When we think of cat ladies, we think of doughy middle-aged women with a poof of graying hair. In short, we think of Susan Boyle. The self-professed cat lady has defied cat lady stereotypes and risen from the ranks of batty kitty cuddler to successful singer, releasing her second album, The Gift, yesterday. And she's not alone. Our research shows that there are cat ladies (and cat dudes) hidden throughout the ranks of functioning society. Some, like Susan Boyle, fit the physical stereotype. Others, like Katy Perry and Kristen Stewart, do not.
It makes sense that some of Hollywood's most successful people are closet cat ladies, what with the ability of cats to act as caretakers, improve their owners' health and teach everyone how to be kinder, gentler souls. Also, some can play the keyboard really well. So what famous people are hiding in the cat closet, stroking their tabbies? Read on for a list of 14 celebrities who have managed to defy the myth that cat ladies are nothing but kooky old kooks.
1. Lea Michele
The star of "Glee" is a huge animal lover with a real soft spot for felines. Lea once rescued six cats (do cats come in six-packs?!) from the Paramount Studios lot and kept two for herself. If we were cats, we'd pack our bags immediately for the Paramout lot so we could get rescued by Lea too.
No. of cats: 2
Other pet we can picture her owning: A hamster.
2. Katy Perry
Katy owns three cats and dresses like a cat herself. We also wonder if she's actually a Cat Whisperer, because a tiger tried to crash her wedding in India. Maybe it just wanted some milk or maybe it wanted to borrow a latex dress. Who knows.
No. of cats: 3
Other pet we can picture her owning: Hairy British man.
3. Kristen Stewart
Kristen is a big animal lover and even predicted that that she'll become a crazy cat lady one day. Talking about her 6-year-old cat Max, she said, "We have a really strong, really weird co-dependent, almost Bella/Edward relationship. I'm going to be a crazy cat lady one day, I'm sure."
No. of cats: 1
Other pet we can picture her owning: A werewolf.
4. Jenna Fischer
Like Lea, Jenna saved a pair of cats on her show's set and named them, of course, Dunder and Mifflin. If we were cats, and Lea ignored our pleas for her to rescue us, we would definitely go visit the NBC lot with the hopes of becoming Jenna's next cat, named "Mini Michael Scott" or "Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration."
No. of cats: 2
Other pet we can picture her owning: A fish, of course.
5. Dita Von Teese
Dita's cat looks kind of scary with those giant almond eyes, but if you're nice, the kitty will show you its "tramp stamp." These two make a pretty nice pair, and Dita actually has two more cats and two dogs, all of which are pictured in Old World-style oil paintings on Dita's walls.
No. of cats: 3
Other pet we can picture her owning: Madagascar hissing cockroach.
6. Denise Richards
Denise decided to get something calmer after having a bad experience with her pet Charlie Sheen. Understandable. Doesn't the feline pictured with Denise kind of look like a heavier and more frightened version of Felix the Cat?
No. of cats: Several.
Other pet we can picture her owning: Sitcom star.
7. Glenn Danzig
Danzig is a "Man Cat Lady," part of the "Cat Lady" family but with a slightly different genetic code and a tendency to pee on toilet seats. The lead singer of Danzig and founding member of The Misfits was recently photographed carrying a large box of Fresh Step kitty litter, which seems completely normal. Just don't ask him about it, because he's saying nothing.
No. of cats: Undetermined, but the cat(s) probably poops a lot.
Other pet we can picture him owning: Devil's coach horse beetle.
8. Brooke Burke
That's actually Brooke herself as Catwoman, a costume inspired by her cat. Brooke's feline friend is very well behaved, except for that one time it stole her car to go on a milk run.
No. of cats: 2
Other pet we can picture her owning: Wallaby.
9. Drew Barrymore
How adorable is Drew with her cat? On a scale of 1 to 10, we give it her 11, with an extra point because Drew once described Justin Long as "The Cat's Pajamas" and that's something we should all say more often. Like owner, like pet--Drew's cat will also star in a romantic comedy this December with Adam Sandler's bulldog.
No. of cats: 1?
Other pet we can picture her owning: ET.
10. Martha Stewart
You're not really surprised that Martha Stewart is a cat lady, are you? Martha basically has a domesticated zoo at her home and, bonus, this holiday season, purchases of $50 or more from her "Martha's Stewart Living" line will come with three free kittens AND a ball of yarn. That's not true.
No. of cats: 6 (see, they do come in six-packs).
Other pet we can picture her owning: More cats.
11. Stephen Harper
Following in the great tradition of former President Bill Clinton, Winston Churchill and Pope Benedict XVI, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently adopted two cats named Caramel and Garfield. "Someone get this kitty some milk, aye!" He also once owned a cat named after Margaret Thatcher, which caused some entertaining media confusion when it died.
No. of cats: 2+
Other pet we can picture him owning: Retired mountie horse.
12. Nicole Richie
With her pet cats, Nicole's finally got a simpler life. Nicole, who recently rescued a stray cat named Tabitha Jones Madden, is the third and final celebrity animal rescuer on the distinguished panel here. The cat in the above photo appears to have a cast on it arm, which is sad, and might not have happened if it was wearing kitten mittens. But it's also painfully cute.
No. of cats: 2
Other pet we can picture her owning: A spider named Charlotte.
13. AnnaLynne McCord
"90210" star AnnaLynne McCord looks pretty thrilled in this picture about her cat named Mouse. Maybe that's because Mouse has the same agent as Drew Barrymore's cat and will soon be starring in a reality show called "Keeping Up With My Litter Box." That's actually not true, either.
No. of cats: 1
Other pet we can picture her owning: Leopard.
14. Zach Galifianakis
No, never mind.
No. of cats: 1?
Other pet we can picture him owning: Bearded tree quail.