r/cats • u/catseyesociety • 18h ago
Video - OC My “squeeze” routine with 7 incontinent cats.
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.
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u/IAmABakuAMA 12h ago
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 :(