A woman has achieved the ultimate feat for any pet owner, having managed to get not just one of her animals to pose nicely for a photo, but all 17 of them.

Kathy Smith, 30, is the proud owner of eight dogs and nine cats, who she somehow wrangled into an incredible family paw-trait.

Mind you, the accomplishment didn't easy, as Kathy spent two weeks trying to get the perfect shot. That's right, a FORTNIGHT - I guess they do always tell you never to work with animals; now I can see why.

It turns out the dogs were up for the challenge and sat quietly for the camera, but it was getting the cats involved that proved to be more difficult. Like trying to herd... well, cats.

Advert

Kathy with one of her pets. Credit: Kennedy News

Numerous warm-up photos show the eight well-behaved pooches in place, with Kathy bribing Ruby, Ben, Max, Sheba, Teddy, Rio, Storm and Misha to 'sit' with a handful of treats.

Then came the moggies, a process that saw shop assistant Kathy dashing back and forth with her camera on standby, hauling the cats back into place several times.

Kathy eventually got them all into position and captured a split-second snap of the 17-strong pack before they scattered to return to their pressing everyday lives.

Advert

Credit: Kennedy News

Kathy, from Corwen, Wales, said: "I was so thrilled when I realised I'd captured this shot - it's like a little family photo.

"I love all of my pets so much so I was really happy when I managed to get them all posing together - despite it not being easy to do.

"I kept trying to get photos of the cats and dogs all together but some of them were always out of frame.

Advert

"The dogs will all sit for treats so that was easy enough, but the cats were another matter.

The dogs - and one cat - in training. Credit: Kennedy News

"I now know the real meaning behind herding cats - I had to just keep picking them up and putting them back until they stayed.

"It took about three attempts but in the end I managed to keep them there for a couple of seconds and get the photo before they were off again.

Advert

"We live in quite a chaotic house but you get used to it."

Kathy, who rescues and cares for pets and other wildlife in need, said people are often surprised to see her giant four-legged family when they come to visit her in her three-bedroom semi-detached home.

She has three German Shepherds (Mishka, Storm and Max), three border collies (Sheba, Ben and Rio), a mongrel called Ruby and a Yorkshire Terrier Maltese cross named Teddy.

Credit: Kennedy News

Advert

Along with the nine cats, she also has four budgies, several fish and even a baby hedgehog in her care.

Kathy added: "People are usually shocked when they come over and realise how many pets we have, the house is mad but we're used to it.