We have an incontinent human AND an incontinent cat to deal with. I was going to take a waterproof queen size mattress pad ( Kohl’s, they are having big sales now, or Walmart, $20 for a twin) and sew up a couple of cushion cover for the chair for the human. I’ve seen this catalog recently http://www.surefit.net/shop/categories/sofa-loveseat-and-chair-slipcovers-furniture-throws/waterproof-furniture-cover.cfm?sku=40896 , they aren’t the most attractive slipcovers ever but the aggravation and time savings might make it worth it.
The cat was peeing on paper so since it made her happy I gave her a plastic bag with newspapers inside and added a layer about once a week then tossed the whole mess. We had her treated for a UTI and started the urinary diet ($33 a bag ouch!) and she was doing well, then she started again this past week. We’ve been giving her tons of attention and she has privacy to eat but for some reason she won’t use a communal litterbox and much prefers paper or cardboard. I am VERY thankful she isn’t much interested in upholstery or the bed. I had my favorite chair out in the barn for two months when the other cat was locked away from the litterbox and let go on it. Thankfully it was a wood frame with fat cushions and I was able to rinse out the seat and eventually rinse off the rest of it without ruining the finish but Lord what a headache.
I understand why people can’t keep an animal with those issues.
According to a source I read the primary reason elderly humans wind up in nursing homes is incontinence. Yes, you love them, you love them enough to house them such that the frustration of constantly cleaning and having to launder, or having to make the decision to throw away costly furniture, doesn’t affect your ability to be patient and loving. It’s not right to abuse an elder or an animal from frustration.
It’s OK to keep the cat in the bathroom with food, water and a clean litterbox, although I’d ask if you have tried the closed boxes that offer more privacy?
ETA went back and re-read all the posts. Yes, they’ll pee on plastic. BC the pee’er went in sinks, the toilet, in the fruit bowl on the counter, on black plastic bags, which we have in use in abundance in this house as dust covers, and it’s not fun to go pick it up and be spraying urine everywhere. Empty baskets. Not so much on clothing or other launderable items. We’ve gone to having to buy plastic boxes instead so that’s where the horse blankets have to go over summer, etc. I actually tried to encourage toilet peeing but with no great success.
I don’t watch TV but I’ve seen internet promos for the cat guy - sounds like something worth watching.
Good luck, you both need it!
