When Eric Uzelac, owner of the estate liquidation company Junk in the Trunk DFW, walked into a modest suburban home in Arlington, Texas, he expected a routine job. Instead, he found himself staring at a collection so vast and specific it left him clawing for words. The house was packed floor-to-ceiling with thousands of cat-themed items—from ceramic statues to a cat-shaped toilet flusher—in what has become one of the most weird estate sale finds of 2026. The discovery has since gone viral, drawing hundreds of collectors to what Uzelac dubbed "The Crazy Cat Lady Purrrge," a project he describes as surprisingly "cat-thartic" after his own recent health battle.
A ‘Cat-astrophic’ Discovery in Arlington
For neighbors in this quiet Arlington neighborhood, the home was just another brick house. But inside, it was a feline frenzy. Uzelac estimates the collection includes thousands upon thousands of items, covering almost every square inch of the property. "I think I said 'Me-Wow!'" Uzelac joked to local reporters, describing his initial reaction. The sheer volume of cat figurine collection viral content hidden behind the front door was unlike anything he had seen in his career.
The obsession didn't stop at shelves and cabinets. The previous owner, an elderly woman who recently passed away, had transformed everyday household objects into tributes to her favorite animal. Shoppers at the estate sale found cat-themed light switch covers, cat-patterned rugs, and even a vacuum cleaner dressed in a custom cat costume. Perhaps the most bizarre find was the bathroom decor, which featured a toilet handle replaced by a figurine of a cat. "I often wonder if a real cat came into this house, what it would think?" Uzelac mused. "'Am I going to become a teapot?'"
The Purr-fect Twist: No Real Cats Allowed
In a twist that adds to the funny local news Texas appeal, the homeowner didn't actually live with a clowder of cats. Despite the thousands of porcelain, glass, and fabric felines staring from every corner, there were no living cats in the home during her later years—only a small dog. This irony wasn't lost on the hundreds of shoppers who lined up around the block, some driving from as far as Denton and Irving to snag a piece of the collection.
Adding to the bizarre home decor stories surrounding the property, Uzelac discovered another neighborhood quirk: the "Cat Lady" lived directly across the street from a neighbor whose home is adorned with Mickey Mouse figurines. "The crazy cat lady had a little dog and she lives across from a mouse house," Uzelac laughed. "Utter purr-fection."
A ‘Cat-thartic’ Return for Eric Uzelac
While the sale has provided plenty of Texas news funny today fodder, it holds a deeper meaning for Uzelac. This massive undertaking marks a significant milestone in his return to work after a life-threatening health crisis. Approximately two years ago, Uzelac fell into a coma due to severe pneumonia and infection, spending months in the hospital and rehabilitation. His recovery was long and grueling, making this project his first major estate sale since regaining his strength.
"I sometimes look at it like, the curator of all this was spending this time putting a rehab program together for me," Uzelac shared. He described the process of sorting through the "cat-astrophic" hoard as "cat-thartic," giving him a sense of purpose and joy as he reconnected with the community. The overwhelming support from the crowds who attended the "Purrrge"—waiting in lines for hours—served as a warm welcome back for the beloved local business owner.
Viral Fame and The ‘Purrrge’ Continues
The story of the Arlington Texas cat house has captured the internet's imagination, propelling Eric Uzelac Arlington TX into the spotlight. The first round of the sale in mid-January was so successful that a second round was scheduled for mid-February to clear out the remaining inventory. Videos of the interior, showcasing the dizzying array of "meow-morabilia," have circulated on social media, cementing the home's status as a local legend.
As the final ceramic kittens find new homes, the legacy of the Arlington cat house serves as a reminder of the eccentricities that make estate sales so fascinating. For Uzelac, it’s a job well done and a unique chapter closed. "It gave me an opportunity to pick up the pieces after I woke up," he said, proving that sometimes, the weirdest finds can lead to the best recoveries.
