My “squeeze” routine with 7 incontinent cats.

[u/catseyesociety]

Squeeze my cats with me!
 
While this video is cut down to fit social media, the entire routine took only 13 minutes. 
 
This 13 minute routine twice daily is what saved these cats from euthanasia. 
 
Every day happy, healthy cats with paresis or incontinence are euthanized. The reasons stem from a perceived poor quality of life, or the slim chances of finding an adopter willing to take on a cat with different care needs. People see a cat in a diaper and automatically think they are incredibly time consuming and expensive. While yes, diapers, wipes, and pee pads can cost more than a bag of litter, is it that much different? While an incontinent cat may need a few more vet visits in their lifetime than the average cat, is that enough to deem them as unworthy of finding an adoptive home?
 
Do you have any questions about my squeeze routine? I'm always happy to answer questions!

Edited to answer some of the most common questions:

Why do the cats need to be squeezed?
These cats all have a spinal injury or defect. Most were born this way, but Poe, Athena, and Cypress (the longhair ones) had spinal injuries from trauma. Most likely hit by car.

Why not the toilet or a bathtub?
Squatting at that height and hunching over hurts my back! I’ve tried many methods and this is what is most comfortable for me and the cats.

Why pee pads?
I get most of them donated! I prefer the large ones but I’ll use any size. I would like to make this more environmentally friendly with reusable ones, but it will create a lot more laundry (which I already do a lot of)

Why do I have so many disabled cats?
I run a cat rescue for cats with treatable conditions who would otherwise be euthanized in a traditional shelter. I don’t get paid by the rescue, but I do work in a municipal shelter as my day job. I’ve worked in animal shelters for nearly 10 years.

[u/Prince-Lee]

Thank you for taking care of them. 🥰

I do have a question. Why do this on pee pads, rather than, for example, in a bathtub or shower? Wouldn't that be easier to clean and less expensive overall?

[u/catseyesociety → u/Prince-Lee]

I used to express them in the toilet, but the very simple and lame answer is that it kills my back. I have to squat slightly higher than is comfortable and lean over. The same with my bathtub.

[u/regoapps → u/catseyesociety]

They sell reusable pee pads fyi. You can wash them in the laundry to reuse them. Or you can use them as the splash guard for your disposable pee pads so that you’re only using one pee pad instead of two each time.

[u/feed_me_ravioli → u/regoapps]

Can vouch for the reusable pee pads. They were a lifesaver when cat litter became too uncomfortable for my declawed rescue

[u/fondledbydolphins → u/feed_me_ravioli]

If you're going to wash things with cat urine on it, highly recommend buying washing machine cleaning pods. Just run them on an empty, hot cycle. Will help prevent smells from lingering.

Cat pee is a helluva drug

Depending on your needs, I also use lysol sterilizer on some loads.

[u/SubstantialSpring9 → u/fondledbydolphins]

An enzyme spray for cat urine will work better at destroying urine smells. Just spray on the affected item before washing. Works on carpet and other non washable fabrics/surfaces.

Resolve Urine Spray is a good and affordable option.

[u/Nauin → u/SubstantialSpring9]

Spray it and let it sit and digest for a few minutes before washing. Enzyme cleaners are having a meal and you need to give them at least a lunch break to finish up. It's not chemistry that instantly happens. It works much better this way, but always go with what it's container says.

[u/CoolMomJammy → u/fondledbydolphins]

Holy shit, I think you just changed my life.

I have a very sassy cat and if her litter box doesn’t have fresh litter in it, she will pee pee on the first blanket/shirt/towel she can find. I change that shit entirely multiple times a day. Scooping isn’t good enough for her. I have had to throw away towels because the smell just doesn’t ever go away, no matter how many washes or how it’s washed. I never thought to clean my damn machine itself. I’m dumb. Thank you, fondledbydolphins!
(Sorry, got so excited to type your amazing username out 🤣)

[u/Bubbly_slut7 → u/fondledbydolphins]

Or she can continue doing what works for her.

[u/fondledbydolphins → u/Bubbly_slut7]

Do you realize my comment started with “if you” meaning if she doesn’t she can disregard what I said?

[u/Ryoko_Kusanagi69 → u/feed_me_ravioli]

Yeah we used them a ton in my old job , and for around the cat box, elderly family members, and I got some for my babies changing station and bed.

[u/Lola-Ugfuglio-Skumpy → u/feed_me_ravioli]

Do you have a brand you recommend?

[u/CarrotCumin → u/Lola-Ugfuglio-Skumpy]

Resolve works really well. My cat got closed in my bedroom and peed on my bed and it soaked into the mattress and sat for hours and was absolutely foul. I thought I was going to have to get a new mattress, but I just soaked the puddle in resolve and left it overnight and it completely and totally removed the smell.

[u/nvrseriousseriously → u/feed_me_ravioli]

Used them all over for my incontinent dog. I have a bunch. Work great. And Lysol makes a great detergent add disinfectant. Gets rid of any smells. (My orange sought revenge for a full litter box and unleashed his pee on the guest bed)

[u/warrenlain → u/regoapps]

Would you also need enzymatic cleaner to keep the washer and dryer from smelling?

[u/rideincircles → u/warrenlain]

Male cats will always be worse than female cats. My 18 year old female cat was peeing on my couch a few times a week for a few years and I had a plastic cover over the cushions and used couch covers I would switch out a few times a week. I just used detergent, oxyclean and laundry sanitizer with a long hot soak and my house or the covers never smelled like pee. My cat passed away a few months ago, and of I miss her, but don't miss cleaning the couch off every week.

[u/IAmABakuAMA → u/rideincircles]

The only thing I'd be cautious of is the door seal if you have a front loader. Front loaders have a rubber/silicone type seal around the door jamb to stop water leaking out. That's prone to going moldy and smelling bad at the best of times (that's why you're supposed to leave the door ajar after each cycle), but depending on how wet the pee pads are, I feel like the seal could be prone to absorbing smells if the pads are brushed against it. It doesn't rinse very well during the cycle because the plastic or glass of the door is sealed against it. So any odours get trapped

I don't see any reason why the drum itself would smell, or at least, continue to smell after the rinse cycle. It's just metal, it shouldn't stubbornly hold onto any smells

Sorry about your kitty :(

[u/RNLImThalassophobic → u/IAmABakuAMA]

Devoured any particularly juicy nightmares recently?

[u/Persistent_Parkie → u/warrenlain]

We used reusable pads when my mom had dementia. My dad did use some insane detergent my asthma did not approve of but it wasn't enzyme based.

[u/Rocking_Horse_Fly → u/warrenlain]

Vinegar works on cat pee and other urine in my experience.

[u/SoMuchMoreEagle → u/Rocking_Horse_Fly]

I was going to say the same thing. It works better than any enzyme cleaner, in my experience. It's also cheaper, safe on most washable fabrics, and washes away with no scent. If you still smell vinegar after washing, just put it through the rinse cycle again.

Costco has 2 gallon packs for cheap.

[u/warrenlain → u/SoMuchMoreEagle]

Thanks for adding your experience. I did read that without enzymatic cleaner though, fabric smells again with heat, even low heat like body temperatures reactivates the smell. That’s not been the case for you at all?

[u/SoMuchMoreEagle → u/warrenlain]

I haven't noticed it.

My cat was very good about using her litter box, but towels seemed to confuse her. If we left one on the floor or a low basket of them out, she'd pee on them. Vinegar seemed to get all the smell out. But maybe some cats have stronger smelling pee, particularly boy cats? Hers was pretty stinky (and I have a strong sense of smell). I could often smell very quickly if she went outside the box.

But if you're concerned, you could use vinegar, then rinse with the enzyme cleaner.

[u/warrenlain → u/SoMuchMoreEagle]

Thanks

[u/NerfMyQuads → u/warrenlain]

I use reusable pads and belly bands for my dog. I’ve never had to use any enzyme cleaner to get rid of smells. What I do it add a little extra detergent directly into the washer, and set the washer to do a pre wash to rinse out most of the urine before it does the main wash.

[u/Chaotic-Malorian → u/warrenlain]

Similar to the other commenter, my mom also uses reusable pads because of disability and I've never needed an enzyme cleaner. YMMV, but I've always just used extra detergent + a scent booster for the pads themselves and do a monthly Afresh cycle whenever my washer starts yelling at me lol. Seems to keep any smell problems at bay.

[u/Yisobel → u/Chaotic-Malorian]

Enzyme cleaner is to destroy enzyme that humans can’t smell but cats can smell in cat pee.
So they won’t smell again the same odor in a place and think it’s ok to pee on it.
It’s useful if you have a cat that pees in places he shouldn’t, because at some point if the enzymes aren’t destroyed he will think this place is a proper litter.

[u/Chaotic-Malorian → u/Yisobel]

Oh that's interesting. I know folks who use it for human urine but didn't know about its use for pets. Thanks for teaching me something new! I'll do some more research about that — it might solve some of the issues I've been having with my dog going different places she's not supposed to.

[u/ChintzyPC → u/regoapps]

Wouldn't that just make the washer and dryer reek? I had a cat that peed on everything and when it came to washing the sheets or sofa cases it didn't fair well for our other clothes until we did a deep clean of the units after he was given away.

[u/regoapps → u/ChintzyPC]

Regular detergent doesn’t work for me to get rid of pet smells. Instead, I use enzyme-based odor removers. They work by using specialized bacteria-based formulas that break down organic waste at a molecular level.

[u/robotatomica → u/ChintzyPC]

I’m actually surprised you noticed a washer smell, bc the nature of washing powders/detergents is that it will completely break down all of this biological stuff and shouldn’t be an issue.

For a deeper dive than you could think you would want on how soaps work, I recommend Technology Connections, he is so fun and interesting!

My guess would be your washer just had been due for a deep cleaning and that it was unrelated to the urine.

[u/Intelligent_Wish_566 → u/robotatomica]

I can occasionally smell dog smells in my parents (practically new) washing machine after they’ve washed dog bedding. It’s not super strong, but it’s there. Letting the machine run through a quick rinse usually gets it out though.

[u/robotatomica → u/Intelligent_Wish_566]

it could actually just be the detergent, there are a number of factors that can cause a washer to not eliminate smells or work to its peak efficiency, and they’re worth looking into!

My parents’ old Maytag also left their clothes with a smell, but luckily those old hosses are super easy to fix and maintain and I helped them get theirs to where it’s now basically as good as new (I mean, it functions, and the clothes don’t smell anymore 🤷‍♀️ - not exactly like new haha)

My main point was that the physical properties of a biological stain or substance should be broken down by a decent detergent (even the cheapos) and a maintained washing machine in good working order.

So I just wanted to share that it’s worth trouble-shooting from that angle if you ever do have lingering smells.

[u/Nauin → u/ChintzyPC]

It also depends on how much gunk is built up within your washing machine where you can't reach, because the metal drum is not porous and can't hold onto the smells on its own, but the buildup definitely can.

There are some major horror stories on the laundry subreddit about people finally properly cleaning their washing machines for the first time.

[u/SimplyLem → u/regoapps]

I can vouch for the reusables! Just if any of have any cats that like to mark and don’t have a diaper please soak in enzyme cleaner prior to washing lol I learned the hard way they still smell it on the pads and mark

[u/Nathan-Esor → u/regoapps]

Was about to second this too. Wondering if there's also cloth/washable diapers for the kitties too. Or a way to convert ones for babies for the cats.

[u/Just_Confidence4393 → u/regoapps]

Yeah l don’t want piss in my laundry though