To not want to wash a filthy cat bed in our washing machine?

[PurpleCurtain]

We have a cat - or should I say, my husband has a cat as I'm not an animal person and therefore the agreement is that my husband looks after her and feeds her etc. She sleeps in our utility room, bed on top of our tumble dryer.

We also have a baby on the way imminently. I'm trying to ensure the house is suitably clean for baby's arrival - and asked DH when he last cleaned the cat bed. To be told, probably 9 months ago. I peered in to the cat's bed and it looks FILTHY.

It definitely needs washing but my instinct is I'm really reluctant to do it in our washing machine and follow it up with washing baby clothes etc - is this what others do?! Won't everything be forever covered in cat hair and potentially worse / our washing machine break?

Am I unreasonable to ask DH to take the cat bed down to the nearest launderette?!

@4fingerKitKat I know! I have a cat who likes to lick your hand but that’s not the same as choosing to ingest it! Get yerself a cup cover or a water squirter to discourage your cat. You’ve slipped into a bad habit there. There’s a reason you have to take antibiotics if a cat bites you. I’m your wake up call! #motheringastrangerontheinternet

I wash my rat’s bedding in my washing machine, generally with a load of jeans.

You're being very dramatic and not very nice.

We have cats and their beds get washed in the washing machine. Their bed aren't full of poo by the way!

I also have three children (all you get than the cats) and their baby clothes have all survived being washed in the same washing machine. The kids have survived too.

Just wash it, then run a hot wash with the machine empty and a bit of zoflora/dettol in it if you're that bothered. But the baby and the cat are going to be living in the house and you might need to lighten up a bit.

All younger not you get!

Buy a new one?

Unless it's a very good quality cat bed just buy a new one and throw it out. Then wash weekly or every two weeks in an old pillow case or something to catch the hair.

@Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden

Unless it's a very good quality cat bed just buy a new one and throw it out. Then wash weekly or every two weeks in an old pillow case or something to catch the hair.

Not the most environmentally approach??

I wouldn’t want to wash the cats bed in our washing machine. I’d buy a new one.

I would probably just buy a new bed and start from scratch. I wash our cat's bed about once a month in a pet bag on a 60 wash with dettol in it.

For what it's worth I don't think you're being ridiculous at all so I don't get why some posters are being so harsh. An unwashed cat bed for 9 months sounds gross. I'd definitely be getting your DH to sort it too.

That's what washing machines are meant for!

It will be fine. So will baby clothes, and anything else that goes through.

If you are particularly concerned, give your machine a clean (hot, no detergent) between the cats bed and the baby clothes.

Buy a new bed?

Just buy a new cat bed?

Or remove the hair before washing it and if that worried do an empty boil wash after.

Oh god, this has to be a joke thread surely???

If not @purplecurtain you are being utterly ridiculous and you need to get a huge grip before your baby arrives.

Washing cat poo...you do realise that there is poo on every pair of knickers/pants you wash right and that once baby arrives there will be poo and wee on pretty much everything they wear at at least 1 point.

How often do you clean your washing machine because not doing that regularly will be the cause of it breaking not cat poo or human hair

That poor cat. Washing the bed in the machine will be fine - you're presumably going to put your baby's dirty things with vomit and poo on them, aren't you? Without as much angst? The machine is designed to clean.

What a strange feeling of separation you have from the cat. Cats don't poo in their beds unless they're sick or incontinent.

Ask him to thoroughly hoover the cat bed first and then use a lint roller to get up any more hair that's left.

Wash it in the machine when you won't be using it again for a few hours. Allow the machine drum to dry (leave the door open) and then ask him to hoover out any loose fur from the drum before you wash the next load.

It'll be fine x

I brush off the fur then I hand wash my cat bed covers and hang dry outside. I don’t put in my washing machine or tumble dryer either.

What are you doing to do when the baby poos /wees /vomits?
The point of a washing machine is... It washes. Clue is right there in the name!
The cat will no more be pooing in the bed any more than you do in yours.

Dont be wet, high temp and a detergent like Dettol and you'll be fine. Cats and humans have co-existed for years with a bit of care.

Although if you really dont like the idea get your DH to take the bed to the launderette

That poor cat
I’m not sure what you’re looking for from this thread, OP, as it seems completely obvious that you either a) vacuum and then wash the cat bed, run a hot wash afterwards if you feel the need to, and then line the cat bed with a blanket going forward so it’s easier to wash regularly, or b) buy a new cat bed and then do the blanket lining thing. Perhaps you were hoping for everyone to tell you to get rid of the terrible filthy cat that you apparently dislike so much. But the majority of people understand that pets are part of the family, growing up with animals actually benefits children’s immune systems (as well as their ability to build empathy and compassion), and babies are far grubbier than a nice healthy cat. So maybe try having a bit more empathy for the sentient creature living in your home and relying on your family for everything, including love and affection. Your washing machine and your baby will be fine 🙄

@PurpleCurtain

Would you wash at 60? Higher? Lower? Haven't inspected too closely but looks like there is dirt in the bed - so over 9 months it doesn't seem impossible that that doesn't contain our or another cat's excrement (though may just be believing my mother!), but yes my own main concern is the volume of hairs.

For the record, I am nice to the cat - though consider her a pet not equivalent to a child, and sorry if that upsets anyone!

Seriously, just buy a new one and tell him to stop being such a crap owner

Would you wash at 60? Higher? Lower? Haven't inspected too closely but looks like there is dirt in the bed - so over 9 months it doesn't seem impossible that that doesn't contain our or another cat's excrement (though may just be believing my mother!), but yes my own main concern is the volume of hairs

I very much doubt there will be any excrement in the bed. Cats are fastidious at cleaning.
Lots of hair and dander but wouldn’t think anything else

I think you need to stop talking to your mother about pet stuff as she I am presuming is also not an animal lover so has no idea about cats and is just giving you wrong information and feeding your paranoia

If you think your washing machine is somehow going to regurgitate dirty water and somehow infect the next washing load then there is something wrong with the washing machine and you need a new one. Washing machines are designed to wash and remove dirt and drain it away with the dirty water, then rinse with clean water. Faced with projectile vomit and or a poonami explosion a few bits of cat hair isn’t anything

Buy a new bed.

If I were you I would also be checking with your Dh about how regularly he treats the Dcat for worms and fleas because that could cause a entirely different problem.

Buy a new bed

Yes if it’s that disgusting just buy a new one, and keep on top of washing it.

Fwiw o/p studies have shown children who have pets are less likely to have eczema, asthma and other auto immune/allergies. So that cat fur hanging around could help rather than harm your baby.

M