Well, when I was a little girl we had 17 cats once. They all lived outside, and they kept having more kittens. My mom made us put little ribbons around each kitten’s neck, put them in a wagon, and go door-to-door around the neighborhood to try to give them away.

Hines recounts a humorous childhood memory that illustrates how quickly an unmanaged pet population can grow and how families improvise practical solutions. The image of kittens with ribbons in a wagon turns a potentially stressful situation—too many animals to care for—into a story about community, responsibility, and resourcefulness. It also subtly reflects a common rural/suburban reality: outdoor cats reproduce rapidly, and rehoming becomes a neighborhood affair. The anecdote’s charm lies in its specificity ("17 cats," "little ribbons," "door-to-door"), which conveys affection for the animals while acknowledging the logistical burden they created.