I only ended up with so many cats because two stays that where pregnant. I refused to give any away unless I had them spayed and neutered. Was able to give like two away because I'm picky.
I have a kind of a colony. Ten of my own and what ever gets dropped off. The three drop offs right now are two simy feral and one house cat that keeps begging me to come in. All are neutered and spayed except the two simy feral cats.
With the hawk issues I'm having right now I'm wishing for one. No birds missing but the racket is unnerving. I put trellis that's folded in half for extra hiding spots and it's gotten much better.
Im finding my Spitzhauben and Spitzhauben Ameraucana crosses are very intelligent. Took the current 6 grow outs one day to figure out free ranging, coming in to the pen in the evening and roosting with the flock. I was rather amazed at it. They ten to come when called as well.
Happens alot in silkies and bearded polish as well. I've read up on it in those breeds and the Ameraucana. They all speculate that it's some combo of genes related to beards just like the crest genes relate to the head domeing.