Cats and someone with dementia - dilema
I posted recently, mum seems to be declining, on a gradual level,
then last week one of her cats got an ear infection, only picked up due to its ear swelling up- so this meant vets appointments,
ear drops and pills have been given, but we do not see mum every day..two times a day to help with this, we can only take turns in doing it when we are there..
mum is managing just about with the notes and system where we ring and get her to tick off when she has done it all.
The problem is with four cats(all 13 years and a bit) and her being forgetful and her hip making her shuffle and have difficulties I feel they are too much. sister as a cat and insists having four is no more problem..
BUT mum has cat trays in the kitchen - the cats actually come in to use them..to be fair, because mum chucks poo and cat litter all over the garden down steps- we shovel it all off and bin it, but it is a pointless game trying to get her to bag it-she ahs forgotten she always used to do that- now says it is good for plants..in fact it is disgusting and is everywhere..especially this weather!
all the mess in the house is all cat connected, mum keeps the bathroom spotless still but elsewhere where the cats go..hairs everywhere, catlitter and cat litter powdr spread everywhere due ot cats walking around after using trays, cat food all over-mum forgets she has fed them, so there are lids, saucers, plate of food..dried biscuits on every surface, milk in lids all over I spend a good deal of time wiping down the sides..even inside fridge, breadbin..window sills..shaking out mats full of dust, all of it cat mess!!
The last straw was yesterday, as the cat has a bad ear. so laong side her keeping giving the cat warm milk, as it isn't eating...mm..all fat as anything and getting all her pork pies, chicken etc along side their food! mum started putting tray upstairs for it to use at night..alongside more bedding on landing I told her not to have one upstairs,
I checked the toilet to see if she was still using the harpic..and found she had poured cat litter down it, of course when I said I was having to clear it because of that..she wondered what I was doing.. she insisted she would never do that, and someone else had done it..
I just feel we spend more time sorting cats than mum- even the putting stuff in wrong places is cat related..she puts unopened tins in freezer..opened pouces in fridge, opens tins and pouches when she already has one opened..ie 5 opened tins in freezer..alongside unopened ones!
she is constantly asking where one or the other is, and checking on them- and they all crowd over her when she is eating, as they know she will give them her food-
I realise she loves them, and a pet is a purpose..BUT..now sister commented mum wont be alble to live on her own much longer, I feel a lot of the unhygienic stuff is cats..and mum isn't coping with them more than anything
even mum comments at times how much work they all are, and how she hasn't done this or that due to sorting out the cats
I dread if another one of them gets an ailment..it is hard enough her looking after the one with the ear, plus she is washing its face and mauling its ear around
it really is driving me mad tbh- dread going in and seeing what mess they have made
I posted recently, mum seems to be declining, on a gradual level,
then last week one of her cats got an ear infection, only picked up due to its ear swelling up- so this meant vets appointments,
ear drops and pills have been given, but we do not see mum every day..two times a day to help with this, we can only take turns in doing it when we are there..
mum is managing just about with the notes and system where we ring and get her to tick off when she has done it all.
The problem is with four cats(all 13 years and a bit) and her being forgetful and her hip making her shuffle and have difficulties I feel they are too much. sister as a cat and insists having four is no more problem..
BUT mum has cat trays in the kitchen - the cats actually come in to use them..to be fair, because mum chucks poo and cat litter all over the garden down steps- we shovel it all off and bin it, but it is a pointless game trying to get her to bag it-she ahs forgotten she always used to do that- now says it is good for plants..in fact it is disgusting and is everywhere..especially this weather!
all the mess in the house is all cat connected, mum keeps the bathroom spotless still but elsewhere where the cats go..hairs everywhere, catlitter and cat litter powdr spread everywhere due ot cats walking around after using trays, cat food all over-mum forgets she has fed them, so there are lids, saucers, plate of food..dried biscuits on every surface, milk in lids all over I spend a good deal of time wiping down the sides..even inside fridge, breadbin..window sills..shaking out mats full of dust, all of it cat mess!!
The last straw was yesterday, as the cat has a bad ear. so laong side her keeping giving the cat warm milk, as it isn't eating...mm..all fat as anything and getting all her pork pies, chicken etc along side their food! mum started putting tray upstairs for it to use at night..alongside more bedding on landing I told her not to have one upstairs,
I checked the toilet to see if she was still using the harpic..and found she had poured cat litter down it, of course when I said I was having to clear it because of that..she wondered what I was doing.. she insisted she would never do that, and someone else had done it..
I just feel we spend more time sorting cats than mum- even the putting stuff in wrong places is cat related..she puts unopened tins in freezer..opened pouces in fridge, opens tins and pouches when she already has one opened..ie 5 opened tins in freezer..alongside unopened ones!
she is constantly asking where one or the other is, and checking on them- and they all crowd over her when she is eating, as they know she will give them her food-
I realise she loves them, and a pet is a purpose..BUT..now sister commented mum wont be alble to live on her own much longer, I feel a lot of the unhygienic stuff is cats..and mum isn't coping with them more than anything
even mum comments at times how much work they all are, and how she hasn't done this or that due to sorting out the cats
I dread if another one of them gets an ailment..it is hard enough her looking after the one with the ear, plus she is washing its face and mauling its ear around
it really is driving me mad tbh- dread going in and seeing what mess they have made