Keeping pets is a personal hobby, it is not illegal, and others cannot interfere. However, it would be bad if you only care about your own personal interests and ignore the feelings of others.
On July 6, 2021, the third page of "Yixing Daily" published a social news article with the title: "Residences turned into 'cat houses' are annoying."
News said that residents of Fuzhuoyuan Community in Yixing City reported to the "People's Livelihood Hotline" of "Yixing Daily" that a household in their community kept dozens of cats at home. The surrounding neighbors were deeply troubled. Community staff came to the door many times to do work, but nothing was done. "There is really nothing that can be done."
The news said that the cat's meowing was so noisy that the neighbors couldn't sleep at all; it was also very smelly, and "the smell is getting heavier and heavier." "In addition to noise and odor issues, some residents are more worried about whether relevant hygiene and other measures are in place." The reporter tried every means to interview the family. "A young woman opened the door. Although the door was only open a crack, there was still a strong smell coming out. Facing the reporter's inquiry, the woman had a cold attitude... 'Can't I just keep it in my own house for fun?' The woman said that the property is owned by herself. "Yes, raising cats is just a personal hobby and is not for sale. I will continue to raise cats here. Even if the neighbors have objections, please don't come to me again."
A reporter from "Yixing Daily" also interviewed the relevant departments and believed that it was impossible to determine whether it was a personal hobby or a commercial cat raising, and there were difficulties in supervision. The reporter interviewed the lawyer, and the lawyer suggested negotiation. If negotiation failed, the case would be filed in court.
A large news article tells the distress of the neighbors. However, apart from the distress, the community has no solution, and the relevant functional departments have no solution. Only the lawyer gave a suggestion to file a lawsuit in court. But how effective can prosecution be? Is this family prohibited from keeping cats? Or limit the number of cats they can keep? If someone really keeps it as a pet for fun, I'm afraid even the court won't have a good solution. The law does not prohibit residents from keeping pets at home. Since the law does not prohibit residents from keeping pets at home, then whether to keep them or not, to keep them more or less, is personal freedom. As for the noise and smell affecting surrounding neighbors, if you sue, you have to provide evidence. What evidence do you have to prove that the noise and smell meet the illegal standards determined by law? Just relying on personal feelings won't work. The law is about evidence.
Generally speaking, when people encounter problems that cannot be solved through grassroots organizations or through legal channels, they often seek media reports - some people choose to expose them online, hoping that public opinion will gain traction, forming strong pressure from public opinion and forcing the other party to rethink the problem and then make concessions. If media exposure and public opinion cannot solve the problem, then there is really no good solution. The only way is to slowly change the thinking concepts and behavioral patterns of the parties concerned over time. As for whether it can be afforded and whether it will solve the problem in the end, only God knows.
As far as this news is concerned, the young woman can keep more than 70 cats at home, which shows that her economic conditions are very favorable. You must know that people nowadays treat cats and dogs as sons and daughters, and they will never treat them unfairly in life. The cost of raising a cat or dog is about the same as raising a child. Think about it, how much does it cost to have more than 70 pet cats in a day, and how much does it cost in a year! It is impossible for ordinary middle-class families to afford it.
Currently, people's lives are getting better and better, and many people are getting rich. However, among some people who have become rich, some people's ways of thinking and behavior have changed. Just like the young woman mentioned in this article, keeping pet cats for fun has reached the point of "abnormality". You say you like cats, so just have one. At most, two or three will be enough to satisfy your emotional needs. But she raised more than 70 of them in one go, which is very weird. It’s hard to understand, and it’s very distressing for the neighbors.
Some people are very indifferent to their neighbors and humans, but they have true feelings for cats and dogs. This is not normal!