The House Smells

 One problem with having indoor-only cats is the smell!

I really try to keep on top of things, but at the moment, where I'm sitting smells like a wet dog! And I don't know why! I've cleaned where I think there was an accident, I've moved the cat bed from the area, but there is still a smell. I think I need to change the carpet tiles.

I try to keep things fresh. I really struggle with bad smells, whether from the cats, rotten food, or any other bad smell. 

This is what I do to keep things fresh.

I vacuum, sweep, and mop the floors daily. This is done on all the high-traffic areas. Once a week, I move out what furniture I can to do under them. 

I wipe down surfaces every day, sometimes a few times a day. I tried to keep the cats off the kitchen counters, but it hasn't worked, so before cooking, I wipe the countertops with very hot water, and a few times I use a mix of vinegar and water to spray the area. 

I try to wash the cat's bedding and the throw covers on the sofa. Anything that the cats have sat on or lain on gets washed. I think the problem with the smell might be the sofa covers. It's the rainy season, and it's hard to dry anything. Big things like throw covers are impossible to dry; they usually go moldy instead!

I open the windows to change the air. Even before having cats, I did this almost every day! Even in the very cold months! I like fresh air!

Keeping the litter trays fresh is something that I struggle with. I can't clean them at all. I've tried many times, but I end up throwing up. David does the litter tray cleaning, but not as often as I would like. I'll have to ask him to do it more often. 

We've been brushing the cats more, which has helped, as there isn't as much fur floating around! 

I'm looking for a good enzyme cleaner for accidents. I need something that will break down the urine at the molecular level so that the smell is destroyed!

Leave a comment if you have any other ideas!

Fluffy wants some water.

Sam is sitting on the clean laundry. I rewashed everything!

Sleepy Cats

 They are still moody but a bit better today.

Last night was crazy. So many fights, so much hissing and growling. I try not to get angry, but I'm tired and just want to sleep!

This has been the mood today!

My dining room table

They have taken over my table! Trying to get lunch or dinner out is crazy. I move the cats, wipe the table, go and get the food, only to find that some of the cats are back. Put the food down, move the cats again. This goes on for a while, and then the cats sit on the floor, staring at us as we eat. I can feel their accusations! I've disturbed them, how dare I?

Today I found Alan lying like this!

Flat out on his back!

I really hope they settle down tonight as I need sleep!

Moody Cats

 I've noticed over the past few days that our cats have been moody!  I'm not sure how else to describe their behavior!

There have been a lot more fights than usual, even the cats that are more laid back have been fighting. Also, a lot of random hissing at each other and at us! Even Fluffy hasn't been trying to get our food!

And some very sad faces!

Sam is looking very sad!

I know that cats are sensitive to change, but since we moved here 7 months ago, we haven't changed anything. The cats settled down very quickly. Actually, the move for the cats was a lot smoother than I thought it would be. I was prepared for a lot more fighting and marking of areas!  Since then, we haven't changed anything, same food, same water bowls, and same litter. The cats still have their cat tower and beds, so why acting out and looking so miserable?

When I thought about things, I realized that the cat's behavior mirrored my own. I'm feeling down, I'm having terrible headaches all the time, and generally snapping at everyone. I know that I feel like that because the rainy season has started, and the air pressure is very low. At the moment, it's about 964hPa; normal is about 1000hPa.  We moved to the foothills of a mountain range, the pressure is always slightly lower here, but with the rain, it's become even lower. 

I checked online about this, and apparently, cats are very sensitive to the air pressure. I think that is what is wrong with my cats, poor things. I have no idea what to do for them. I'm trying to be patient, keeping myself calm, and loving on them.  I hope the rain stops soon, but the rainy season is usually one month long!

black and orange cat meeting

Sam and Steve

Shedding

 It's that time of year when the cats start shedding their winter fur!

With nine cats, that's a lot of fur.

It gets everywhere, the floors are covered, the sofa and chairs, the bed, and the clean laundry usually has to be washed again.

To help with this problem, we try to brush the cats. The best is every day, but there just isn't enough time to do that!  We take turns with the cats. When they are settled, somebody will give them a good brushing. Most of the cats like it, Fred and Alan tolerate it, they let us know when they've had enough by biting at the brush!

Another thing that helps is vacuuming the floors. Most of the floors are wood. I gave up on carpet a long time ago! Most days, the floors get swept, vacuumed, and mopped. Missing one day is alright, but if I miss two days, I think I could make another cat from the amount of fur lying around!

The sofa has throw blankets on it, which get washed once a week. While they are drying, I go over the sofa with a lint roller. 

A lint roller is needed for all our clothes. Just before leaving the house, I try to go over my clothes, especially if I'm wearing dark clothes!

I complain about all the extra work I have to do, but the cats make me smile and keep me company. 

Just a few photos of cats being cute!

Sam is sleeping on the cat tower

Alan and Toast

Fluffy after some fish

On the carpet, 10 minutes after I moved it in!

This is one of the few carpets I have in the house. It's in the tatami room.

Fred

Cats Sleeping

 I came across an article talking about how the different ways cats sleep show something about your cat.

I looked back on photos of my cats to see if they sleep in these positions.

The Loaf

This is when the cats are lying with their feet tucked in. It's a restful position, but they are on alert.

Fred doing the loaf

Whenever my cats are like this, they look a lot bigger than they are.  I've noticed that sometimes their eyes are only half closed, so not 100% relaxed.

Curled Up

This seems to be one of the most popular ways for my cats to sleep, especially when it's cold. The colder it gets, the more the cats curl up together. It's also a way for the cats to protect themselves. Cats in the wild will sleep like this.

Sam totally curled up.

I can tell how cold it is by looking at the cats. When they are asleep like this, I know it's very cold.

Cold days!

Belly Up

This means that the cat feels safe and comfortable. I'm lucky in that my cats sleep like this a lot, especially in the summer. 

Fred belly up

We've even had them doing this at the same time. This was in the summer when it was very hot every day. Even though I had air conditioning on in the living room, the cats preferred the corridor to sleep!

Steve and Alan belly up

Sleeping On Their Side

This is a sign of deep relaxation; once they are asleep in this position, they are taking a long nap.

side sleeping

Then some ways might be unique to my cats!

Alfie and Fred, same position

Steve is on the box with the cat food in

squeezed into the smallest box available

Showing empathy to their humans!!!

Fussy Eaters

 Half of my cats have problems with crystals forming in their bladder or kidneys.

We found this out when both Steve and Alan were very little. 

I had no idea that cats could have this problem!  

Steve got sick first. He was constantly crying and stopped using the litter box. I noticed that he had blood in his pee, so we took him to the vets!  He had to stay for a few days, which cost a fortune!  

After he recovered, Alan got the same problem, another vet visit, and another load of money!

The second vet recommended a special cat food that stops this from happening!

Since then, we have been buying this food.

We buy it online as it's slightly cheaper than at the local shops!

This week, the delivery was late, so we got some food from the local shop, but the cats won't eat it!

I just put some of the other food for them, but they just sat and looked at the bowls. 

I checked the bowls still have food in them, and all the cats are sleeping, or sulking!!!

Steve

I guess if they are hungry enough, they'll eat it.

The other food arrived, so I think I'll mix the two together, see if that works!

 

Just A Few Photos

 I have so many photos of the cats on my phone!

Here are a few from the past week or so.

Alan moaning

He got treats, so went quiet, for a bit

Sam being cute

Steve loafing around

Snuggle time, Sam and Frodo

Alfie, he usually hides away

Mama, waiting for lunch

I need to figure out how to get videos of the cats. By the time I've found my phone and got the video recorder turned on, whatever they were doing has stopped! I will keep trying!