By Daily Mail Reporter


Sanctuary: Lynea Lattanzio lives alone with 700 cats on her 12-acre spread in Parlier, California


Meet the woman with more than 700 cats.

Lynea Lattanzio lives alone with hundreds of felines on her 12 acre spread in Parlier, California where she runs a huge cat sanctuary.

Divorcee Lynea takes in rescue cats from around the world at her 'Cat House'.

Cat house: Divorcee Lynea takes in rescue cats from around the world and has helped rehome 19,000 of the animals


'If I were a cat, this is where I'd be,' she told a US newspaper. We're a no-cage, no-kill adoption sanctuary.'

Lynea said she wasn't allowed cats when she was growing up. And she didn't have any when she was still married.

She began rescuing the animals after her divorce in 1981 and has saved almost 19,000 felines.

But she insists she is not a crazy cat lady. 'I prefer to say I'm eccentric or masochistic,' she told the New York Post. 'It's the same thing, only nicer.'

The Cat House on the Kings is California's largest no-cage, no-kill cat sanctuary.

Its mission is to to place rescued cats and kittens into permanent homes and to prevent pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering.

Feline heaven: The cats being fed, the sanctuary survives because of generous donations

Mission: Lynea aims to place rescued cats and kittens into permanent homes and to prevent overpopulation by spaying and neutering


There are at least 700 cats in her care, she says - as well as 15 dogs. She survives thanks to donations and grants.

Her story featured on a National Geographic WILD episode, The Lady with 700 Cats, that aired in the U.S on Saturday night. It was narrated by Glee star Jane Lynch.

'I'm sure there are other places that do what I do. I just don't know where they are. And obviously they are few and far between,' Lynea said.

She added: 'What I say is - if they don't have a home, at least they have a life.'

'At least they have a life': Lynea cares for a kitten. She insists she is not crazy and would prefer to refer to herself as eccentric

Care-free: The feline haven is California's largest no-kill, no cage sanctuary and is also a home to 15 dogs


source:dailymail