Topic: Help with cat care (Read 4213 times)

tab · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2009, 16:24:20 PM »

Hi Bungly wheres altincham? I know altringham and alkrington...or at least I think I do

Im useless with place names. Anyway its nera Middleton.

The good news is we went over today and I changed the tray and washed it as it didnt appear to have been washed for a while. While there I persuaded her to phone the cinnamon trust and hopefully they will be able to organise someone to go in 2 or 3 times a week to clean the trays.
They've also said they can bring litter for her which is really good.
love
Tab

bunglycat · « **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2009, 20:04:08 PM »

What a shame -i used to live in North Manchester too around 10 years ago -Altincham !

tab · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2009, 19:35:10 PM »

Thanks for all the replies.
Bungly shes in north Manchester. Like I say near to me but I cant get over to do the trays on a regular basis. Im going over on friday with a friend and we are going to have a chat with her about what can and should be done.
love
Tab

Kay and Penny · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:54:07 PM »

using a really good clumping litter would mean the tray would not need cleaning that often - and it could be lined too

Dawn F · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:33:59 PM »

yes you are probably right - tesco used to sell disposable trays - I used to buy them when I went on holiday

Mark · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:30:08 PM »

I think the real problem would be cleaning the trays rather than picking the poo out?

Dawn F · « **Reply #17 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:24:28 PM »

I've got a long handled poo picker upper that I use for clearing out the gravel (star loves it!!) I got it from a pet centre at a garden centre place but I will see if I can find something similar so you can see what I mean

bunglycat · « **Reply #16 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:18:37 PM »

Wherabouts is she - i would volunteer and do it free , but i bet she is miles away .

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2009, 12:50:27 PM »

I have a disabled friend who has a walking chair and she used some kind of stick to drag the tray to her while she was sat down to empty it.

Mark · « **Reply #14 on:** August 15, 2009, 12:08:42 PM »

Maybe the answer is a new cleaner

and one that is willing to do trays - maybe for a small extra payment if needed.

Kay and Penny · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2009, 11:14:39 AM »

my mother used clumping litter and removed the lumps holding a scoop in one of those long grapper things - she tranferred them to the litter locker thing beside the tray

it took her a while to do, but time she had plenty of - and it wasn't difficult to do - the secret was to use lightweight litter so the scoop went into it easily

tab · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2009, 10:59:46 AM »

The only low table I can think of is her coffee table so maybe not ideal for a cat loo

The cleaner was suggested to me some years ago when I was looking for help but after meeting her and finding out all about everyone in the flats she cleaned for I decided I didnt want her in my flat.

love
Tab

Mark · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2009, 10:33:09 AM »

Sorry Tab - just thinking out loud but is there somewhere she could have a low table, say a coffee table that the cat would be able to jump up to but she would be able to bend down to?

I had a cleaner like that for the B&B (not for long as after a month or so, her services were no longer required

) - She only came for 2 or 3 hours on a Sunday, demanded £10 an hour cash in hand. She even expected a paid tea/smoke break within the 2 hours and spent more time on her phone than cleaning so what she did do was all shoddy and I had to go into rooms after she left to finsih them off properly. She also claimed I was OCD as I insisted that bathrooms were cleaned thoroughly with strong disinfectant - she claimed flash was good enough

tab · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2009, 10:23:56 AM »

She does actually have a 'cleaner' although from the state of the flat I dont think the cleaner actually cleans just gossips.
I'll suggest the cat san disposable trays thats a good idea. The main problem is that Margaret now needs a zimmer to walk and cant bend down to do the tray never mind lift the litter bag.
Thanks for the suggestions
love
Tab

Mark · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2009, 19:33:49 PM »

Quote from: trigger on August 14, 2009, 18:46:08 PM

these days they are not home helps in the old way though, but personal care assistants, and are supposed only to do jobs which are directly connected to care of the person - dressing, cooking, shopping etc

Is there someone else to do the cleaning etc? a "char"

- they could do it?

Kay and Penny · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2009, 18:46:08 PM »

these days they are not home helps in the old way though, but personal care assistants, and are supposed only to do jobs which are directly connected to care of the person - dressing, cooking, shopping etc

my mother managed a cat litter tray by having one of those litter locking things right by it - she could manage to transfer the clumps and turn the handle, and I used to empty it each week

Mark · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2009, 18:04:38 PM »

The only other thing I can think of is still going to cost money but maybe she could get help with it - but catsan do disposable trays with litter in. Maybe he home help could just put a new tray out each day and put the other one in a rubbish bag - not as bad as cleaning out trays. I'm surprised the home helps can't be a bit more flexible and I would have thought a home help should have to do any sort of day-to-day jobs in the home that someone would normally do if they were able to?

Another idea is an automatic tray (I didn't know they were available her now until just now) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Littermaid-LME5500-Automatic-Litter-Tray/dp/B001O9C4W8 - It needs someone to change the dirty tray once a week which might be more practical for someone to do for her? - some cost involved though.

We have discussed these on here before and cam to the conclusion that it sounds great in theory but doesn't allow for runny poos

- maybe worth looking into though - the refills aren't that expensive from what I can see.

tab · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2009, 17:02:21 PM »

Thanks all
Ive had a look on the pdsa and blue cross sites but cant see anything. I mentioned the cinnamon trust to Margaret this morning and will take her some info over next week when I go. I also thought about the neighbour helping. It would be the best situation but as Margaret lives in a tower block for 'older' people a lot of them are ill and to be honest a lot of them she has already fallen out with

Its a really hard situation as I know how much she loves her cats but I dont know if she could afford to pay cat sitter prices. I wish I could say I would go over daily but theres just no way I can manage that. I went over with a friend today and my friend did the tray after we found out the carer hadnt cleaned it since sunday

Its not fair on the poor cats but I really dont want to get onto re-homing unless Margaret refuses to get help in which case I dont honestly feel I have a choice

I will see if I can contact Help the aged and Age concern and see if they can help
Thanks for the suggestions
love
Tab

Jasmine · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2009, 16:53:43 PM »

The Cinnamon Trust will help if they have a suitable volunteer in the area:
www.cinnamon.org.uk

( just edited to remove tel/email)

Kay and Penny · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2009, 16:09:39 PM »

I'd ask the local branches of Age Concern and Help the Aged if they know of any help - they ought to be sympathetic to keeping pets and owners together, as they will know of the benefits

failing that would she be able to pay a small sum each week? if so, I am wondering if a neighbour might have a child old enough to be trusted to help out

perhaps a leaflet through doors in the immediate neighbourhood?

Dawn F · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2009, 15:59:36 PM »

I'm sure I've seen something like this on pdsa or blue cross

Bazsmum · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2009, 15:58:48 PM »

Im wondering if a pet sitter would do the litter trays, obviously though they would ask a fee!

Hope something is sorted for all concerned, lovely of you Tab to be helping the lady out!

tab · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2009, 14:28:25 PM »

I was wondering if anyone know of an organisation that might help an elderly lady with cat care. Due to ill health she is struggling with things like cleaning the litter tray. Her carers are currently helping but its not part of their job so some will do it and some wont. I take the cats to the vets if they need it and clip their claws as needed but I cant go over on a regular basis to do the trays. Its something that needs to be sorted as in the long term things cant go on as they are but I really dont want to tell a cat lover that for her cats benefit they need to be re-homed. If it comes down to a point where I feel the cats arent being looked after properly I will say something and see about re-homing but just at the moment I dont think its gone that far.
Has anyone any suggestions?
Thanks
love
Tab

Author Topic: Help with cat care (Read 4213 times)