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veryconcerned Asked July 2020

My mom has 3 cats she cares for at her home. Are those chemicals for cat litter toxic since it's close to her bedroom?

Will dementia worsen? Yes its been a while since I posted here to what happened to my mom being exploited and not wanting to tell me as to who did it, but time has passed and now and so has her Alzheimer's. She's told not to eat or drink before the day of important tests are made. Burns things in her kitchen which lets me know that she needs someone there now. Her caretaker has been sick so I didn't want her to come to my mom's house. I've been here in Texas near my mom for 4 months now since the pandemic exploded. Seen things that I needed to see so I can evaluate the situation better. Those 3 cats she has play havoc on her house in which just recently spent thousands of dollars to redo her kitchen and living areas, now those cats are leaving a mess in the carpet and all. I need to get a hold of another caretaker because I work in California and she doesn't want to move here; it's the dirtiest city. I am her DPOA now but need to see if that house she lives in can be sold and she can move to her smaller place which she usually rents but I've been staying there during the pandemic and don't want to be close to her for her protection. Now she has photoflashes and all the carpet I had replaced in her house she wants to replace it with flooring because she feels its way too hot and keeps coming to her other condo where I'm staying in. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you.

BarbBrooklyn Jul 2020
Have you spoken to mom's doctor about her hot flashes? Is she past the age of menopause? There is an antidepressant that is sometimes prescribed at a low dose for just this issue.

Sunnygirl1 Jul 2020
People who have dementia need care and it sounds like your mother has considerable need. People who have dementia normally are not able to care for themselves, let alone pets. If there’s a mess there’s a reason. I’d get your mother and the cats help immediately. When my LO was first diagnosed, her beloved cat was very unhappy. Living with her in that state bothered the cat a lot. It began spraying and pooping on carpet, furniture, floors and appliances. It ruined a lot of stuff that had to be thrown away due to smell. The cat knew how sick she was and it made the cat nervous and unhappy.

I’d make arrangements for the cats.

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freqflyer Jul 2020
veryconcerned, if the cats aren't using the cat litter, that either means the litter isn't being scooped twice a day, or the cats do not like the litter itself. Some cats dislike "fragrant" litter. And if the cats are older, their feet prefer soft litter, not the pebble type.

I agree with Grandma1954, 3 cats = 3 litter boxes and maybe 4th "no waiting". Some cats prefer their own box.

Another thing, when was the last time the cats had a physical? Cats do get urinary tract infections and will use the rug to relieve themselves to send out a message to the owner that there is a medical issue.

Midkid58 Jul 2020
Cat LITTER isn't the problem. It's un-cleaned cat litter boxes that can easily become quite smelly when not changed daily. The ammonia level in my mom's place makes my eyes burn.

Sounds like mom needs placement and the sooner the better.

Cat lovers are often 'nose-blind' to the smell of cat urine and poop. I have literally sat in mother's living room and a cat will walk in and just poop all over the floor. She doesn't bat an eye. This is a disconnect in her brain between what is "OK" and what is not.

She lives with my brother and his 4 daughters (all over 21 and still home--they each have at least one cat) The house is pretty much ruined--the smell of cat urine is so awful. Mother doesn't 'own' any of the cats, but they have free run of her apt and they use the entire house as a litter box.

So gross.

veryconcerned Jul 2020
as far as my post..sorry..I meant that my mom has hot flashes and cant stay at her condo....and at 80 years old..

Grandma1954 Jul 2020
cat litter is not toxic.
If the cats are not using the litter box there may be a medical problem with the cat(s) OR with 3 cats you really should have 3 litter boxes.
It also sounds like your mom should not be living alone.
Assisted Living or better yet Memory Care.
(I have no idea what "photoflashes" are) but I would not replace any flooring until the cats are no longer a problem.
veryconcerned Jul 2020
sorry I meant "hot flashes".....she overwhelmingly has them all the time even when her ac is cold
AlvaDeer Jul 2020
It is sounding a bit as though your Mom is going to soon need placement. You cannot afford, I would think, 24/7, and that is what is needed, or soon will be needed. It is even difficult to assess from far away unless you have the advice, eyes and ears of someone in Mom's area. I think litter is not toxic, but the poop within certainly can become so, and if the cats are making a mess all over the house the litter isn't a problem. This will ruin wood floors and resale or renting of the home in future could become very problematic. You will as the DPOA be having to make some decisions. I am wishing you good luck.

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