What's going on with me

[DreamerRose]

I don't think so. There are privacy laws. However, most welfare programs require that you submit an explanation each year about how you spent the money they gave you. Rent, food, clothing, etc.

 

[Willowy]

Ok, a few years ago, a friend lived with me briefly (she was going to move in permanently but ended up meeting a guy and getting married instead, lol). She's disabled and was on food stamps, so I looked into whether she would lose any benefits in a roommate situation. The idea if that if the household shares meals, then they shouldn't need food stamps. But if they make more than half their own meals, then they can still get food stamps. And since she made her own breakfast and lunch and we only shared dinner, she would have qualified.

They also want to make sure he isn't taking advantage of you. So it's good he's getting Meals on Wheels, because that proves he's getting his own and not taking yours.

So you aren't supposed to buy anything especially for him. But once it's in the house, nobody's going to check up on who's eating what.

But you should always reassure them that you're getting to use your benefits and he's not taking advantage.

With welfare/disability, you can only make a certain amount of money before losing benefits. So if he gives you substantial gifts I think that has to be counted and reported as income. But if he slips you a $20 every now and then, that's just Dad stuff .

 

[maggiedemi]

Would the Furminator take out clumps/mats on a long haired cat? Maggie has clumps of dried poop and hair and none of dad's trimmers will work in her long hair. I want to get these out before she goes to the vet Feb 22! So I have to get it shipped fast.

 

[maggiedemi]

Here's another one:
Electric Quiet Dog Hair Trimmer Set, Professional Rechargeable Cordless Cat Shaver and Low Noise Pet Grooming Kit Dog Hair Clippers Tool with Scissors Combs - Walmart.com

 

[susanm9006]

Would the Furminator take out clumps/mats on a long haired cat? Maggie has clumps of dried poop and hair and none of dad's trimmers will work in her long hair. I want to get these out before she goes to the vet Feb 22! So I have to get it shipped fast.

If the mats are very solid and close to the skin a furminator won’t get them out. You really need to snip or shave them out. If she is calm, quietly cutting out the mats is the easiest and least frightening for her. You just carefully take very tiny snips with the ends of a small scissors. Once the bulk of the mat is gone you can usually brush out the remainder.

 

[CatladyJan]

Is that legal though, to share the food with Dad? I got approved for food stamps, but they said I can't share the food with Dad.

Dad gets to keep his Meals on Wheels! Because of heart and mobility issues, his drop foot and because he walks with a cane. They will check again in 6 months. They said since he loves the meatloaf so much, he can order 2 and freeze one if he wants.

It's not illegal

 

[maggiedemi]

You just carefully take very tiny snips with the ends of a small scissors. Once the bulk of the mat is gone you can usually brush out the remainder.

Yes, they are very thick, solid, and very tight to the skin, so we are having trouble cutting them off. So just try to snip away at it with the end of the scissors? It's hard to hold her for very long, since she's still rather feral, but I can try.

 

[susanm9006]

Yes, they are very thick, solid, and very tight to the skin, so we are having trouble cutting them off. So just try to snip away at it with the end of the scissors? It's hard to hold her for very long, since she's still rather feral, but I can try.

If she won’t hold relatively still then forget trying to use the scissors. Too much danger of cutting her. Perhaps you can have the vet do her mats.

 

[maggiedemi]

Perhaps you can have the vet do her mats.

Yes, maybe the vet will have to do it. I just wanted her to be presentable for the vet. Ha! I do what I can, but they are so hard to take care of some times. They won't let me do anything.

It's 77 degrees in here, but I'm still so cold! Maybe I'm not eating enough protein, because I'm freezing.

 

[neely]

maybe the vet will have to do it. I just wanted her to be presentable for the vet. Ha! I do what I can, but they are so hard to take care of some times. They won't let me do anything.

I'm sure the vet will understand since you're not the only one who has difficulty grooming their cat. Vets have seen it all even cats with a dirty bum. Although what you might want to ask is if you can give Maggie a low dose of Gabapentin or something to relax her so that it's easier to hold and comb her.

It's 77 degrees in here, but I'm still so cold! Maybe I'm not eating enough protein, because I'm freezing.

Do you know if your house has the proper insulation? An R-13 to R-23 value is the usual recommendation. Maybe your dad or brother would know more. In the meantime, try to layer as much as possible. When it's really cold here I wear a tank top, turtleneck, sweat shirt and if I'm still cold a zipper hoodie. Warm drinks help too and I know you like coffee/tea. Yes, eating foods that are high in protein do increase your body temperature so it's worth trying. You might want to get a portable space heater to put in whatever room you're in. They range in price from about $25.00 up to $50.00.

 

[maggiedemi]

Do you know if your house has the proper insulation?

Heck if I know. It's a huge old house. My brothers have to remodel everything, Dad let this house fall down around us. But he couldn't really do much with mom's hoarding clutter everywhere anyway.

I hate wearing long sleeves because I have my hands in water constantly, cleaning and taking care of the cats. I bought some short sleeve sweatshirts. I'm thinking maybe I was cold because in the mornings I just sit around on the computer, then I get active after lunch doing chores. I warmed up as soon as I started working.

My Aunt told me to put Oil on Maggie's butt and back. She said it will take the clumps out. I can try it. I have olive oil and coconut oil. The coconut oil would probably be pasty though. Olive Oil would probably spread easier.

 

[susanm9006]

I would not use oil. If you put oil on the cat she is going to lick it and it can cause diarrhea or an upset stomach.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Just let the vet help with them. My vet was able to show me how to get Mooch’s out but my moms long hair girl needs help there at the vet from time to time when they get bad. Its less traumatic for her when we let someone with more experience do it. I think they have a groomer on staff now too.

 

[iPappy]

Yes, maybe the vet will have to do it. I just wanted her to be presentable for the vet. Ha! I do what I can, but they are so hard to take care of some times. They won't let me do anything.

It's 77 degrees in here, but I'm still so cold! Maybe I'm not eating enough protein, because I'm freezing.

I would let the vet do it. Depending on how she acts at the vet, they might want to mildly sedate her if she's upset, but I agree, don't use scissors on this area because the risk of cutting the skin is too great. Heck I'm a groomer approaching veteran status, and my own long haired cat went to the vets often with mats forming because he was old, delicate, and stressed out easily and HATED being brushed. Despite doing it for a living for years, I had a really hard time forcing him to be brushed because he hated it so much. When he was being treated at the vets, the techs would just sneak in and shave those mats out for me.

 

[maggiedemi]

My brother is trading my dad's standard truck for a Navy SUV that I can drive. He already bought it. I don't know how to get the pic from my phone to this site. But it's navy blue, it's really nice from what I can see in the pic. So dad can just bring me to the vet in the new SUV, my cousin won't have to take me. But she is still taking me to therapy on Thursday and we are going out to dinner before. She is picking me up around 4pm. Therapy is at 6pm. Dad won't drive at night anymore and I can't drive standard. New car won't be here until Friday.

Those butt wipes are kind of useless. They aren't taking off all the little balls of poo hair. Yuck! I still think a little bit of oil would help, but if you guys think not, then I won't.

Dad likes to keep busy. He took off the old rotten holey moldy tablecloth that mom would never let us change. The table is a beautiful wood underneath that nobody has seen for like 40 years. Dad cleaned it with pledge wipes. I guess we are just gonna use the wood, no tablecloth. Mom would never have allowed that!!! So slowly things are improving and we can make choices in our lives again...

Dad threw away all the old spices, probably 20 years old. But he threw away a ton of my spices too! He threw away my Carolina Reaper powder! Oh well, I can just buy more. Let him keep busy and enjoy himself.

I got the two cat cages, top loaders, washed for the vet. Man, they were so dirty from being in storage! Yuck!

 

[Jem]

I still think a little bit of oil would help, but if you guys think not, then I won't.

The thing about using oil to break down stuck on dirt/grime....or poo in this case. Is you need to let it sit for a bit, then you need to work it into the "dirt" to soften and break it down...then you need to wash/wipe it away. And on top of that you have the matts...even with softened matts...it still takes time and patience to slowly pick/comb away each matt bit by bit. Especially if they are all the way to the skin...and it won't be very comfortable, and possibly painful for kitty.
So here's a play by play...
Step one: generously apply and work oil and let sit for at least 10 minutes - hope that she doesn't go around sitting on anything leaving oil stains everywhere and also hope she doesn't just lick it all off where you have to start over. Not to mention that this could cause some tummy issues if she ingests too much.
Step two: apply more oil (if needed) and work it into the poo and matts. I'm sure she'll love this part!
Step three: Use a warm washcloth to wash poo oil mix away.
Step four: slowly, starting from the ends, comb out each matt...
Step five: wash your hands, arms and any exposed skin you had while doing this, grab some infection prevention ointment and band-aids to treat your wounds.


Just put away any thoughts of fixing this yourself and let the vet do it. Once she has a nicely shaved behind, you can maintain as the fur grows back.

 

[maggiedemi]

How often do you guys wash your sheets and blankets? I've been washing all the sheets, blankets, pillows, cat bedding, couch and chair covers once a month.

But is once a month often enough for the sheets? It's just easier to do everything once a month, because I have to wash dad's and the cats' stuff too. But I can do the sheets twice a month if that's better.

 

[Katie M]

I try to do it once a week. I don't like to use the machines here, so I do laundry at Mom's.

 

[iPappy]

I've heard once a week but I tend to do more like once a month. I don't have a back up set, so I can't just tear off the bed stuff and replace it before the other set is washed.
Does your washer have settings? Mine has a "Quick wash" setting that is really nice if things just need spruced up.

 

[susanm9006]

It’s really whatever works best for you. In the winter I may only change sheets every other week, summer weekly but I have three sets so I wash once or twice a month.