melbaboutown

Yeah. I think you have hit burnout. Sorry for feeding into the urge to fix everything by posting recipes and stuff.

I think it really is time for outside help to be brought on board instead of just you (whether they like it or not) because often caregiving does all get demanded from one person and can turn monopolising and even abusive.

Maybe consider a caregiver support group even if you don’t continue at the previous level because caregiver burnout is a different beast. I never had any support or training but having either might have helped me look out for myself and recover better.

Thanks Spud.

It feels like the cat distribution system has glitched because it’s way too soon. I have no idea if I’d be able to keep him. I feel like I’m delaying my grief. And the ringworm thing/uncertainty are both sending my ocd crazy.

I just hope it works out ok 😔 I’m just trying my best

He’s been eating from her bowl that I couldn’t bring myself to remove and my thoughts are dominated by dealing with him so it feels like it’s overshadowing her 😢💔 I might remove her beds so I don’t have to see him use them. It’s all happening too fast.

I feel horrible. All I can say is that I saved her and did the best I could for her. And now all I can do is try to help him.

Goblin cat just came inside, checked out the back room, took one step onto the bed and tried to jump on a visitor’s lap 😳 He definitely is or was a pet.

I had laundry and other things that were moved into the back room (which I normally keep closed) so I’m going to be washing and sanitising all of that again plus the carpet in there. God I hope adequate food and parasite treatment helps his body kick this suspected ringworm on its own. Because the cream isn’t reliably applied and I can’t get the prescription pills. Trying to think if he’d let me sponge him with lime dip twice a week. Probably not.

The carpet foam is ok, o-phenylphenol… which is antifungal but I emptied the can on one application and that wasn’t even a full room. And phenol… that might be toxic to cats. Edit: Oh shit it is. It was dry when he walked on it but no more of that.

I’m just going to buy the Kmart steamer I can afford right now. It has good reviews at least. https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/kmart-anko-spot-cleaner

I just hope it has the ability to vacuum the water up repeatedly to dry it, or a strong vacuum so it doesn’t leave much. Really not wanting to overwet the carpet.

Thanks, I’ll see if I can find one for that

(Non-joking, serious answers please)

I’m considering a cheap carpet cleaner or steamer and going over options… Kmart has a multipurpose steam spot cleaner around $150 plus some other options and Bunnings and The Good Guys have options around the $200 mark. Which is maybe a doable savings goal.

Anyone have experience with using carpet cleaning machines in this price range? Were they terrible? Any advice or budget recs?

I’m tossing up between something shampooey to get rid of the stains and grubbiness and potentially using an antifungal cleaner/actual disinfectant in it to kill ringworm spores. Or maybe better something with steam to help kill the spores and also kill any future moth, flea, or bedbug infestations.

I was thinking of buying outright because hiring the Rug Doctor machine is such a hassle without a car, has a time pressure, and is $50 a pop when ringworm reinfestation is likely.

The little goblin man stopped by, distracting me from my photos of Melbcat.

I’ve started giving him the Smitten tuna mince cans from her leftover stash as they’re much higher quality than the pouches and he’s eating more eagerly with those. Having more food. His fur is definitely thickening up a bit and getting shiny with regular feeding and monthly spot ons but some bald spots remain.

I managed to smear some Canesten cream on his ears but I really had to work to do the second one (and then wiped the excess on his back under pretext of patting). I really wish you could explain to them.

The carpet foam is so scented. I have the doors open and the fans going.

Oh damn. Thanks for letting me know, I might finish this bottle but fork out for Canesten ~~if~~ when I get reinfected

Let me know how it is, I wanted some but don’t know how strong it smells.

Edit: Careful of the Exelpet though 😬(I just checked before because I was going to buy it.)

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/coles-and-woolworths-under-fire-for-selling-toxic-flea-spray-for-pets/news-story/303a9f71b968ea487b8f2a35088f241c

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/exelpet-fleaban-insecticidal-spray-for-cats-and-dogs

I went to Aldi. I didn’t get many things due to only bringing one bag and not wanting to hang around long. But I got some carpet sanitizer spray and my friend spotted bottles of laundry sanitizer rinse which is a big win.

Dettol brand is $20 for 2.5L and Aldi is $6.99 for 2L.

Edit: oof owie the Canesten I originally bought is $25 for 2L.

Ebay probably has it still. Get food grade, not the kind used for pools.

If you can’t find DE, silica gel dust is more powerful and you can get a rubber bulb for dusting it finely. It’s sold as Cimexa.

Beware though, it’s super fine so hangs in the air for ages and is an inhalation hazard. Wear *mask and avoid breathing it (silicosis).

Totally cool if you don’t want to use it

Envying the lack of carpet. If you wanted extra options to spray the house Sundew flea spray has imidacloprid instead of pyrethrins. So while the scent won’t be good for the cats it’s not outright toxic.

And I think it was Capstar that was instant knockdown for the adult fleas.