How many is too much?

The hoarding of animals is one of the most complicated forms of animal cruelty, and very difficult to spot. It is also known as animal collecting. Failure to see this form of cruelty can result in starvation, illness and death. Should you be ringing the RSPCA because you suspect your neighbour of having an indecent amount of cats?

People who are suspected of hoarding animals always have more than a normal number of animals, and cannot provide any animal with nutrition, shelter, veterinary care and sanitation. The animals will suffer from fleas and vermin, as well as being thin from starvation which will make them lethargic. The home itself will be dirty, possibly with things broken and clutter on every surface, in an obvious state of decay, with toilets and cooking appliances not working. There will definitely be a strong smell of urine, and stains of vomit and faeces, the owner will not see this.



There are many reasons why people hoard animals, and we must not think of these owners as bad people. Sometimes it can be a simple obsessive-compulsive disorder, but paranoid, delusional thinking and attachment disorders stemming from mental illnesses have been proven to have an effect. Some genuinely do not see themselves as doing anything wrong and see themselves as heroes as they have rescued the animals and given them a home, no matter how bad that home is. Many are of right-mind and say that any home is better than no home, and it is a rare case where the owner understands the physical and psychological harm they are doing to the animals kept.

Any gender, age, or ethnic group can be an animal hoarder, but those of deteriorating health and social isolation tend to do so more, and they often do not know the exact amount of animals they have. Unfortunately, this is a world-wide affliction. An animal hoarder will bring more animals’ home regardless of the bad condition of the animals he or she already has, and many are picked up as strays on the street rather than from a shelter, as these rescue organizations are often viewed negatively by them. Because of this, the owner is unwilling to show where the animals live, especially to animal rights officials, and is unwilling to put the animals up for adoption in such places.

Hoarders must also be carefully watched, by neighbours and officals, as they often carry on collecting animals even after legal action has been taken.