Cats and wondows (mould problem)

SavingPennies_2

Edit! Windows! not wondows..

Hi Guys

Two questions:

I keep getting recurring mould in my bathroom and I've now discovered it in the bedroom, its the cold side of the house which doesn't help and the heating doesn't work well in there, but I think the main problem is I hardly ever have the windows open since I got Puss.

One day I found her on perched on the 1 inch window frame upstairs and since then I rarely open the windows as im paranoid about her falling. What do you cat owners do about opening windows upstairs? People have said to me oh cats have good balance and 9 lives, but they do sometimes fall, I found that out when Puss was talking a walk around the edge of the bath one day and fell in :rotfl:

Also while im at it can mouldy furniture (veneer MDF not solid wood) be cleaned? I thought once it had mould in it would never really go away so im thinking I will have to chuck it. I'm feeling quite down about this, I can handle the cleaning but its the ruined furniture and clothes good job I love my Puss

shelly

There are companies that make mesh protection that you attach to the frame but you can do the same thing yourself much cheaper.
All you need is the mesh fabric and some velcro.

If you look at the slide show on this site you get the idea of what I mean http://www.flat-cats.co.uk/

Hope that helps

mummyroysof3

Can your windows not open just a little bit then lock at that place? Or open windows and shut door so cat can't get in that room for a while? Personally I've never not opened windows just cos of our cats though

mummyroysof3

My other suggestion would be a dehumidifier but depends if you can afford one. Ours was about £100 I think and is fab

SavingPennies_2

shelly wrote: »

There are companies that make mesh protection that you attach to the frame but you can do the same thing yourself much cheaper.
All you need is the mesh fabric and some velcro.

If you look at the slide show on this site you get the idea of what I mean http://www.flat-cats.co.uk/

Hope that helps

Thanks I will look into that, id certainly have a go at doing them myself.

Tiddlywinks

The mesh screens worry me - cats can be persistant and sneaky!

How about this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WINDOW-RESTRICTOR-SAFETY-LOCK-VENT-White-With-Key-Left-Right-Hand-Fitting-NEW-/200972391641

SavingPennies_2

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

My other suggestion would be a dehumidifier but depends if you can afford one. Ours was about £100 I think and is fab

Yes I looked into them and was surprised how much they were, however now im seeing how bad the problem is I think I might have to get one. When do you have yours on and do you find it stops all that condensation on the windows in the morning?

Regarding my windows, unfortunately they don't have a latch. I do open them and shut the door but it doesn't seem to have helped I don't like leaving them open for long while im not in the room or in bed as they open very wide so im worried about the security.

SavingPennies_2

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

The mesh screens worry me - cats can be persistant and sneaky!

How about this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WINDOW-RESTRICTOR-SAFETY-LOCK-VENT-White-With-Key-Left-Right-Hand-Fitting-NEW-/200972391641

Ah that's a clever idea, thanks.

mummyroysof3

Ours is on the whole time we are awake as its upstairs. I have been known to move it downstairs and run it overnight in winter when I've got wet clothes to dry too

manda1205

You can get child catches which will only let the window be open a fraction. Do you have upvc? As ours have a first catch so that the window can be open a touch but you can still shut the handle to lock the window, so this will still let air in, also you can put vents into upvc (if they don't already have them) its fairly simple to diy. I think you also need to look at why you are getting the mould as its not just a lack of air circulation/too much moisture, you need to heat the house too, if the house is not sustaining a regular warm temperature you will continue to get the mould, regardless of opening windows. Sorry just re-read about those rooms not getting heated properly, you should really look into fixing this to try and solve it.

SavingPennies_2

manda1205 - Thank you!!!!! I've just investigated and yes they have a catch that allows them to lock open about 1 cm! I feel a bit daft now for not knowing this! that is really helpful to know, they are all a crack open now and I will just leave them like that and see if it improves.

The front will always be a problem due to not getting any direct sunlight and the radiator is a bit rubbish but I couldn't afford to get this fixed. I'm getting a mini oil heater for the front bedroom to help with the problem and will be good come winter anyway as it gets cold in there. As a last resort might get a dehumidifier but they are so pricey.

thanks for all the helpful suggestions from everyone