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Post by AnnieOkie on Jun 30, 2009 9:54:07 GMT -5
I have wanted to start this discussion for a long time. I have noticed the link between pets and squalor in a lot of our situations. I hesitated to start this topic, in fear of hurting feelings or stepping on toes. But I think we can address this as adults and maybe come up with some thoughtful solutions/ideas to rid our homes of squalor while keeping our pet population intact.
I have luckily been able to recognize situations that might make my home more squalorous. When my younger son won a rabbit at an Easter egg hunt his Dad took him too, they wanted me to let it live at my house. I knew that it would only result in a mess and smell that I might not be able to keep up with. Honestly, I also have no desire to clean up after a rabbit, nor do I like to see animals in cages. So I said "no" to this, and they keep it at their Dad's house. Sons have also begged me for a kitten. As much as I love kittens, I have resisted thus far. My boys spend half of their time with their father, and I spend most of the time they are gone by going to my fiance's house. I can easily transport my 11-pound dog to and fro, but don't think a kitten/cat would be very easy to take. I feel badly, but know that if I left a kitten/cat alone in my house (litter-trained or not) that there would be consequences. (BTW, I'm not looking for a solution on getting a kitten, I am just sharing my experience.)
So, give your input. Do some of us not know when to stop on acquiring pets? Is there a happy medium? Would actually reducing the amount of animals we have help us in our journeys out of squalor? I look forward to seeing what we all have to say on this subject. Ultimately, I hope it is helpful to all of us.
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Post by moggyfan on Jun 30, 2009 10:18:21 GMT -5
This is a great topic.
I know that in the past, having pets really upped my squalor quotient. Because I was not attending to the litter box nearly as often as I should have, the box & surrounding area was an awful mess that stank to high heaven (it really didn't help that it was on an enclosed back porch: The porch was well-ventilated so the rest of the house didn't get much smell, but it was also out-of-sight, out-of-mind). I had two cats with very thick coats that I did not brush nearly often enough, so there were barfed-up furballs in many out-of-the-way spots. The cats shed on EVERYTHING and I almost never vacuumed. I sometimes threw laundry away because of shedding and furball-barfing instead of washing it. I didn't clean up their food area much, so that was another mess. Having the cats was the reason some places in my home were Level 3. Also, as one of the kitties grew rather elderly, he began to pee in different places, so that was another issue. Although I loved those cats, I think I would've been less squalorous without them.
Fast forward about 5 years: I got a new kitten about 5 years ago (after the second of the previous kitties passed on). Getting him more-or-less coincided with the Grand Clean Up, and now I find it easy to manage the mess; in fact, there never IS a mess. His litter box and food areas are clean, he gets brushed every day so little shedding and few furballs, and I have become reacquainted with my vacuum.
So, yeah, I think having pets, especially ones that live indoors, can definitely contribute to the mess. Still, there are tremendous benefits as well, so for me the additional effort is worth it. YMMV, though.
I know there are "animal hoarders," and that's a whole different issue, but for most of us, I think it's more just learning to manage the pets we already have. I think you are very wise to know your limits, AnnieO.
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Post by breakingfree on Jun 30, 2009 10:30:24 GMT -5
I love pets and SO and I have talked about getting either a cat or a small dog. However, pets do require a lot of care. In fact, if cared for properly, it is like caring for a child, i.e. feeding them on time, vet visits/checkups/shots, etc. You also have to clean up after them. You must also give them lots of love and attention. We both work days, full-time. We have decided at this time we just do not have the time or energy to devote to give a pet the treatment it deserves, so we do not have one. And yes, I have had pets when I was squalorous and yes, since I did not clean up so well after myself, I did not clean up after them either and it made my squalor worse.
BF
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Post by Peach on Jun 30, 2009 11:28:19 GMT -5
Thank you, AnnieO  I'm glad you have formally raised this topic. I too have noticed that a common trait among many of us is our beloved pets. A criteria for level 3 squalor is the presence of pet excrement (outside of litter boxes, cages, etc .) in our living environment. Many of us are experiencing or have experienced this level of squalor. Happily I am out of it but it took a lot of soul searching to recognize how I got there and how to humanely and responsibly get out without traumatizing my pets. We are all kind-hearted and compassionate folks, as evidenced by our support of one another in gentle and tender ways. Our kindness and compassion are reflected in our choice to bring pets into our lives. But, sometimes, with some of us (me included), these attributes lead us to make unwise decisions. Our heart falls for the runt of the litter or the handicapped animal or the cute eyes that seem to say "take me home with you and protect me". Plus, we seem to attract "friends" who, seeing that we love animals, dump theirs on us when they no longer want them. We, in turn, feel sorry for the animal and add him/her to our dysfunctional household. At first, all is okay. But, then the 1-2 pets become 3, 4, 5 or more. Children and significant others get added into the mix. Many of us work or used to or care for family members. There just aren't enough hours in the day to clean, sort, etc. etc. Having pets in an already messy-prone household definitely adds to "our" problem and can increase it to level 3. Since pets are living, breathing and feeling creatures dependent on us, there can be tremendous guilt associated with not being able to keep up with everything associated with their care. In my case, if my pets' areas are not clean, I find that I am unable to get started on anything else. As many of you know from reading my intro, I made the extremely difficult decision to rehome pets who had shared my life for 20-30 years in order to give them, DH and myself a better life. Everyone is happier (including the children into whose homes my pets now reside) and I now have hope that my currently level 1-2 house will someday be level 0. I remember sitting on my couch a couple years ago and looking around at the mess. I was immobilized with doing regular household cleaning because cleaning up the animals properly was always on my mind. By the time, I got them cleaned up the day was over. Then I would take a few days off and, lo and behold, the animals' areas were a mess again! It was a vicious cycle. I felt helpless and was in extreme despair. I prayed for an answer to this situation. Also added into it was the aging factor. As DH and I got older, it became physically challenging to get up/down and around. With my arthritis, I would be in extreme pain during clean-up and ache for days afterward. Something had to give because I knew that someday we would be too old. The question became "do I want to be in control of where my beloved pets live or do I leave it up to uncaring family and strangers to just cart them off to a pet store or worse?" There was always the fear, also, that a repairperson might report us. I could not put my fur/feather children through that scenario. So, I made the decision to find good homes for them while I was able. It has been an astounding success and a tremendous weight has been lifted from my mind. We can have pets. Personally, I cannot imagine my life without the companionship of my fur/feather children. They have shaped my life and helped to make me who I am. It is not their fault that I am a messy housekeeper. The problem lies somewhere inside my psyche. I am thankful that my prayers were answered and a solution found that led to a balance of pets in tune with my ability to care for them. I am thankful that I had the courage to do what needed to be done. I am thankful for anti-depressants that have opened my eyes and dulled my emotions so that I could do this. Each of us must achieve balance in our lives. That is why we are here on SOS - to strike a balance between all family members, including our pets, in our household and our activities so we can all live in a clean, uncluttered environment. It can be done. |
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Post by gifted on Jun 30, 2009 12:53:54 GMT -5
I have long wanted a dog, but in my current situation, I do not feel that I can fulfill it's needs for training, and picking up after it.
When my elderly cat needed to be put down in January, I decided that I did not want to replace her, because I did not want to take on the long term obligation of another cat.
However, I did feel obliged to keep feeding the two stray cats that had finished up her kibble when she stopped eating it, One of those strays is now my constant companion. For awhile, I had two feeding routines, since the second would not enter the house. Now they are both eating inside.
I still have not cleaned up the room where my other cat's litter box was. I am now keeping the litter box in the bathroom, and I find it much easier. (Although now with plumbing work going on in there, the box is now in a hallway.
I do not feel guilty for bringing these animals into my squaor, Cowpie is a four year-old tom cat, and made the choice himself. (Though he did NOT have a say about being neutered. He was getting into fights, and being injured, so I finally took responsibility for that.) I had expected him to remain a "neuter and release" animal.
Today he has been getting in my way. I have an old mess to clean in the kitchen, and there is broken glass involved.
I had bought myself a large fish tank many years ago for my birthday. I have never filled or stocked it, because I realized that maintainence was going to be difficult, in my current situation. For awhile, I had a 20 gallon tank set-up, when a friend encouraged me to buy an aquarium. (I learned later, that she was actually manipulating the situation, because she wanted the fish rescued. Even this small tank was burdensome, because of its location.
This past weekend, I was surfing the new, and looking at small bathroom designs. Not one of them featured a litter box! I hope that when I finish up in my bathroom, there will be space for the litter box. If not, I will want to find a workable solution to make the situation easier.
While my cat contributes to my Level 3 squalor, I also have difficulty in keeping up my kitchen, and so I have rotten food. I do not think that giving up my pet would solve my Level 3 situation. My home was a Level 2 for years after I had brought cats into my home. In fact, sometimes I will clean up a mess quicker, because I am afraid that it will harm the cat.
The major reason for my Level 3 is most likely my mental illness. And the cat gives me companionship, even when I am feeling fragile, and hiding in my home with the lights out, because I am afraid of what my neighbors are thinking about me. I am sure that there have been many mornings when I would not have gotten up from bed, except for the cat needing to be fed.
However, when I moved into this home, I purposely chose not to have carpeting, and only to have hard surfaces for floors. I knew that I would want to have plants and pets and hobbies in my home, and that I did not want to maintain any carpeting. I also would like all furnishings in my home to have washable slip covers.
So yes, I agree with the other posters, balance is the important thing. And also that we must acknowledge that the images we see in the media are staged, and that in our real lives, we might have to consider cat box placement in our interior designs.
SG
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Post by slothzilla on Jun 30, 2009 16:56:00 GMT -5
Pets definitely contribute to the overall mess, but they are worth it. The dog I have now sheds more hair than all the dogs I've ever had before all put together, but I'm learning to deal with it.
He lays on the couch more than any humans do, so I keep a blanket covering it all the time to absorb his dog hair (I take it off the couch when we have visitors). Now that I've got the place reasonably clean, I plan to vacuum fairly regularly. A lot of dog hair collects on the stairs too, which are carpeted, so they need to be cleaned every so often. (wish I could find an effective way to keep my car from collecting dog hair - its everywhere, and vacuuming never gets it all, doesn't seem to do much good on some areas of the car).
Thankfully, my dog's pretty good about not going to the bathroom indoors (although the first 6 months I had him it was a different story!) When he does have an accident indoors, I clean it up asap - that''s one thing I can't abide.
As joyful as it is to have a puppy, the last two dogs I've had were adults when I got them - this was intentional, so that I wouldn't have to house-train them (although my current dog wasn't quite as house-trained as I was led to believe when I got him - he's turned out to be a great dog though, and I'm very glad that I got him.)
I got my current dog just over two years ago...he had never seen my apartment clean until recently. I think for the couple of days he thought he was in the twilight zone! He gave me a look that was like "gee dad, why didn't you do this sooner?"
About 15 years ago I had a dog that had fleas really bad, and they infested my apartment. That was a miserable experience, I was bombing the fleas constantly, but they always came back incredibly quickly...that was the summer I finally learned about the Frontline & Advantage flea treatments (which are worth their weight in gold). Having your place infested with fleas is the worst!
Sometimes I think about getting a cat, but I don't know who I'd get to take care of it when I'm out of town. That's the great thing about dogs, you can take them with you, or leave them with a friend. Hard to do that with cats...still, I might just get a cat one of these days, I used to live with a couple and I miss being around them.
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Post by juniper2 on Jun 30, 2009 18:00:59 GMT -5
Pets...can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em and I tried for 3 years-was not successful. I'm a level 3 but without the feces and urine. My 2 chow-chows are well kept, my boa constrictor is always in a clean enclosure...I pick up the yard poop immediately after the chows have done their business. Brush them frequently so no hair in the house. It's rarely occurred but I immediately picked up any vomit, feces or urine and deep spot cleaned the carpet. However, for past three years, just in case, I have had tarp covering the living, dining room floors and placed cotton linens on the bedroom floor so I really haven't seen my carpets for quite a while...carpets were new in 2003 and when I pull up a tarp they still look new! Wish I could remove the tarps soon but the thought of cleaning carpets more often does not appeal to me...since the steam machine needs some washer so it doesn't leak...and the parts are somewhere and my scrubber/polisher makes the carpet so wet it takes a day to dry....and so on and so on...need to do lots of repair stuff.
Problem. NO time for anything else! Chow children and snake come first in my home. It is tough... with working full-time, and living in squalor...but...and a BIG but...they get me up in the morning and bring me out of my down moods. Take me out of myself, make me laugh. They are extremely expensive with their existing health problems $9,000 last year and already into it for $3800 this year...luckily I don't have any health problems except your normal aging pains. So I live without a water heater for past 3 years, inoperable dishwasher, things keep breaking down from age/use...
I travel to hotels with chowdren 1x/year to Chowfest, a gathering in San Francisco, CA and this year they are going camping again during Labor Day Weekend. Hey, I traveled with an orange tabby as well who I trained to walk on a leash! Sadly Sunshine died at 17.5 years in 2000. I think I was in mourning for 3 years...things just got messier.
You're right about one thing Slothzilla...traveling anywhere is tough with animals. Can't visit the few relatives I have left in New York or Florida and now I want to return to my roots next year to Cuba. Don't know what to do with my chows and boa constrictor...they definitely will not handle being in a Pet Hotel while I travel...too many abandonment issues will crop up because they are rescues. I believe my boa will not have these issues though...but then who knows?
Good topic AnnieOkie, we also need a topic on houseplant squalor of which I am one!
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Post by mouse on Jun 30, 2009 18:16:07 GMT -5
Thanks for raising the topic, AnnieOkie. About 80% of my squalor can be attributed to my not cleaning up after my cats due to depression. Because I didn't stay on top of cleaning their litter boxes, the poor cats had to go elsewhere, ruining, in no particular order: books, clothes, CDs (I'm not kidding), important documents, and my entire dining room floor. This is NOT the cats' fault. Because I had and have the tendency to procrastinate, I easily slid into 3rd degree squalor by not cleaning up after them the way I should have. Up until recently I had very little by way of stuff, so without the cats my home usually remains around Level 1 (small piles here and there, mostly visible floor space, maybe unwashed laundry and unwashed dishes). Add the cats to that, and you have instant 3rd-degree squalor, do not pass GO, do not collect $200. That being said, I love my cats. They bring me a great deal of joy and unconditional love and affection. Now that I have more control over my mental health and my living conditions, I have learned from my mistakes. While I don't clean out the litter boxes as often as I should, I do it regularly, and I keep them on the tile floor in the bathroom, which makes "accidental" messes much easier to clean. At their worst, the two litter boxes can be cleaned in about 15 minutes. There is no squalor-related moral to my story. I am not going to give up any of my cats, no matter how much "easier" it would make my life. Pets are not futons or garden gnomes: once you adopt one, it is entirely dependent on you for its well-being, and you have a responsibility to care for it until it dies. At worst, you have a responsibility to find it a good home if you can't keep it. Under dire circumstances (illness, death, relocation to somewhere too far away to keep the animal), you have a responsibility to take it to a shelter so it will have a chance of being adopted. I have more cats than I can really cope with, and I've known that for years. Ideally, I wouldn't have four cats, but three, and when the sad day comes that one of my cats passes on, I will not be getting another. Until that day comes, I will give all of my cats food, water, shelter, litter, proper veterinary care, and oodles and oodles of love. If I want to live squalor-free, then I need to act accordingly. ~Mouse  |
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Post by lookingup on Jun 30, 2009 18:30:03 GMT -5
Like Simplegifts said, sometimes it helps you to clean up quicker in case the animal might be harmed.
I took in a Very Busy stray a year ago. VERY busy. Bless her heart, she got into everything. And on top of everything and under everything. Keeping things picked up a little was pure self-defense for both of us. She's much better now that she's been in for awhile, and I am definitely messier. I have to think about this. Probably it's totally selfish of me to have stuff everywhere and she would be happier if she had more clear space.
I don't have trouble with the box. My last cat was diabetic and I had to clean it twice a day to keep up. And the box is a good way to monitor their health. I could tell within a day that her sugar was too high and we had to adjust the insulin. That was total, complete motivation.
Anne.
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Post by Meme on Jun 30, 2009 19:43:21 GMT -5
We have to consider a lot of things before getting a pet a side from possible squalor-
we need time
we need money
we need the emotions to love back -
and we need to be willing to be tied down
and they are extra work that we need to be willing to do for them.
and all pets deserve to live clean and safe and healthy.
and we need to be willing to do what is right for the pet.
I think the lady who said no to the rabbit made a wise choice- she knew she did not want the added work-etc.
I am glad that I have had pets in my life but I have had to give up alot to make their life possible in mine-
now I am tired and I simply do not want to devote any more time or money to keep a pet-
I have a dog- dear old Dogman who is coming to the end of his life and I am sad but ok with that---I can go no where now as I have no money to pay for a sitter and dogman can only stay alone for a few hours with out making squalor
- and his health care would require more money with no guarantee that it would improve life for him or make it longer- it means that soon I will have to let dear Dogman join papa for Dogman's sake rather than mine.
I do feel that all house hold pets should be fixed and not allowed to spray in doors as it is their unneutered nature-- if some one is into breeding - then that is a different story and the breeding area should be set up so it is safe and healthy and not be a puppy mill-
do not take more pets that you can handle and also find out all the information before bringing a pet into your home. We plan families now but sometimes we take an animal in -because they are so cute as babies and do not pay attention to how they will be grown up-
love you pets and when it is right for them - let them go for their sake rather than yours.
here we - by a by-law can only have up to 3 dogs and or cats per household. The by-law was made to protect the animals and the neighbors. If you are a breeder you can apply for a business license which also protects the animals again as then the breeding area has to pass an easy inspection. This again keeps the animals safe and healthy-
yes- some try to wiggle past the by-laws but usually something happens to correct the problem- and often the pet is moved and destroyed because of poor health or poor behaviours due to neglect.
I do see stupid pet owners- sigh- the day I took Dogman to the vet someone came in with a big dog for treatment and suddenly some kids came in and said a dog was hanging out of the back of a truck- sigh- the man had tied the dog with a rope in his truck and the dog naturally tried to follow him and his dog mate. The good news is the vet did revive the dog who was already unconscious due to the hanging- sigh- the bad news is the man's vet bill became a lot higher and I am willing to bet he never does that again after the lecture and the bill. In Alberta there is a law against doing this dumb stunt-
one wonders why we need by-laws and laws but it is simply because the owners are *** - stupid. caeless - and unkind. sighing again.
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Post by grungygeorgie on Jun 30, 2009 20:34:13 GMT -5
oh my goodness,this is a great topic.I allowed a homeless friend
to stay in my home for a month 2 years ago.Along came her 5 cats,
which I allowed to live in my basement.5 cats & 3 litter boxes,over
flowing at all times.Cats sleeping in laundry piles.I had to ask her
to clean out litter pans.It really added to my basement squalor.
I like cats and would like to have one,but knowing my procrastinating
ways,I am sure I would not change litter in a timely manner.Anyway,
I do not have to worry about it,my 2 present dogs would not tolerate any cats.MyDD,had 2 "ginny pigs"(sic?).Stinky.added expensive,had to
nag to clean cage.Big ugly cage in my living room,small house.Never
again.
My 2 dogs to add to my squalor w/ the constant shedding/clumps of
hair.Very stressed.On bad days,my attitude is,"why bother?" they
only make the rugs hairy again.There are tumbleweeds beneath
all furniture.I am only talking about 2 small area rugs,the rest being
hardwood floors.I invested in a v.expensive DYSON pet hair vac,
it really gets a workout,although pricey,I would recommend it.
This being said,I would never not have a dog(s).The joy & un-
conditional love I get is worth all the work.I do strongly believe,
unless you stay on topof things,pets are a major squalor factor
I have not been inside my Mom's house in years,refuses my help my Mom's once lovely home is a level 4,the smell would knock you over!
Urine soaked carpets,dog poop all over from 2 ancient terriers,
crusty saucers of old food on kit. floor.Outdoors feral cat colony to boot!She is 82,but the pets are her reason for living.GREAT TOPIC!gg
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Post by Meme on Jun 30, 2009 21:04:49 GMT -5
gg- you were a good friend to allow that to happen to you and those poor cats- sigh- and your mama letting the dogs live that -- Dear old Dogman has a few spills due to his health but we are very proactive about cleaning- I too only have area rugs so that I can clean on both sides- but once it effects Dogman then I will let him go---I just think it is horrid to let pets live in their squalor- I just could not do that to a friend or the pets. I am abit ocd re Dogman but as he has to live so close to the floor I try to keep it clean for him- I just vacuumed my bedroom so that if I drop a crumb he is not eating off a dirty floor--  --he finds all crumbs and sometimes I give him a cracker with out salt to chew on and he never leaves a crumb for me to see- |
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Post by messyang on Jul 1, 2009 1:16:01 GMT -5
Great topic. I live in the country, and animals just "show up" at my house, especially cats. My heart is bigger than my level of common sense, and I end up keeping them. Then, the reproduction age of the females sneaks up on me, and there is another litter. I am up to 11 cats now, and most of them live in the house. They all have names, and different personalities, and are very loving, BUT...they poop everywhere, despite three mostly clean litter boxes, and one of the boy cats marks his territory from time to time. I am very ashamed that my home smells like cat pee and even poop. On July 13, I have set up an appointment for my female cats to become spayed, and then I will follow suit with my males. I also have two dogs: a mastiff ( way over a hundred pounds) and a lab (seventy pounds). They pull trash out of the garbage bins, and string it in the house when I sleep if I forget to put the trash where they can't get it. I love my dogs, too, and they love me, and are good protection for this single mom out in the middle of nowhere. I can't keep up, and I deserve to live better. I am hoping that once the cats are "fixed", then they will behave better, and they can even go outside once in awhile to play. The dogs are another story. I may have to fence in the backyard. I am at my wits end. Last week, when I was sick , however, my mastiff wouldn't leave my side and laid in the bed with me until I felt better. She seemed to sense my discomfort , putting her huge head on my shoulder when I moaned in pain. Those moments are priceless...now if she would just stay out of the garbage...haha.
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Post by tinasabrina on Jul 1, 2009 1:27:18 GMT -5
I must agree that it is a great topic. Definitely there is a direct correlation between pets and squalor. I have 3 cats and not only does their hair get on every surface, which is hard to vacuum up, but when they use the litter box they tend to fling gravel everywhere onto the floor. A litter box is definitely something that has to be kept up with on a daily basis or it will become a huge festering problem. I do love my cats so much though that I feel they are worth it . . . . .But I think you are wise not to accept pets into your home if you don't actually want them there. No matter how cute they may be and how insistent the children may be, you have to keep a realistic outlook about what the maintenance of each pet will be.
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Post by AnnieOkie on Jul 1, 2009 9:03:03 GMT -5
I think we are having an excellent discussion here! I especially like the idea of planning a bathroom with a designated litter box area! Thanks SimpleGifts, that would be an excellent idea for designers. Even an area in a laundry room or basement.
I'm glad this topic has been taken as intended-to help us recognize the connection between pets and squalor, and also for us to help each other with our experiences. You all are great people!
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