Your Cat May be a Secret Hoarder

Cats can hoard objects just like people do. They can suffer the same emotional problems.

There's a new type of hoarder I want to discuss. Have you ever lost something in your home or found something in the yard and didn't know how it got there?

We've all seen and read about people who have collected vast amounts of items in their homes.

They are often referred to as hoarders. Some people are hoarding animals but there isn't much information about animals that hoard.

Well there may be a member of your family that doesn't know they've got a problem. Your beloved pet may be stealing from the neighbors to feed their secret obsession. Imagine tripping over large piles of odd clothing pieces, stuffed toys, or shoes in the laundry room. It's not that noticeable until one day you fall over a large sneaker and don't know who owns it. Go out to the family doghouse and you may find it's full of dogie toys or socks. Where did they come from?

“Is my puppy finding this stuff in the trash or is he looting the neighborhood?”

Soon you'll find yourself avoiding eye contact whenever a neighbor waves. Oh the shame of it.

The family pet can land an owner in hot water with it's barking, digging, fighting, or doing it's business on the neighbors lawn. But did you know that cute little puppy or cat would turn out to be a sneaky nighttime thief? Yes, your precious kitty could be the neighborhood “cat-burglar!”

While your dog may steal laundry off the clothesline in the daylight hours, your cat wanders the night, sneaking into peoples homes through the pet entrance.

If you are shocked and embarrassed, it's alright. This is normal behavior for some animals.

Animals have issues also and just like humans, they may have a hidden hoarding problem.

There have been some “klepto” cats in the news of late. The sticky fingers or paws were caught in the act on a surveillance camera. There was the culprit leaving a house through the pet door, with someone's “undies” in mouth. The cats owners didn't know this was happening because the ill-gotten goods were hidden in a secret location. The stash was growing so large that it was not so well hidden any longer.

Animals have some of the same bad habits and obsessions as many humans do. The humans that hoard are said to have are emotionally and or mentally ill, and needed to feel safe with all these things surrounding them.

Pets may feel deprived of social contact, or were abused and abandoned as babies could very well develop these hoarding tendencies.

Perhaps surrounding themselves with objects such as soft stuffed animals and clothing reminded them of their siblings.

I'm taking an educated guess but it sounds plausible.

How to break the Addiction of Hoarding

Humans have a difficult time recognizing a hoarding problem so imagine trying to get the

dog or cat to see that. Should we laugh it off; if the neighbors are understanding, then maybe.

The cat, dog, ferret, or pot bellied pig that steals is trying to tell you something. Do you spend

enough time with them? Do you know their earliest history? Were they abused and abandoned?

Some pets found at shelters had horrible beginnings and no one knows for sure what they went

through before you adopted them. Understanding and patience is the key to help them break this addiction or obsession.

How to break the Addiction of Hoarding

Humans have a difficult time recognizing a hoarding problem so imagine trying to get the

dog or cat to see that. Should we laugh it off; if the neighbors are understanding, then maybe.

The cat, dog, ferret, or pot bellied pig that steals is trying to tell you something. Do you spend

enough time with them? Do you know their earliest history? Were they abused and abandoned?

Some pets found at shelters had horrible beginnings and no one knows for sure what they went

through before you adopted them. Understanding and patience is the key to help them break this addiction or obsession.

See if these suggestions help:

• spend more time and pay more attention to them.

• don't leave the dog in an outside kennel or crate at night. It's fosters feeling of abandonment and hostility.

• reassure the pet as much as possible

• Have someone such as a friend ,relative or pet sitter come to visit if you are away

• Leave your pets favorite treats

• leave some article of clothing with your scent on it with them

• call home and leave a voice message so they know hear you (some pets will become more agitated by this)

• bring them a toy each week for good behavior

Final Thoughts of Pets that Hoard

Not all pets are ideal for your situation. Matching a pet to the owners personality,lifestyle, and schedules is important. It's also wise that a human hoarder does not get a pet. That's the start of something much worse.

If you don't want an animal in the house or to touch you, don't keep them. If you want

them to feel wanted, pay more attention and walk the dog on a regular basis

and play with the cat. Dogs are very social creatures and need social and physical contact.

Make or buy a cat house or obstacle course. They love to figure things out

and find new places to explore. That may be one reason a wandering cat searches the neighbors house and yard at night.

Ferrets also love to explore and dig.They hoard many objects and stash them in every nook and cranny of the house. make sure you understand each animals traits before getting one.

Stacie L on Hubpages (c)