Real Estate Agent Fails To Mention Home Comes With 20 Furry Roommates

When Helaine Hindley purchased an old farm with her husband and parents, the plan was to turn it into a healing place, a retreat for first responders and military servicepeople who suffer with PTSD. The property needed a lot of work, and the former owners mentioned there were a few barn cats around. As the group began the transformation process, they had no idea what they were about to uncover — or who they were about to meet.

They began to work on cleaning up the barn first — and quickly discovered that “some barn cats” was actually a litter of orange kittens.

“When we first saw the litter, we were definitely shocked,” Hindley told The Dodo. “It was two tiny kittens in a basket curled up [next] to a piece of concrete.”

After they discovered the first litter, something told them to keep looking for more — and before long, they’d uncovered 20 orange cats and kittens.

Hindley couldn’t believe it. She’d bought the farm to be a healing place for herself and others, and had no idea it came with an entire family who needed a little healing help, too. The entire thing was a little out of her comfort zone.

“I definitely have no experience with animal rescue, and I’m not really a cat person,” Hindley said.

What Hindley does have experience with, however, is needing help. The army of orange cats she had suddenly inherited needed some TLC, so she and her family stepped up to help.

The older cats took some time to warm up to their new friends, and it’s still an ongoing process. However, Hindley has successfully been able to treat everyone who needed medical attention, and even has homes lined up for most of the kittens. She’s also making sure that all 20 cats get fixed to avoid any more unexpected litters in the future.

“One baby, Jelly Roll, was for a lady, but she wanted a female and the last litter was all males, so he remained the ‘spare,’” Hindley said. “However, I’ve fallen madly in love with him, and I suspect he will be staying on the farm with me.”

Hindley bought the farm with a picture in her head of how it would look once it was all fixed up. That picture still exists — it just includes a few more cats now.

“My first building is actually going to be a cat library, so people can come, read dusty books and pet cats,” Hindley said.