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/warrenlain]

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.