While pet owners can have the utmost dedication to their animals, some individuals may be doing more harm than good when it comes to pet care.

Carol Lynette Samuels, who was hit hard by the recession last year, was recently fined $9,000 for animal cruelty for living in her car with 11 Persian cats, one Himalayan cat, nine Pomeranians and two poodles, according to the Herald Sun.

Samuels was forced to move out of her $1.5 million mansion last year due to financial troubles, and said she could not bear to part with her animals as they were like her children.

"I’d lost an awful lot and didn’t want to lose my cats as well because they are the only family I’ve got," she told the news provider.

The animals were taken to the local veterinarian where a majority were found to be in poor pet health. A number of the cats were malnourished and had matted fur. While all of the animals were seized, one cat had to be put down.

According to News.com.au, Samuels was charged on nine counts of animal cruelty.

Some people may view feral cats as a nuisance, but others believe that they deserve compassion just like any other animal. Many Americans end up caring for stray cats on their own as they feel a sense of sympathy towards the homeless felines.

Portia de Rossi, who stars in the ABC Comedy Better Off Ted, recently teamed up with Alley Cat Allies to remind individuals to look after the well-being of feral cats, according to CatChannel.com.

"I’m very happy to be involved with Alley Cat Allies and their efforts to help stray and feral cats," de Rossi told the news provider. "The trap-neuter-return approach is the only way to help contain the populations and save their lives."

By getting the feral cat population under control, shelters may eventually become less crowded and more cats could be deemed adoptable. Feral cats are often not friendly animals and statistics show that they are usually the first animals killed in shelters because it is believed that no one would adopt them otherwise.

According to the American Humane Society, 71 percent of all cats that enter shelters are euthanized.