Cat Lady In Squalid Conditions.

[Jennykenny]

I have just started volunteering to deliver library books to housebound people.
One elderly lady lives in a flat with her cat, where although there is an attempt at a litter tray, seems to use the living room indiscriminately. The rug in the middle of the room seemed to squelch underfoot.
The smell is horrendous, beyond belief. I couldn't actually breath at times, my eyes were streaming and I wanted to gag. She seems totally oblivious to it. I like cats and have had them for many years but never come across anything like this.
I have emailed the library supervisor, to no effect so far. No sure what to do next, but I know I can't ever go back into that place.
The lady mentioned at some point that she has a home help.
I understand the cat is company for her, but there is obviously health problems for both her and her animal.

[Jennykenny]

Will contact Social Services and let you know what happens. Just wanted to see if there were any alternatives - yes that's for you Ganesh. You don't need to be so snippy.

[black_cat51]

in all honesty, nor do you!

[woofgang]

If the "rules" are the same where you are Jenny, then Social services will ask if you have permission from her to discuss the lady and if you say no then they won't talk to you unless she is known to be not competent to decide or she is a risk to public health, not just her own or to visitors. If she is a public health risk then phone public health.

[2sp_]

Surely if she has a home help they would have picked up on any issues?

If the cat and the old lady seem happy, and the only issue is the smell, I would keep my nose out of it.

If you contact the R/SSPCA chances are they may remove the cat, and the old lady may suffer more from the loss than the smell.

If you fell that strongly about it, you could always offer to help change the litter tray for her.

[ganesh]

Not meaning to sound 'snippy' jk. it was just your remark saying 'I am no further on', after all the advice given, that sounded snippy.

[ganesh]

Also, the RSPCA will not just 'remove' the cat without good reason. More likely they would educate her about the dangers to the cat's and her own health. If the cat is generally in good health they probably wouldn't do anything at all other than advise. If they did it though you might be getting a better home for the cat and it would be less dangerous for the old lady. However, she probably needs to just be told what she must do in order to keep it.

[Prudie]

In my view if the RSPCA were even bothered going there they are just as likely to take the cat away and put it down (I don't support them anymore). Don't forget loads of people keep house cats that are never allowed out, don't let that part cloud your judgement.

[woofgang]

divebuddy, they don't have a duty to follow up and "reporting" counts as discussion.

[Prudie]

Isn't a home-help supplied by social services? Genuine question, I don't know.

[Jennykenny]

Can we stop now.

[wolf63]

Jenny ~ talk to the person who is in charge of the library deliveries, they will probably come to see you when they get your email. They should have guidance on what to do in this situation. Take it from there.

I hope that some solution is found where the old lady gets help and the cat gets improved toilet facilities.

:-)

[woofgang]

children and vulnerable older people have different rules.

[woofgang]

^^ for divebuddy

[woofgang]

why do you say that divebuddy? Is she being abused? Is there evidence in the post that she has severe dementia? I agree her lifestyle is not one that i would choose but that alone doesn't make her vulnerable. Until I retired, i worked in the NHS in the community supplying a rehab service to older people. Believe me, I know the story on what does and does not count as vulnerable or not competent....even then, so far as is possible, the lifestyle choice is left to the person. It stops being their choice at the point where there is a public health or safety risk, not a risk to the person or their visitors but to eg neighbours; or the person becomes so severely demented that they are adjudged not to be competent. Even then, if the person has a chosen lifestyle then every effort is made to support the person in that lifestyle.

[campbellking]

if this lady is deemed to have capacity to make her own decisions, and the cat is healthy, then you can report your concerns to social services, but she has every right to make her own choices, although it appears to everyone that these are the wrong ones.

[silliemillie]

Jenny, yes wait to see what the library people say, I am guessing someone in the authorities must know about her if she gets a home help and library visits.

But take no notice of any negative comments you are getting, at least you are sympathetic to her and her cats needs and want to do something, so many people just 'walk on by' and do nothing, that's why we so often read about older people getting into difficulties cos 'no one knew', when really it is 'no one cared'.

The home help must be useless.

Bless you for caring x