Confessions of a cat mom's housekeeping .... "oversights"

[kimlovescats]

Well, I must confess ... my house is a disaster!!!! We have only been here for 3 years now, and you'd think we had been here at least 10!!! :eek: Why is it that being a catmom ... "things" just seem to go unnoticed, overlooked, or ummmm ignored!!!???? :rolleyes: Let me paint the picture for you ....

Our bed is rarely made ....
There are at least 2 laundry baskets with clean items that we live out of, rather than putting away ....
Our walk- in closet is more of a .... ummmm, step-in closet ....
Our kitchen floor is ummmm, sticky and has tumbleweeds ....
:eek:
Our carpets are atrocious .... full of barf stains, and every doorway has frayed carpet at the corners ....
The baseboards and lower parts of some of our walls, have well um, sneeze marks!!! :eek: :eek: :rolleyes: .....
Hair on your behind is a normal part of your everyday attire....
The smell of ummm, kitty caviar (according to our dogs) is the odour you enjoy upon entering our home.....
My kitchen counter looks more like a cat smorgasbord than a place for people foods....
and lastly .... everywhere you step, you have to be careful not to trip over a mousie, toy or even a live cat!!!!:eek:

OK..... so now I realize why it is that I don't like visitors to my home! Well, that is unless they are extreme cat-lovers themselves! And YES, did I mention that I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!!:D :D

[rg_girlca]

LOL You are truly a cat-lover Kim and I would love too come to your house for a visit.
You forgot to mention the beach area where the litter boxes are.
Ah yes, what we cat-lovers have to put up with. I wouldn't have it any other way.:D

[Craftlady]

That is priceless. We have a beach area too at our house. :)

[kimlovescats]

Oh yes, how could I forget the sandy beaches!!! :D

[sirrahbed]

What about the snowglobe effect if you have ceiling fans? I know CCL has that one, too. Can you make cat fur designs on your kitchen floor with your bare toe? If you want to stuff a small decorative pillow, no need to buy that stuffing.:D

[catnapper]

YES! You've just described my house! Ifind myself not wanting to iron... not because I dislike ironing (its just so much fun!) but because Allen seems to enjoy when the basket is full!

You've forgotten to mention the kitty litter tracked from wherever you have the box for a 20 foot radius! :D

[Miss Meow]

:)

We took my in-laws to my parents' house for dinner when they were here last week. All was well until I could smell a rather poo-ey aroma from afar. I snuck out and Schnaggles had left a ring of diarrhoea around the carpet (someone must've fed him roast pork, the poor boy). Shane and I are nonchalantly scrubbing away, my mum and dad didn't care, but the in-laws were mortified! ;)

[QueenScoopalot]

I wear kitty-litter slippers every morning, but keep a pile of laundry that needs washing on the floor so I can wipe my 'slippers' off before going upstairs. No matter how often I sweep it's always part of the decor. I had a couch once that humans sat on...now it's wall to wall dozing cats, and one tiny chihuahua cross in there somewhere, looking dismayed. :rolleyes: I sometimes think it's easier to paint the kitty snots onto the walls and call it stucco, than to try soaking that stuff off. I'm getting a grip on my chronic sneezer so maybe someday the walls can really be washed....:eek: Ceiling fans make for fun slow moving objects when it's turned on. The hair slowly falls off and the cats go nuts waiting for it to land. Someday I'm going to make a plaque that is heart shaped and says "Home Is Where The Hair Is". :D ;) :eek: :rolleyes: :)

[CatMama78]

Originally posted by catnapper

You've forgotten to mention the kitty litter tracked from wherever you have the box for a 20 foot radius! :D

Unless I vacuum it everyday (and even then), this is hopeless. Two seconds after I finish, the litter is tracked everywhere, including on the couches. Oh well, ce la vie!

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by QueenScoopalot
I sometimes think it's easier to paint the kitty snots onto the walls and call it stucco, than to try soaking that stuff off.
ROFLOL somehow I can't help but wondering if Martha Stewart could do something with this one.....well, actually I am envisioning fur mixed with the paint for the stucco effect....not snot blech!

[RedHedd]

Ah so nice to know I'm in good company here. I almost never have anyone over unless they are cat lovers and truly understand why my house is the way it is. Cat-hair bunnies, furry dust, critter litter in the rugs .... :rolleyes: Cat snot on the baseboards? Paint over it for a new art nouveau effect! :D Martha might even approve! :D :p

[kimlovescats]

Hehehe..... glad to know I am not the only one living in a less than perfectly clean home!!! Yep, Redhedd .... kitty sneeze! When you live with a kitty who has had chronic URI since birth ... I'm speaking of Pee Wee (aka Sneeze Weeze) it's hard to NOT have kitty snot on certain things!!! :rolleyes: We are slowly repainting our entire house with washable satin finished wall paint ... the builders just used flat paint ... which is horrible to wash!!! We will be doing the hall and foyer next weekend, which will help a LOT!!!

Of course, I can't totally blame the kitties for every thing that doesn't get done around here ... I do confess that I LOATHE ironing!!! Most of the time I am a wrinkled mess, figure that as soon as I sit down and get comfortable, I will be wrinkled anyway, so why bother!!!???:eek: Unfortunately my husband is Mr. Neat Freak, Heavy Starch Users Unite!!! :rolleyes: :D

[rosethecopycat]

Originally posted by kimlovescats
Well, I must confess ... my house is a disaster!!!! We have only been here for 3 years now, and you'd think we had been here at least 10!!! :eek:
(3 years-exactly the same for us- house only half painted)

Why is it that being a catmom ... "things" just seem to go unnoticed, overlooked, or ummmm ignored!!!???? :rolleyes: Let me paint the picture for you ....

Our bed is rarely made .... (ours-never)


There are at least 2 laundry baskets with clean items that we live out of, rather than putting away ....( can't find my laundry basket)


Our walk- in closet is more of a .... ummmm, step-in closet ....
Our kitchen floor is ummmm, sticky and has tumbleweeds .... (our is more like crunch&munch)


:eek:
Our carpets are atrocious .... full of barf stains, and every doorway has frayed carpet at the corners .... (why can't they match cat food gray-to match my carpet)


The baseboards and lower parts of some of our walls, have well um, sneeze marks!!! :eek: :eek: :rolleyes: ..... (I paint right over it sometimes)


Hair on your behind is a normal part of your everyday attire....(really lucky I wear a black tux to work-unfortunately I have Siamese colored cats)


The smell of ummm, kitty caviar (according to our dogs) is the odour you enjoy upon entering our home.....
My kitchen counter looks more like a cat smorgasbord than a place for people foods....(cans, cans, everywhere!)


and lastly .... everywhere you step, you have to be careful not to trip over a mousie, toy or even a live cat!!!!:eek:( so, so, many toys)


OK..... so now I realize why it is that I don't like visitors to my home! Well, that is unless they are extreme cat-lovers themselves! And YES, did I mention that I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!!:D :D (I wouldn't trade it for the world, when they gaze into your eyes with thanks)

[Kfamr]

You have dogs?!:confused:

[kimlovescats]

Kfamr... oh yes, do a search on the Dog side!! I have posted several posts before about Gretta (Doxie) and AnnaBelle (poodle)!!! ;)

[auggie]

As I’m looking at the barf stains on my carpet and the cat hair clinging to the curtains and the comforter I’m thinking about my mom, a clean freak who believes that dogs and cats are filthy and don’t belong inside the house. She would absolutely die if she could see my place. I guess it might be a good thing that she lives overseas with no chance of ever coming to visit here, because I would never get rid of my baby’s. Too bad she will never experience the joy of having pets and the unconditional love they give us.

[catcrazylady]

OMG! I'm loving this thread!!! I'M NOT ALONE! No one is allowed in my house with out lots of advance notice! The one room of carpet is stained and all other rooms are full of whirling and twirling hair weeds! If you sit on ANYTHING in the living room you will be instantly covered in hair! The joke when we moved in here was that hubby wasn't allowed in the living room. I finally had a room that I could keep nice in case company came but now it is the cat room! They completely took it over and hubby still isn't allowed to use it!http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/wink.gif There are little hairballs on the ceiling and lets not even talk about the hair fairies that live on the fan blades!!
We have sandy beaches, furry furniture, hairballs galore, puke, hairy window screens, cat fights, cat howling, drive by's, general chaos on any given day and every meal is served with a small portion of fur on the side! Ain't life grand??!!http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/biggrin.gif

[Lillycat]

no greater love has any catperson!

[nibblets]

One cat, one slightly incontinent dog, one teenager and me....
I have the clothes basket thing going on in my room.
Shoes and cat toys are everywhere.
All windows are spotted with nose or handprints.
Buddy, the Kleenex shredder, leaves a stash of hidden tissues in each room.
Being a single mom with a full time job, and being a bit on the lazy side when it comes to housekeeping leaves my house somewhat cluttered.
I don't invite visitors over and am a little embarrassed when someone does show up...but you know what? If it bothers them, they are welcome to clean my house....its home to us!
I'll keep the cat, the slightly incontinent dog, the teenager and the messy house any day over a spotless show home without them.:)

[kimlovescats]

LOL!!! Oh CCL, you made me remember one that I am surprised I could forget!!! What about cat hair in the refrigerator!!!:eek: Don't know how, but it manages to float its way in there ... my Dad would Pass Out In His Tracks if I served him something with cathair on it!!!!:eek: :eek: :D

Nibblets: I can't believe i forgot the many shredded napkins lurking in every nook and cranny too! ALL of my cats HAVE to have a napkin rolled and thrown for them every time they see any of us eating!!! One more thing... you mean windows don't COME with NosePrints on them????:eek: :D

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by kimlovescats
Kfamr... oh yes, do a search on the Dog side!! I have posted several posts before about Gretta (Doxie) and AnnaBelle (poodle)!!! ;)


I did.. none of their pictures showed for me :(


That just means you need to post more!!! :D ;)

[catmandu]

The Found Cat Hotel , would not exactly , get into Better Homes , and Gardens , either , as it doe have that lived in look. But then again , if I livd in a Palce , I would worry every tie , that a Cat had an accident , or started Cat Beach , by the Litter Box!

[K & L]

OK, call me weird but I’m an EXTREME neat nick! I vacuum almost daily (including furniture, counter tops, desks, etc.), I ripped out all carpet and put in Pergo flooring, I vacuum and scrub the garage floor since that’s where almost all our litter boxes, food, water, etc. are. I drive myself crazy! Believe me, my house is far from perfect, but I cannot stand it to be anything but neat! This is not bragging, this is a fetish issue!:D

[kimlovescats]

Well K&L, actually I am a germ freak .... but I have become so overwhelmed with all of these cats, I let things get way out of control before I finally tackle them!!! After posting this last night ... I finally got busy and did some cleaning!! In fact, my closet is actually a WALK-IN again!!!:eek: :D

[K & L]

Originally posted by kimlovescats
Well K&L, actually I am a germ freak .... but I have become so overwhelmed with all of these cats, I let things get way out of control before I finally tackle them!!! After posting this last night ... I finally got busy and did some cleaning!! In fact, my closet is actually a WALK-IN again!!!:eek: :D

I'm a germ freak also! I bleach EVERYTHING! Gawd I got a problem!:D ;) Plus I keep the Lysol Kitchen cleaner underneath the sink and spray the counters down before I even think of putting food there! Oh and I have a lady come in twice a month to clean!

[lbaker]

Imagine what MY house looks like with 6 semi-large, semi-long haired dogs and 5 cats :eek: They all assume they belong on beds, chairs, sofa etc. Cats include belonging on all above as well as counters, sinks and mantles. Hair in the 'fridge? Easy... but how does it get into the icecube tray :confused: :p

[K & L]

Originally posted by lbaker
Imagine what MY house looks like with 6 semi-large, semi-long haired dogs and 5 cats :eek: They all assume they belong on beds, chairs, sofa etc. Cats include belonging on all above as well as counters, sinks and mantles. Hair in the 'fridge? Easy... but how does it get into the icecube tray :confused: :p

I can relate!!! We've got 20 cats!:eek:

[sirrahbed]

You know - I think maybe alot of us ARE frustrated germ freaks. After awhile, ya just gotta laugh and let some of it go! I used to keep an immaculate house - like back in the old days. It's the nurse in me I guess. I DO keep a little broom and dustpan and try to keep the sandy beach under control. Clean the catboxes severar times a day. I keep lysol spray and canisters of disinfectant wipes in kitchen, baths and laundry room. Oh and change pillow cases every few days because I am constantly eating cat fur - but face it - there is no end to it! I really CAN make designs on my kitchen floor! And, turning on the ceiling fans never fails to cause that dreaded snowglobe effect! I even have abrand new Hoover WindTunnel that sucks the carpet right up off the floor:eek: But, after awhile - ya gotta laugh and let it go:D :rolleyes: :o
I do NOT make my bed and I do NOT iron:D THAT is where I draw the line.

[lynnestankard]

Originally posted by kimlovescats
........ you mean windows don't COME with NosePrints on them????:eek: :D

Course they do - don't they? ...........................errrrrrr............. I thought all windows came with Nose Prints and Snot Smears!!
I'll keep the 'pretty patterned windows' I think!! :D :D :eek: :eek:

Lynne

[Logan]

I have so much dog hair and dog nose prints that I rarely notice the cat hair and bird dust that comes along!!!! :o I don't like unannounced visitors either!!!! :)

[lizzielou742]

I am a neatfreak too. I constantly am sweeping around the litterbox, vacuuming and dusting kitty fur off my tables. I lint roll everything (furniture, bed, me) and Lysol everything (door handles, toilet handle, and trash can lid included) too! The day I got Tito I got a DustBuster too - so handy at getting up the sandy beaches!

[catnapper]

I am having a ball learning that I am not alone! I grew up in a house witha neatnik grandmom. she vacuumed several times a day and was forever dusting and cleaning. I never knew that cats and dogs shedded until I grew up! :eek: We had a German Shepherd and a big moo cow cat... they MUST have shedded, right???

My houseis a bit different... I clean, but with three teens, two cats, a dog and a husband following behind me making a mess, I shrug my shoulders and say "whatever." Everyone's happy and well-adjusted, so I guess a little hair won't hurt 'em. :D

One thing I am still very fussy about is laundry. I am a bit psychotic about it. :)

[kimlovescats]

I'm not as bad as I made it sound, but sometimes I just feel like I am drowning in dirt, hair and germs!!! :rolleyes: Lysol spray disinfectant and Lysol Kitchen cleaner are my FRIENDS!!! :eek: :D

[RedHedd]

Yesterday at the cat show they had T-shirts for sale that were pre-printed with cat hair! Geez! :rolleyes: I couldn't believe it - much cheaper to just wear the ones I have with the REAL stuff on 'em! :D

[nibblets]

I don't have much of a problem with hair. With only one cat its not hard to keep it under control. The Bichon doesn't shed so that is a plus. My son and I both have long hair..yes I said my son..but we both usually have it pulled back into a ponytail so its not bad.
I clean Julies litter boxes daily and have a whisk broom and small dustpan for beach conrol.
Somehow I lucked out and Julie doesn't get up on my counters but she does have her favorite spots on the back of the couch and on a small table in the living room.
Ours is mostly cat toys and stuff that we don't manage to put where it belongs. OH! and Buddy's Kleenex collections.

[lbaker]

They do have a thing with tissues don't they?! My Border Collie Cheeky Bitch, (RB on Dec 2, 2003) just loved to come up and snatch a tissue from the table in the morning and just look at me with her blue, blue eyes and DARE me to try to take it away :rolleyes: Towards the end I would just move it closer so she didn't have to reach so far...:( We had a true love-fest going on..:cool: I feel good about it now, finally...

[lynnestankard]

Awwww Laurie - {{{{Hugs}}}} :)

Lynne

[RICHARD]

I wanted to thank Kimlovescats for inspiring me to go home and do some housekeeping last night...

I was caught up in the moment and still regret it some 13 hours later.....;)


Edward and I thank you!!

[kimlovescats]

Well, Richard, I'm glad I gave you the nudge you needed!!! ;) :D

[trayi52]

Kim, my house looks like it is owned by animals, not humans! The cats are pretty good, and don't make that many messes. Grover does like to walk on the kitchen cabinets, and I will notice these little footprints going across the counter. So I have to do a quick wash, so my husband doesn't see it, though sometimes he sees it and says, "Willie, that cat has been on the countertops again", So here I go, got to wash the countertops off. Then she took to sleeping on this one cabinet that my husband keeps his medicine in, he keeps towl draped across it, and it makes Grover a really nice bed.

Jimmy seen her there, and started yelling at her and she is really got to where she sneaks peaks around at him in the corner.

Now the dogs are entirely different! The Chihuahuas are prone to having little accidents in the floor and keeps me on edge that somebody will come in and see a "cigar" just laying there in the floor! And worst of all, if they come in and not see it and STEP in it!! So here I am with a forever dustpan and broom strapped to my hips like a gun in its holster!

Dana, the Rottweiler, has never had an accident in the house, she will let you know pretty quick that she need to go out and do her pottying. The chihuahuas will sometimes do that, but sometimes they just think it okay, this looks like a good spot. They hate to go out in the winter time. If I put papers on the floor they will have their accident there.

Dana, is shedding big time right now, and I am always vacuming up her black hair.

No, by all means, my house is FAR from perfect. I have been trying to do some spring cleaning, and finally got it done, Thank the lord! Throw away everything I am in doubt of, my motto, if in doubt, throw it away.

I came across my husband sleeping in his recliner, and thought, I am in doubt, should I through him away? Hmmmm, well anyway, I figured I would go ahead and keep him and see what happens next year when I do my spring cleaning. He did afterall haul off all the garbage to the dump for me.

I try!

Willie

[kimlovescats]

Yep, if your hubby allows you to have all your babies ... he's definitely worth keeping!!!;) :D