It started with a few kittens. But nearly a quarter century later, a California woman has transformed her 4,000-square-foot home into what's believed to be the largest no-cage cat sanctuary and adoption center in the U.S.

An estimated 24,000 cats have been saved by the sanctuary, which houses up to 1,000 felines at any given time.

Lynea Lattanzio, 67, set up Cat House on the Kings in 1992 after finding out that many nearby shelters euthanize cats who aren't adopted.

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In this December 17, 2015 photo, Lynea Lattanzio, founder of Cat House On The Kings, holds one of her cats in Reedley, California

Lattanzio has turned her twelve acre, four-thousand square foot ranch home into what's believed to be the largest no-cage cat sanctuary and adoption center in the U.S.

As more feral and abandoned cats took up residence in her home, she moved out of the main house and into a trailer on her 12-acre property.

'It just kept growing. I figured as long as I could keep taking care of them and I had room then I was doing a good thing,' she said.

'If I didn't have to deal with humans and all their drama in life, I would be perfectly content just taking care of cats,' she said.

Lynea, who was banned by her mother from keeping a cat as a child, said: 'I'm at the top of the list of eccentric cat ladies - I don't think there has been anyone who has lived with 28,000 cats in 24 years. That's probably a record.

'Back then I was single, had no kids and bought this 4,200 square foot home and thought what am I thinking.

Lattanzio spent her entire retirement fund on her pet project, which also relies on donations.

'I started taking in cats but it wasn't my intention to have 1,000 plus cats - but it's happened one step at a time.

'I went from my five bedroom home with a swimming pool, bar and a view of the river to a 1,600 square foot mobile home with rusty metal.

'When I moved to the trailer I swore it would be a cat free zone, but I currently have 20 kittens and four puppies in there.

Lattanzio set up Cat House on the Kings in 1992 after finding out that many nearby shelters euthanize cats who aren't adopted

Lynea, who was banned by her mother from keeping a cat as a child, said: 'I'm at the top of the list of eccentric cat ladies - I don't think there has been anyone who has lived with 28,000 cats in 24 years'

She now has staff and a team of volunteers to keep the house clean and the about 800 cats and 300 kittens fed

'You can take the woman out of the shelter but you can't take the shelter out of the woman.'

Lynea started her sanctuary herself without any outside financial help at the time.

She said: 'When I first started this endeavor, it was out of my own pocket for seven years.

'I sold my car, I sold my wedding ring.'

She now has staff and a team of volunteers to keep the house clean and the about 800 cats and 300 kittens fed. The sanctuary also employs veterinarians who keep the cats healthy and spayed or neutered. The cats lap up about 1,000 cans of cat food a week.

People looking for a furry companion are allowed kitty cuddle time on adoption days. A cat-proof fence keeps predators out and cat doors allow them free reign of the home

The team starts feedings at the shelter at 4am and they also give medical attention to critically ill cats.

'We have an ICU and a vet that comes once a week to check our animals.'

People looking for a furry companion are allowed kitty cuddle time on adoption days.

A cat-proof fence keeps predators out and cat doors allow them free reign of the home.