You can clearly see the economy back then was much better, as I can only financially support just 3 cats.
I’m no expert, but my gut feeling tells me she liked cats.
Real question: what did people feed cats in that day, before kibble? Constant stream of chicken and fish?
Peasant.
Probably that, but also rodents like mice and rats were a lot more prevalent back then so cats were a kind of pest control.
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.)
I could get myself killed trying to get my 3 cats together for a family photo.
Not a lie if the cats are the ones saying it though.
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.
Time is a flat circle.
