Boy, do I ever need input! *Update* 6/22/09; post #22

[jenluckenbach]

Well, there are 25 cats here in my home.

18 have the run of the 1st and 2nd floor and 7 have the 3rd floor.

total of 19 litter boxes.

The 3rd floor (fosters) are free fed dry food, so just scooping, filling dishes with food and water woud be all that is necessary.

Resident cats eat 2 times a day. Some eat dry some eat wet. They go in their own carriers, but I am unsure if they would do it for a stranger.

Scooping done in am and pm.

3 cats get pills for medical reasons each day, and 3 get pills for behavioral reasons twice each day.

all but one are easy to pill (they are SOOOOOOO used to it)

With one helper (Charlie) I can do the basics in 45 minutes for the am and 60 -75 minutes for the pm duties.

Thisw does not include any house cleaning, just cat duties.

[catmandu]

One thing taht would scare me about cat sitting would be escapes, especially with 23 Cats where you cant count heads as so many are hiding from you.
And litterboxes for 23 Cats , the taking in and bringing out is a headache , I know from my 8 Found Cats.
And with Multi Cat Houeshlds making sure that everyone is fed, and that some Cats arent getting more than thier share!!!
Good Luck with Your Mew Career!!!

[Medusa]

Good Luck with Your Mew Career!!!

Good one, Gar!

[Medusa]

Well, I just got home from meeting w/her. She's a dear little lady who just can't say 'no'. She rescued all of her cats from a woman whose rescue shelter went bankrupt and many of the animals were euthanized. This lady originally planned on adopting them out but you know how that goes.

The cats are all well cared for, I will say that, no sick ones (one is on thyroid medication but I mean no sickness from URI's or neglect, etc.). They all appear happy and seem to get along w/each other. She keeps them in separate rooms just so that she doesn't get overwhelmed herself but I gotta tell ya, she's overwhelmed and just doesn't realize it. The cats in the basement are the ones who fare best because they have lots of room to run around and it's cool down there. The ones upstairs are more sedate and a couple are cranky and the rooms are small and the smell is just overpowering. I actually had stomach cramps by the time I left and was afraid that I'd vomit.

As it also turns out, she is NOT going to be gone for 6 weeks but only 6 days. She misspoke. I can handle 6 days, no problem. She, however, balked at my fee. We discussed my fee on the phone but she was so excited to find someone who might be willing to cat sit that I know she didn't really hear me. So I left it that I'll wait to hear from her.

A couple of the cats were downright adorable. They're all special, of course, but there is a gray one that when I bent down to pet one of the others, jumped on my back. And he loves giving head bumpies. And there's a calico there that just glared at me like only my calico RB Puddy could do. LOL Made me chuckle. I knew better than to extend my hand, though. The lady told me that she's had her for 3 years and she still won't allow her to touch her. Yep, that's Puddy alright.

So there's the update. When/if I hear from her, I'll keep you posted on how it's working out.