My landlord thinks I have one cat.
You can clearly see the economy back then was much better, as I can only financially support just 3 cats.
You underestimate the amount of freeroam rats available during that time
Oh they didn’t buy Royal Canin Dental because the vet adviced that or similar brands which for 3 cats is more expensive food monthly than for myself? After I spent 1400 euros on chips, vaccinations and sterelisation. Meh do I wish I was a rich aristocrat (oh wait what am I saying, I do not lol)
i dont believe theres such a thing as enough cats. ones living situation may dictate that some amount is too much, but it always manages to fall far short of enough.
Real question: what did people feed cats in that day, before kibble? Constant stream of chicken and fish?
Your question made me research it a bit for fun. I know I’m a bit late but here:
At first:
Prior to feline domestication, cats hunted small animals like birds and rodents, and before processed kitty food, they were given food scraps and kept humans free of pests. Only when people stopped regularly storing and growing their own food did commercial cat food became available.
Then in 1880s London rotting or diseased food was given out as cat food.
And eventually kibble came about slowly throughout the 1900s. And eventually regulated by the FDA in the US because it could be emergency food in times of need.
Probably that, but also rodents like mice and rats were a lot more prevalent back then so cats were a kind of pest control.
Peasant.
With that dress in 1890, it seems she had the wherewithal and independence to have all the cats she wanted.
Kate Birdsall Roberts had her beat, though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Wife’s_Lovers (I went looking and the only pictures I could find of Kate show her much more simply dressed than OP’s cat lady.)
She looks part native or Asian.
But that corset dress, oof! I cant breath just looking at her.
That’s a myth
Everybody’s native somewhere.
Very much so! My husband is.
Time is a flat circle.
I could get myself killed trying to get my 3 cats together for a family photo.
I’m no expert, but my gut feeling tells me she liked cats.
Not a lie if the cats are the ones saying it though.
