from an esteemed breeder or a free cat you saved from life on the streets, you are still going to have to prepare yourself for 12+ years of expenses to take care of them. Now, is the financial burden between one cat and two cats huge? No. But you save one cat, then you find another who needs your help. And another. And some kittens from a mom who wasn't spayed. Before you know it, your house is full of cats you've become emotionally attached to, and you have 10 cats to bring to the vet for medicine, shots, not to mention all the litter, food, and enrichment supplies you need to buy for them. 

When do you have to learn to say no? This is what our pawrent from Reddit's r/catadvice subreddit is tackling now. She rescued a whole colony of stray cats in her neighborhood, 10 cats to be exact, and now she's struggling financially. She's also a mom and a wife, and her home life is starting to suffer from the strain of taking care of all of these cats. 

It's hard because she's grown attached to these cats. She saved them, but they are taking away from her quality of life. This is the "dark side" of rescuing animals that we were talking about above - when you give too much of yourself to save them. Cats are sensitive creatures, and if you are stressed,  they will be too. Scroll down below to see what advice the cat community gave this cat mom who is on the brink of bankruptcy. 

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  • 01
    I'm slowly going under financially
    via Hibakusha

    Neighborhood cats gathered for feeding time outside person's home

    All cats are models and not representative of the story 

  • 02
    I really need some advice because I am struggling! I currently have 10 indoor cats. A few years ago there were several stray cats around my property that weren't mine. They reproduced much faster than I realized and I couldn't just ignore them. I started trapping them, getting them all spayed and neutered and feeding them because I wanted to stop the cycle.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 03
    My original plan was for them to stay outside but animal control eventually got involved because I couldn't keep them contained. My fence is only about 5 feet tall so they could easily jump it. I ended up bringing them inside because I honestly didn't know what else to do. I never planned to have 10 indoor cats. Some friends and family members have taken a couple over the years but no one else can take anymore.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 04
    I've looked into building a catio because I think safe outdoor access would help but I can't afford one big enough for 10 cats. I wish I could just install a cat door and let them come and go, but with my fence being so short they'd be gone or animal control will fine me (which they have already because of my last failed attempt to keep them in the yard).
    via SandySeaBird
  • 05
    Financially, I'm drowning. Earlier this year one of my cats needed emergency sur ry. I had no idea it would end up costing around $8,000 until we were already in the middle of treatment and I wasn't going to let her di . I had to put it on CareCredit. Between those payments, food, litter, flea prevention, medications, vet visits, and all the unexpected vet bills that come up with this many cats, I'm slowly going under financially.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 06
    I clean 10 litter boxes before work and again after work every single day. I'm constantly vacuuming litter, cleaning something, or dealing with another issue. We've had inappropriate urination problems before that damaged parts of the flooring, but honestly that's just one symptom of a much bigger problem.
    via SandySeaBird

  • We have two litter boxes to clean every day, and that's already enough. But 10 litter boxes?? We can't even fit 10 litter boxes in our house. That must be so much work, and then you have to think about feeding all of them, cleaning their bowls, changing their water dishes… taking care of that many cats is a full time job.

  • 07
    I've done everything I can think of to make the house comfortable for them. They have multiple litter boxes, cat trees, shelves, window perches, vertical space, hiding spots, and places to get away from each other. Even with all that, I still think the overall stress of having this many cats together is affecting them.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 08
    irus and I Several have had feline herp worry the stress is contributing to flare- ups despite regular medications. At times. it feels like my stress becomes their stress, and then their stress becomes mine.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10648935936
    via JSB Co. For Unsplash+

    Veterinarians examining owner's cat

    Model representation of story scenario

  • 10
    I'm married, I work and I'm a mom. My spouse is upset that I let it get this bad. Sometimes it feels like my whole life revolves around feeding cats, scooping litter, cleaning, vacuuming, giving medications and then worrying about who's going to need the next vet visit.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 11
    I know some people will say I should surrender them. I understand why and honestly I've thought about it more than once. But after years of caring for them, getting them all fixed, paying for medical care, and loving them, it's just not that simple emotionally. I'm not saying it's completely off the table forever but I just want to know if there are things I haven't tried before it comes to that.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 12
    I love these cats but I also feel like I'm drowning, and I don't know how to make life better for them or for my family anymore. If anyone has managed a large multi cat household, I'd really appreciate your advice.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 13
    Please be kind!! I'm not looking to be judged or told what I should have done years ago. I'm well aware of the mess I've made (I'm just looking for advice from people who've been in a similar situation because I genuinely don't know what else to do.
    via SandySeaBird
  • 14
    Contact a rescue. You can become a foster for the indoor cats you already have while the rescue helps look for homes.
    via AnymooseProphet
  • 15
    SamMac62 You might find help in r/rescuecats You're not the first person who started out just being helpful and ended up overwhelmed. There are a lot of experienced rescuers there who may have ideas or resources. Bless you for caring
    via SamMac62
  • 16
    Sailor_Chibi This doesn't sound sustainable. You're broke, your spouse is ped, it sounds like your home is too small to have so many felines, the cats are stressed, you're stressed, it's going to blow up eventually. I think you
    via Sailor_Chibi
  • 17
    probably have to look at rehoming at least a few cats at this point. I swear that I understand that's easier to say than do. But with the context you've described, I don't know any other answer short of suggesting you win the lottery.
    via Sailor_Chibi

  • Doing good deeds doesn't always result in a happy ending, and this story is proof of that. The cats are clearly suffering, and so is her family. This is when it's time to ask for help, as hard as it might be.

  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10648934912
    via joejo joestar

    Stray cats sleeping together in a pile 

    Image is representative and does not depict the actual subjects of the story

  • 19
    Ingenuity-Strict What if you don't think about it as surrendering them but rather finding them a loving home?
    via Ingenuity-Strict
  • 20
    Ok_Equipment3952 You can cat proof your yard. Look up cat fencing which attaches to the top of your current fence. Then put in a cat door, get a couple of heated outdoor cat shelters. Then decide on your medical budget. You cannot
    via Ok_Equipment3952
  • 21
    bankrupt yourself. Sometimes you will have to let one go rather than spend yourself into bankruptcy. Good luck. You did a nice thing that simply got away from you.
    via Ok_Equipment3952
  • 22
    III-Storage-7636 I totally get it. I've been in over my head with animals, too.
    via III-Storage-7636
  • 23
    What helped me was going to therapy and then taking yoga classes outside my home. That got me out of my head and realizing that being connected to other people and having a healthy routine helped me thrive. I know better how to avoid taking too much on. Good luck.
    via III-Storage-7636
  • 24
    the-5thbeatle You've given it the good fight, and worked very heard to help these cats in every way you could, but you say you feel like you're drowning. That's your big wake up call, that it's time for you to surrender the cats to a no-k I shelter.
    via the-5thbeatle
  • 25
    They'll be cared for, and many other people will get the opportunity for happiness when they're adopted into their new homes.
    via the-5thbeatle
  • 26
    fairypancakes I had 7 indoor cats at one point, which was incredibly overwhelming. Things that helped at least briefly were investing in automatic litter boxes, auto-feeders, etc. If your cats are indoor-only, you probably do not need to do flea treatment each month. If you go the catio route, you will need to continue to flea treat each month.
    via fairypancakes
  • 27
    However, I am going to be very honest here- It will still be incredibly overwhelming. It hurts so, so much to do, but the best decision I ever made was rehoming the majority of my cats. Some of them I was able to rehome through
    via fairypancakes
  • 28
    private means (Facebook groups, Craigslist), but some did go through the shelter because they were young, outgoing, and would/did quickly find a home. All of my cats had FHV-1 and had a flareup at some point in time (which cost SO much in vet bills and medicine).
    via fairypancakes
  • 29
    You will probably cry, you might change your mind on rehoming them a few times before you actually do it, but eventually the mental strain of the effort needed to keep all of them is enough to outweigh + justify the temporary emotional strain of rehoming. If the
    via fairypancakes
  • 30
    hardest part is choosing which one(s), first decide what your "ideal" amount of cats looks like. Once you have that number, decide if there are any cats you would absolutely NEVER consider rehoming. Now make a list of the remaining cats and see if any have
    via fairypancakes
  • 31
    more behavioural issues than the others, if any don't get along with the majority, who will have the easiest time finding a home (older cats have a much more difficult time), etc. Find the traits that make it more difficult for you to physically, mentally, and emotionally upkeep them.
    via fairypancakes
  • 32
    I know this might not be what you wanted to hear, but please know this is coming from someone who forms their deepest connections with cats (and animals in general). It does get so much easier once you reduce. Sending you lots of love.
    via fairypancakes

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animal welfare neighborhood cats cat rescue indoor cat
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