I had none.
Then my gf at the time moved in.
I went from none to two.
Then we split up and she moved out.
Left me the cats.
A year later: My sister sent me an SOS. Her mate was giving up her cat to the RSPCA. It was a feral she rescued from living behind a row of shops.
I took it in while they tried to rehome it, he's still here.
I then went from two to three.
Number 4 I was conned into keeping.
A stray limped into my kitchen one day, clearly in pain and distress.
I took him to the vet to see if he was chipped and paid for his treatment.
I put a post on facebook to try and find his owner or a new home. Bleakholt sanctuary offered him a place.
Meanwhile my lodger asked if we could keep him. I said only if you take him with you when you move.
She moved, couldn't take the cat.
So now at 4 cats.
I was regularly donating to animal charities at this point, as I could afford it and I registered as a fosterer for abandoned cats.
A Persian was rescued from Bolton area and homed with me. The rescuers tried to find her owners and nobody came forward.
Word was that they had moved house and left her behind.
The sanctuary offered her a place, but by then it was too late and I said she may as well stay with me!
I lost my sanity about 3 cats ago.