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Post by anewleaf on May 12, 2015 8:49:42 GMT -5
[...]I never thought I would say this, but my one cat is my limit now. The companionship & affection we share more than offsets any work she makes. I agree with Angela too---the Breeze system has made litter box clean-up a snap. [...] adopted one 7 yr. old cat from a shelter. It is so much better having her; we love each other; but at my age, I know that one is enough!! I'm with catcat: one cat is my limit (though I'm not opposed to adding fish and fiddler crabs; unfortunately, the fear of coming home to a toppled tank and an electrocuted cat is too great for that). I'm not sure what "The Breeze" system is-is it a sifting-type or one with an electric rake? I know I loved my electric "Scoopfree". The old-fashioned "scoop" method blows. At any rate, after losing our last dog (who was a very stubborn and independent Catahoula who loved to bark for hours on end) I just don't think I want any more. And after living in the country and being inundated with dumped strays (I think we reached a total of 13 at one point), I'm very happy to be caring for just the one animal. But even she gets to be a pain, with her yowling for food, destruction and so forth. I'm childfree by choice and she's more than enough for me. THREE kids and how many pets!?
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Post by danny15 on May 12, 2015 9:14:21 GMT -5
momof3boys, I totally hear you. As much as I love them, my fur babies are the bulk of my work by far. I'll never be able to afford to repair or replace all the destruction they have caused. Even with deep discounts from vets and suppliers the cost of caring for the *children* is getting harder. What I can do outside the house is limited. Due to their ages and varying needs of care I can't be gone more than about 12 hours. DD is a big help but there are things she can't handle. Lately with one pug needing meds every 4 hours that's my limit for time with errands or grandchild care. Unless she comes with me which means bringing a little cold pack for her refrigerated meds. I always had a lot of animals but somehow it didn't seem so hard until the last 7 or 8 years or so. I've committed to taking care of them til they die. Currently 15. But absolutely no more after that. You can have too much of a good thing.
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Post by downandout2 on May 12, 2015 9:59:27 GMT -5
I'm grateful we only have the one cat and I don't mind caring for her, but I sure do wish we didn't have the fish tank! When we moved into this place my goldfish died shortly after. I wanted to dismantle the tank but hubby insisted we get more fish. Can you guess who is stuck with the cleaning? And I'm burned out by it because of it's location and size (75 gallon). The tank is disgusting because I don't want to take care of it anymore. Don't get me wrong though...the fish are healthy and breeding but the tank is loaded with algae and crud. There are only five fish in there because even though the guppies have babies the 2 blood parrots eat them all. Thank goodness for that or it would be even worse!!
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Post by bluefrog on May 12, 2015 10:50:13 GMT -5
Anewleaf, the Breeze Litter Box System is made by Tidy Cats, It's not the least expensive system on the market, but it's orders of magnitude easier than scooping either clumping or ordinary cat litter. It's a plastic litter box with a plastic screen that makes up the bottom, through which urine passes when the cat uses it, on to a pad held in a drawer under the part with the litter. The litter itself is some sort of ceramic material, coarser than other litter, which does not absorb urine and which helps to dry out feces to make them easy to scoop out. The system uses its own scoop. Urine is held in a very absorbent pad--one pad lasts 3-4 days for two cats, or a week for a single cat--then needs to be tossed and replaced.
Replacement pads are not cheap. Generics are available, but I haven't found any that last as long as the brand name ones. Litter lasts a long time, since it can be washed, left to dry, and used again, except for the bits that stick to feces and can't be shaken off. Since you will lose some over time that way, you will need enough litter for a couple of refills. For two boxes, we bought a six-pack.
The system isn't labor free, but it's a lot less gross and a lot less work than most cat boxes. Even my husband sings its praises (he keeps one of the boxes clean).
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Post by Fivecat on May 13, 2015 1:13:28 GMT -5
Yes. I had 5 cats, 4 now at the rainbow bridge, the "baby" now almost 13 and DESPITE MY OWN ADVICE TO MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD to NOT bring in any pets if you have problems with squalor (Ichose the name five cat because they were the biggest source of our squalor), I was STUPID enough to get 2 small dogs within a few months of our 4th cat passing. I had finally made it after 20 years to an easier, less squalid life to another 10-15 years of squalor shackles. Don't get me wrong, I dearly loved our cats and now our dogs and remaining cat, but I would rehome these dogs today if I could find the right home. Sure, I'd cry my eyes out, but it would be better for the dogs and for us. Mr 5 and I are getting to the point where we can barely take care of ourselves, much less 2 dogs. One problem I think we squalorers have is our hearts are far bigger than our. abilities. Even though I was too stupid to take my own advice, I seriously and fervently urge anyone who doesn't have a pet to not get one. And if you have pets now and can rehome them, do so. If they cross the bridge, don't replace them. Pet parenting is a lifetime commitment. Speaking as plainly and painfully honest as I can, regardless and sorry if it steps on toes or hurt feelings, ifyyou're living in squalor, you should not have a pet, myself included. Simple as that.
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Post by larataylor on May 13, 2015 1:34:45 GMT -5
Fivecat, you are absolutely right. Animals contribute tremendously to squalor. If you have problems with clutter, the animals make everything so much worse. We started getting pets years ago when I realized that my DD would be an only child. I thought she should have pets if she couldn't have siblings. And the pets added a lot to the struggles we already had. Right now we have four cats, and they're really too much. I will keep them until they die, but I will *not* get any more! I don't want pets to outlive me, for one thing. Or at least I would want to have arrangements in place for them.
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Post by openwindows on May 13, 2015 7:18:13 GMT -5
One problem I think we squalorers have is our hearts are far bigger than our abilities. This, so much this. I know other squalorers in real life and this is so true. It's as if our ability to love is larger than our bodies just as our mess is larger than our homes. I've tried explaining this to non-squalorous people and they don't get it. The first time I saw squalor I was in high school and I was torn between disgust at the home and awe at how I could instantly feel so much love and acceptance. The love and acceptance won, they are family in my heart and soul. This is the only place I could truly describe explain the mess, could but won't, it's not mine to confess. The love, the depth of their hearts though, I wish I had words. The next time I encountered squalor the vibe was similar but not quite as intense. Different place in life, different connection that brought me into the home, different need. I still think of them like family but more removed. And if you have pets now and can rehome them, do so. We had a cat and 2 dogs when we lost the house. The cat and 1 dog were rehomed. Cat now chases mice at my mom's, she was indoor/outdoor mouser and wouldn't have been happy here. She's happy there. Dog was given to an old work friend. I hated that dog, he was my biggest level 3 contributor with a needy disposition to boot. His new owner says he's easy to clean up after and likes his intense bonding. They're happy. We kept the other dog. She's a 2 time rescue and I think the trauma of a 4th home would have been too hard on her. She's my reason for leaving the house so she's good for me too. One is my limit. After one the demands outweigh the benefits. Being a good pet parent means giving them the best life you can and sometimes that means a new life.
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Post by larataylor on May 13, 2015 7:39:24 GMT -5
Yes, our hearts are too big (to put it nicely) or our judgment of our abilities is bad (not so nicely).
Our third and fourth cats were not really acquired on purpose. We wanted a second cat, but there were two there … litter mates. We just couldn't leave one there alone. So that was the third. The fourth we picked up on the street. I could have taken him to a shelter or tried to have him adopted, but I just loved him instantly.
It's SO hard to harden one's heart against homeless kittens! I don't really think about dogs, because they're just out of the question for us (with all the cats) but I'm sure others have the same problem with dogs.
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Post by sauberkite on May 13, 2015 9:18:05 GMT -5
Ever since I had my first human baby last year, I've been unhappy with my cat. Her health is starting to fail at 15 years old. So she throws up all the time and wakes up in the night and runs around acting crazy. Sometimes she poops on the floor. As I type this, the cat is throwing up. She's very jealous of the baby and I can't leave them in the same room together. And she's cost us more in vet bills this year than all years before combined. I have to give her medicine every day and she fights me. Sometimes I get really fed up. It's very unfair of me, because I was happy with her when she was no trouble. Of course I still love her, I would never give her away. But this is my last cat until my daughter is big enough to take care of one herself. And from reading how it goes at momof3boys house with kids and pets, maybe we'll get a nice goldfish for her instead.
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mssherlock
New Member
Joined: April 2015
Posts: 48
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Post by mssherlock on May 13, 2015 18:29:53 GMT -5
I have 3 cats (wanted 2, DH ended up rescuing a kitten he caught in a junkyard van). I used to have a dog and she was SUPER stressful for me. A few years ago we found her the perfect home.
I realized that dogs are like kids. They need a LOT of your attention. You are the center of their universe. Cats are like roomates that never clean up after themselves. They have their own lives most of the time but they will make a LOT more chores for you.
I realized that getting adult cats that we picked for their temperament and not their beauty (although they are pretty) were/are the perfect pets for us right now. I just don't have the attention to give to a dog so that it would be happy, let alone the clean-up. Someday I may get a dog again (again chosing for temper and personality and not looks) from the shelter but it probably won't be in this house.
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Post by prettybad on May 13, 2015 19:57:03 GMT -5
It's hard to look after pets when you feel you can barely look after yourself and your family. I really feel for you momofthree. Caring for my own three cats is becoming a heavier and heavier burden.
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Post by catcat on May 13, 2015 23:56:31 GMT -5
Mssherlock---I adopted my older cat --seven, now eight, instead of a kitten b/c it would be less work also. Another reason is that a kitten probably would outlive me. She was an owner surrender b/c of their loss of home. I am very attached to her & she to me. I was told that she would be better off as an "only", b/c she did not get along with the other cats at her foster Mom's home. Fine with me as one is definitely enough for me now. She does love people & greets everyone, including repairmen.
A suggestion about cat hair on furniture--- I have found easier ways to remove it when vacuuming it adds too much to my work. A damp cloth, wrung out well, rolls it up so it can be picked off easily & pitched out. Also, a dry rubber glove wipes it off so easily, I was surprised. Every once in a while, I do vac the furniture, but this really helps a lot of times.
Anewleaf, I am sorry I did not get back in time to see that you had inquired about the Breeze system, but I see that --was it Bluefrog---did kindly explain it to you. What I love is not lugging home big bags of heavy litter & also the ease of cleanup & the lack of silicone dust to breathe in. My only slight problem is that my cat likes to bat around any loose ceramic pellets on the basement floor. That makes only a small clean-up, & it is sort of funny.
catcat
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mssherlock
New Member
Joined: April 2015
Posts: 48
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Post by mssherlock on May 14, 2015 0:01:07 GMT -5
catcat: getting a pet that needs to be an 'only pet' is such a great idea if one of us HAS to get a pet. Then when we are tempted we can say "no, my other pet won't get along with them".
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Post by angela on May 14, 2015 17:02:14 GMT -5
Can I just say "thanks" for everyone telling their truth about this subject.
It felt to me that for a while here on the board, it wasn't okay to talk about animals and pets as a burden on our lives. I don't remember specific examples, but I remember kind of deciding to not say anything about rehoming or euthanizing pets when a member was struggling with pet care.
There's the whole "forever" home ethos about pet ownership that can be too much of an obligation for some of us.
I wouldn't have even had squalor if it weren't for pets. Clutter, sure, mess, yes...but not squalor.
I can't even begin to guess the cost to me in financial, emotional, social consequences. I do know, it has been a huge negative impact to my life to have had as many destructive animals as I've had, and continue to have.
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Post by larataylor on May 14, 2015 20:15:00 GMT -5
Noooooooooo!
DD went on a college visit today with a friend and her mom, and while downtown she picked up a little injured KITTEN! I had just arrived at work, and I made phone calls and got them in touch with my cat-angel who works at a cat shelter. The kitty is being cared for and evaluated, tested, and all that. His tail may have to be amputated.
Oh, my heart hurts! DD showed me pictures from her phone, and *of course* the kitten is adorable, about four weeks old.
We have four already. DBIL is allergic. I already can't keep the house clean enough for him because family keeps cluttering. No one else feeds the cats or cleans the litter boxes. And we don't need more expenses. Help.
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