Woman forced to live in mobile home after 1,100 cats took over her 5-bedroom house - she's spent over $11 million on them
She started with just 15 kittens. Now she's given up her own home to them.
From helping her father to becoming 'crazy cat lady'
It all began in 1992 with what seemed like a simple favor.
Lynea Lattanzio's father asked for her help finding a cat. Instead of coming home with just one, she returned with 15 kittens.
Little did she know this would be the start of a journey that would completely transform her life – and her living situation.
"I'm gonna say that I'm at the top of the list of the eccentric, crazy cat ladies," Lattanzio told Barcroft TV with a hint of pride in her voice.
The sanctuary that grew beyond imagination
What began as a rescue mission quickly evolved into something much larger.
Today, the 67-year-old California woman runs "The Cat House On The Kings," a 12-acre sanctuary that houses an astonishing 1,100 felines.
That includes 800 adult cats and 300 kittens, all taken in as either feral or abandoned animals.
These aren't just any cats – they're the lucky ones who found their way to Lattanzio's doorstep instead of being left to fend for themselves on the streets.
The ultimate sacrifice
As her feline family grew, Lattanzio faced a dilemma that most of us would never encounter.
Her spacious five-bedroom house was gradually being taken over by her furry companions.
The cats claimed more and more territory until Lattanzio found herself with an impossible living situation.
"There wasn't room for me anymore. I ended up with 60 some cats in my bedroom with dogs and I just said that's it and I moved out," she recalls.
In a move that demonstrates her extraordinary dedication, Lattanzio surrendered her entire house to the cats and relocated to a mobile home on the property.
The staggering cost of compassion
Running a sanctuary for over a thousand cats isn't just physically demanding – it's financially overwhelming.
The annual expenses for The Cat House On The Kings amount to approximately $1.6 million.
This covers staffing, food, litter, maintenance, and medical care for all the residents.
To reduce costs, Lattanzio even trained as a veterinarian herself.
But the financial sacrifices go far beyond just the annual operating costs.
The true cost of 28,000 cats
The most shocking revelation comes when you consider the long-term impact of Lattanzio's mission.
"I've taken in and lived with 28,000 cats. That's probably a record," she states matter-of-factly.
Since founding the sanctuary, Lattanzio has spent over $11 million of her own money on these cats.
During the first seven years, she funded the entire operation herself.
"When I first started this endeavour I was out my own pocket for 7 years. I spent my retirement, I sold my car, I sold my wedding ring," she explains.
She gave up everything of material value – her home, her savings, even her wedding ring – all for the sake of providing sanctuary to thousands of abandoned cats.
The sanctuary now boasts a hospital, an intensive care unit, and specialized quarantine areas for senior cats and kittens.
Despite her incredible commitment to these animals, Lattanzio's ultimate goal isn't to keep them forever. She's currently working to find permanent homes for 500 of her cats who are up for adoption.
In the meantime, she continues to live in her mobile home, surrounded by the thousands of feline lives she's saved – a small price to pay, in her eyes, for the joy of giving these animals a second chance.
