A compassionate woman has officially given up her home to over 1,000 cats.
Lynea Lattanzio, 67, of Parlier, California, now lives in a camper on her six-acre property, where the cats can roam freely.
She began fostering cats after her divorce in 1992, and by the end of the year, she had acquired 96, which she successfully rehomed.
When the number of cats continued to expand, she became a veterinary technician in 1993 to help keep the animals’ medical expenditures down.
She is now the owner of The Cat House On The Kings.com, California’s largest no-cage, a no-kill refuge for feral and abandoned cats.
“I’m at the top of the list of weird cat ladies – I don’t think there has been anyone who has lived with 28,000 cats in 24 years,” Lynea, who was barred from having a cat by her mother when she was a child, said. That’s very likely a record.”
“At the time, I was unmarried, had no children, and had no idea what I was doing when I bought this 4,200-square-foot home.”
“I began taking in cats, but it was never my plan to have 1,000 or more – yet it has happened one step at a time.”
“I moved from a five-bedroom house with a pool, bar, and river view to a 1,600-square-foot mobile trailer with rusted metal.”
“I promised myself that the trailer would be a cat-free zone when I moved in, but I now have 20 kittens and four puppies in there.”
At the Cat House on the Kings, Lynea Lattanzio in her kitchen. She currently has over 1,000 cats living with her.
The cats have unrestricted access to the entire five-bedroom house.
Lynea has obtained certification as a veterinary technician in order to save money at the refuge.
About 800 adult cats and 300 kittens are cared for by Lynea and her volunteer team.
The team arrives at the shelter at 4 a.m. to begin feedings and to provide medical attention to extremely ill cats.
One of the cats is now housed at the Kings sanctuary’s Cat House.
Lynea adores the cats, but her goal is to find them new homes rather than keep them.
There are presently around 500 cats available for adoption.
After her divorce, Lynea founded the sanctuary. She raised money by selling her wedding band.
“You can take the shelter out of the woman, but you can’t take the woman out of the shelter.”
Lynea founded her shelter on her own, with no outside financial assistance.
“It was out of my own pocket for seven years when I originally started this endeavor,” she stated.
“I sold my car and my wedding ring,” she says.
In her 4,200 square foot home, Lynea and her team of volunteers now care for about 800 adult cats and 300 kittens.
The team arrives at the shelter at 4 a.m. to begin feedings and to provide medical attention to extremely ill cats.
“We have an ICU and a vet who checks our animals once a week,” said the owner.
And, as much as Lynea adores the cats, she prefers to find them new homes rather than keep them.
“I adore cats because they are self-sufficient, gorgeous, and graceful.”
“If you’re interested in adopting, go to our website and fill out an adoption form – we have 500 friendly and ready-to-go dogs for adoption.”
