Filthy living conditions

KontanKarite · 04-25-2008, 08:15 PM

Problem:

Roommate has a cat. She feeds the cat on a paper plate and a tiny plastic tea cup for water. She alternates his food with hard and soft. She ALSO feeds him discarded chicken giblets with the bones in them. This, is put in our laundry room to get scattered about by the cat because he eats off a flat surface.

Also, she has a popcorn bowl set on the other side of the laundry room, full of ripped up newspaper for "cat litter".

This cat scatters bones all across the floor of the laundry room and then shits and pisses into the bowl.

At the end of the day, from what I've seen, she will come in, ignore the bones and rotting meat on the floor for quite some time and get a bag to empty the newspaper from the bowl. She'll then put this bag of shit into the trashcan or into a big black bag, where it's stored in one of our kitchen cabinets until I'm so grossed out, that I take HER CAT'S mess outside.

The food and the shitbowl is positioned RIGHT IN FRONT of our washing and drying machines where we run risk of dropping our fresh clean clothing from the dryer, right into cat piss and shit.

Honestly, I don't know how to approach her about it. It stinks up over half of our apartment and it's damn gross. I'm looking at piles of chicken and pork bones right now. Bits of meat are still on them, where they will surely rot and stink to hell and back. But she doesn't care.

...Help. I don't know how to communicate with her about it. She's perfectly happy with the way her cat is being handled.

Tea and Cake or Death · 04-25-2008, 08:33 PM

Well, you could try to write a note and leave it for her. Something like... "You know, your cat can get sick off of those old bones, and the mess that your cat makes could get all of us, including yourself, sick if not cleaned up after. So it would be nice for people and kitty alike if you could please step up more on your pet ownership responsibilities. "
Then bust out some ringworm info...

"Ringworm is also a common infection in domestic animals, especially farm animals, dogs and cats and even small pets like hamsters or guinea pigs. Humans can contract ringworm from these animals as humans are in close contact with them.
"
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a

KontanKarite · 04-25-2008, 08:45 PM

I'm thinking about getting this cat one of those big dog bowl feeding things. He's kind of a big cat.

If he ate from a bowl and didn't eat human food, about 60% of the gross animal problem would be solved.

I can understand the paper thing, being that she can't really afford litter or something... but it's on her to step up with keeping her cat cleaner.

Solumina · 04-25-2008, 09:17 PM

You could ask her to feed the cat in her room since that seems to be a big part of the problem and I cannot see how it would be something that she would object, as long as it is asked nicely (ie. hey I would really rather not have to maneuver around your cat's food when I do my laundry, do you think you could move his feeding area into your room?).

That and maybe you could talk to her about how the kittie's waste should be taken care of right away because that is unhealthy, again I stress that tact is key, you don't want her to feel like you have a problem with her or the cat or else she will just get resentful and defensive.

I hope things work out well for all of you

KontanKarite · 04-25-2008, 10:08 PM

I've actually tried that too. I think I'm going to do a load of laundry tomorrow and maybe bring it up to her again. :-/

Raptor · 04-26-2008, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

I'm thinking about getting this cat one of those big dog bowl feeding things. He's kind of a big cat.

That sounds like a good idea, should stop him pushing food around. Maybe suggest to her that she should buy it though? Say it would mean less cleaning for all.

And yeh if she moves the area to her room it will be a little further away from you and maybe sleeping in there will encourage her to clean up quicker too.

JCC · 04-26-2008, 04:45 AM

That's disgusting. If I was you, I probably would've moved out. :/

DeathToLems · 04-26-2008, 07:20 AM

First I thought you could maybe kidnap the cat *shifty eyes* take it to some area where there is loads of ppl and ask ppl if they were missing a cat, if not did they want one anyway. Then when room-girl asks where her cat is say "Oh maybe he died. I hear cats run away when they want to die, poor thing must have got sick from food poisoning or something, bless. May god be with you cat" *wipe imaginary tears away*

Then I thought to make it blatant that you was getting pissed off. Put up a big sign outside your house when shes not in "FREE CAT, ANY ONE WANT IT?"
Then tell her the story (read above)

But then I read that you was going to buy this cat a bowl for its food.
Aww you have such a kind heart. Yea I probably would do the same thing. BTW does it have a Kittie litter box or just the floor with paper?
Maybe (if you had the patience) you could teach this Kittie to use the toilet!
http://www.cleverlad.org/images/Doogie_Toil2.jpg

AngelikDemonik · 04-26-2008, 08:53 AM

This really wouldn't help you out in anyway, but only probably worsen the problem, but you could always throw rotting pieces of meat into her room, and see how much she likes it...

prophecyofdoom · 04-26-2008, 12:28 PM

I dealt with pretty much the same problem when I had a roomate. I loved this person, and loved her cats, but she did not clean up after them properly! The whole apartment smelled awful if I did not keep up on things myself. I talked to the person time and again about the joys of cleanliness, to no avail. I asked her if she wasn't embarrassed when people came over, and she said, I kid you not, "No, I just blame the mess on you." Then, when she saw the expression on my face, "Well when your people come over, just blame it all on me!"

I myself purchased a litter box (under two dollars) and I buy litter (also under two dollars for cheap shit) and scoop it every day to make it last a long time. It's really not so bad. It's a daily chore that takes less then three minutes and one cheapie bag of litter ought to last a month for one cat. When I came home from work, I'd just pick up all the paper plates and whatnot and throw it in the garbage. She stopped with the chicken bone mess when I asked her if she wasn't afraid the animals would choke on them and die if she didn't watch them while they ate it and then throw the remains right in the garbage, like I did. For me investing like five minutes a day to cleaning up her mess the house was fine. Oh, and I burn incense near the litter box also to get rid of the smell. Oh that roomate, much as I loved her, she pissed me off to no end. I was not allowed to smoke in the apartment, but her smelly litter boxes were just fine :s

prophecyofdoom · 04-26-2008, 12:28 PM

Oh and why the hell is Kontan eyeball sporked?

Stormtrooper of Death · 04-26-2008, 02:48 PM

It's a joke he is pulling.

prophecyofdoom · 04-26-2008, 08:52 PM

AAh. Got me! :P I thought he'd done something outrageously inappropriate & I missed it!

PhenomenalTranquility · 04-28-2008, 02:24 AM

Well, what are your apartment's condition? do you live in a high building where it would be dangerous/difficult for the cat to go outside and do his mess?

Tell your roomate that if it's her cat, she needs to take care of it so it won't disturb you. Like putting a litterbox outside of the room, or the balcony/corner-ish place. and you must buy scented litter...

for the chicken bones... she needs to clean that up right away. if I, in a troubling family can do it, so can she. I have my own pritave cat(which means I take care of it alone) and he sometimes likes to eat downstairs. whenever my mom feeds him leftovers aka chicken bones, and I put it in the trash bag the second I see it..

crucifix · 05-02-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

Problem:

Roommate has a cat. She feeds the cat on a paper plate and a tiny plastic tea cup for water. She alternates his food with hard and soft. She ALSO feeds him discarded chicken giblets with the bones in them. This, is put in our laundry room to get scattered about by the cat because he eats off a flat surface.

Also, she has a popcorn bowl set on the other side of the laundry room, full of ripped up newspaper for "cat litter".

This cat scatters bones all across the floor of the laundry room and then shits and pisses into the bowl.

At the end of the day, from what I've seen, she will come in, ignore the bones and rotting meat on the floor for quite some time and get a bag to empty the newspaper from the bowl. She'll then put this bag of shit into the trashcan or into a big black bag, where it's stored in one of our kitchen cabinets until I'm so grossed out, that I take HER CAT'S mess outside.

The food and the shitbowl is positioned RIGHT IN FRONT of our washing and drying machines where we run risk of dropping our fresh clean clothing from the dryer, right into cat piss and shit.

Honestly, I don't know how to approach her about it. It stinks up over half of our apartment and it's damn gross. I'm looking at piles of chicken and pork bones right now. Bits of meat are still on them, where they will surely rot and stink to hell and back. But she doesn't care.

...Help. I don't know how to communicate with her about it. She's perfectly happy with the way her cat is being handled.

I know how it feels. My roomates like to let their dogs shit and piss DAILY on the floor all over the house and do not clean it up for weeks on end. I just moved out yesterday back to my parents house because I couldn't stand it anymore. I am calling my landlord soon to try to deal with it. My one friend is a social worker and she said that having dried urine and feces on the floor, and more added daily, would make a child be removed and put in foster care if there was one living with us.

le_revenant · 05-02-2008, 09:24 AM

Yet another scenario that reminds me why I'm glad I don't have roomates anymore!

honeythorn · 05-02-2008, 10:09 AM

No offence Kontan, but if your friend cannot even afford some cheap cat litter , how does she afford vet bills for vaccinations? Even if the cat has had his jabs, not being able to afford some bog standard cat litter and a cheap plastic litter tray is a really poor show.

Also, you need to tell her that she really should not feed the cat chicken bones in particular, as they tend to be terribly brittle when cooked, and can easily splinter and get stuck/jabbed in the animals stomach, throat, teeth and mouth. If she wants to feed him actual meat such as chicken and pork, then she must remove it from the bones and put it in a dish. Throw ALL the bones away at once.

Sorry, I'm just flabbergasted that she doesn't ( from what you describe ) seem to be providing the absolute basics for hygenic cat care. A couple of cheap dishes ( from anywhere, ask your mom for a couple? or she can ask hers? ) for food and water, a cheap plastic tray and bog standard cat litter. I'm willing to bet you could get the lot for well under $15.

As for telling her? Don't beat about the bush and be all sugary about it, just tell her straight. Not nastily of course, just be plain and honest, like-

" Look, I'm sorry, I know you love your cat, and I like him as well, but all this shit, piss and leftover food is a serious health hazard for us and him. Someone's going to end up catching something nasty from all this bacteria, and it really doesn't take more than five minutes of your time to empty the litter box into an outside trashcan and throw bones away ( which he shouldn't be eating anyway ) , can you get it sorted because I'm really starting to have problems with it "

Just something in that vein should do it.

korinna5555 · 05-02-2008, 04:01 PM

First of all, while a raw-food diet is best for a cat, she is not feeding it quality meat, and keeping everything clean. THAT is gross.
Litter boxes are cheap, and so is litter. If she can't afford litter and proper food bowls, she really shouldn't have a cat. *steps off soapbox*

Just come out and tell her how disgusting you think it is that she doesn't clean up after her cat.
Is getting a new roommate and option?

Cicero · 05-02-2008, 08:52 PM

My roommate's dog was on his way out last year and was incontinent in just about every way... including his (literally) bloody diorrhea.

Lets just say even the most thorough steam cleaning job didn't fix that carpet up. And my nose is now immune to the smell of blood, piss and dog shit >_>

Your roommate needs to get her act together in looking after a cat. I put about 3 minutes of effort a day into looking after mine and our house is free of any kitty mess.