The first time I met the cat lady it was to take one of her fur babies to the local spay / neuter non profit (thankfully she's at least she's a responsible pet owner). I have picked her up several times since, and each time she has a couple of her pets carefully tucked in carriers that we place in the back seat. They mew all the way to their destination while we chat about her current hoard of cats.
Turns out the cat lady has 13 cats. Two of them she claims belong to her brother but she fears they will always be with her. And no, she's not going for a record. She simply cares about the cats that appear on her step.
And she's not crazy, she is a very nice person who happens to have too many cats (IMHO). She doesn't wear the most fashionable clothing but she doesn't smell either. She can carry on a conversation although sometimes it's like talking to my older relatives.... and it's usually about the cats.
Yesterday another call to pick up and she has two larger cats in carriers. These are her brother's cats and they both seem to have an issue that needs to have the vet's attention plus shots. (See, she's responsible) so I help her load them up and off we go. She tells me that she is sometimes afraid the city will find out and take some away but she does own her home and it's in an area where the neighbors won't bother you if you don't bother them so I think she's probably okay.
And let me just say that she's not a cat hoarder. She simply adopted a kitty last year that was roaming the neighborhood and she was too late getting her spayed so her group of 8 kitties (remember 2 belong to her brother) went to 13 overnight. Why she hasn't found them homes is something I'll have to ask her, gently, the next time we load up cats for a trip to the vet.
I know she has to be on a fixed income, retired or disabled or both because I've picked her up at a nearby DAV when it was starting to sleet out and took her to the grocery store. I sometimes wonder what she will do since WalMart decided to close her neighborhood store. It means she'll have to walk across a busy street to buy cat food.
I've heard other drivers complain about taking animals in the car. Some drivers flat out refuse (although none can refuse a service animal). Most pet owners are very aware that you are being extra kind by taking their animal too. Just think of your mom and her favorite pet - sometimes you have to help her out. Cat ladies are people too. They also need a lift every now and then.
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