The advice thread for random problems #5

[littlepup]

Does anyone know how accurate the quotes are on price comparison websites for gas and electric? Octopus quoted me (on their website) about £100 a month. Every other provider is half that. I pay £85 per month now for a flat double the size.

The flat being double the size, unless you’re going from 8 bedrooms to 4 say won’t make much difference. You’ll still have the same fridge, washing, cooking, showers, hairdryer etc. It’s just a few less lamps maybe.
Gas will be higher if you’re heating a larger space but not a huge difference.
The estimate might assume, if you don’t input it, that more bedrooms = more people = more usage.

You can sort of work it out yourself. If the tariff is roughly the same as your current one but the estimates are way higher than your current bill it may be that you use less than they predict. If you just had a low fixed rate and will now pay more, you can see what it would have cost on the new tariff.

So you take your old bills and look at your annual usage in KWH. The energy provider will give you their energy tariff in £/KWH say 0.35p plus a daily standing charge say 50p. Use your previous year’s usage to see what it would have cost you. Same with the gas.

 

[Doodlebug005]

Hi Random problem incoming… Cat related - We have 2 outdoor cats that happily sleep and eat in a garden shed- it has a catflap and they can come and go- recently a younger black cat has appeared- it is fighting with my 10 year old tomcat- it can use the catflap and is eating my cats food- hubby saw it zoom out the catflap a couple of mornings- A lad owns a garage on our road but he doesn’t live there we think he may “own” the cat - a number of neighbours have rodent issues at the moment- we have neighbours of the travelling variety and their place is filthy- how to deter the cat from bothering my 2 ? we never see it by day

 

[littlepup]

Hi Random problem incoming… Cat related - We have 2 outdoor cats that happily sleep and eat in a garden shed- it has a catflap and they can come and go- recently a younger black cat has appeared- it is fighting with my 10 year old tomcat- it can use the catflap and is eating my cats food- hubby saw it zoom out the catflap a couple of mornings- A lad owns a garage on our road but he doesn’t live there we think he may “own” the cat - a number of neighbours have rodent issues at the moment- we have neighbours of the travelling variety and their place is filthy- how to deter the cat from bothering my 2 ? we never see it by day

They’re not particularly cheap but you can buy cat flaps with chip sensors, if yours wear collars, so only they can get in.

 

[Doodlebug005]

They’re not particularly cheap but you can buy cat flaps with chip sensors, if yours wear collars, so only they can get in.

I looked those up( Amazon) it says there is a slight delay opening the door- my 2 are 10- I wonder can you teach an old cat new tricks? I am going to remove their food at night - i think that is what the attraction it - I would feed it if my poor tomcat wasn’t getting hurt ( vets this week bite on paw)

 

[Captainmouse]

They’re not particularly cheap but you can buy cat flaps with chip sensors, if yours wear collars, so only they can get in.

Some will work with your micro chips

 

[Former_Antelopee]

They’re not particularly cheap but you can buy cat flaps with chip sensors, if yours wear collars, so only they can get in.

Or even the bowls that open with the chip. My cats have these I got them from FB mp but I also see the microchip cat flaps for sale second hand

 

[Doodlebug005]

Or even the bowls that open with the chip. My cats have these I got them from FB mp but I also see the microchip cat flaps for sale second hand

I’d rather he didn’t get near my cats space at all- if he could be scared away without hurting him that would be ideal- ( thought about putting hubby in the shed overnight with the garden hose - he would’t do it) might see if i can get a second hand catflap without paying full price for something my older two might not figure out

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I’d rather he didn’t get near my cats space at all- if he could be scared away without hurting him that would be ideal- ( thought about putting hubby in the shed overnight with the garden hose - he would’t do it) might see if i can get a second hand catflap without paying full price for something my older two might not figure out

Or could you feed them inside for a short time so the other cat gets used to the food not being there and maybe won't come back once it's back out

 

[Rodneytrotter]

Ive not been well for a few days, now I've got a really sore, stiff neck and headache. Would you go to the pharmacy for this? GP have no appointments free.

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Ive not been well for a few days, now I've got a really sore, stiff neck and headache. Would you go to the pharmacy for this? GP have no appointments free.

In my experience the GP will just say take paracetamol, have warm baths. Do you have a wheat bag or something you can warm and rest on your neck?.

 

[Rodneytrotter]

In my experience the GP will just say take paracetamol, have warm baths. Do you have a wheat bag or something you can warm and rest on your neck?.

Yes I'll put something on it. Ive taken paracetamol and ibuprofen. It's because I've been unwell, and now have a rash too on my hands so wasn't sure if they were linked.

 

[tomato_paste]

Yes I'll put something on it. Ive taken paracetamol and ibuprofen. It's because I've been unwell, and now have a rash too on my hands so wasn't sure if they were linked.

Might be meningitis, I'd call 111 at least to speak to someone.

 

[Rodneytrotter]

Might be meningitis, I'd call 111 at least to speak to someone.

Thanks, I did that and they told me to call my gp. They said to call again after 6.30pm. Trying to build up the strength to pick my kids up from school

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Hi Random problem incoming… Cat related - We have 2 outdoor cats that happily sleep and eat in a garden shed- it has a catflap and they can come and go- recently a younger black cat has appeared- it is fighting with my 10 year old tomcat- it can use the catflap and is eating my cats food- hubby saw it zoom out the catflap a couple of mornings- A lad owns a garage on our road but he doesn’t live there we think he may “own” the cat - a number of neighbours have rodent issues at the moment- we have neighbours of the travelling variety and their place is filthy- how to deter the cat from bothering my 2 ? we never see it by day

Get your cats neutered. That would solve two problems

 

[Doodlebug005]

Get your cats neutered. That would solve two problems

They are neutered- we got them from a rescue who neuter before rehoming- Neutered Toms will still defend their territory
The stray/ new cat probably isn’t but if it owned my the neighbour I think might own him- he is careless with his animals ( dogs chase livestock etc, not chipped ) so I doubt he will give cat any attention

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

They are neutered- we got them from a rescue who neuter before rehoming- Neutered Toms will still defend their territory
The stray/ new cat probably isn’t but if it owned my the neighbour I think might own him- he is careless with his animals ( dogs chase livestock etc, not chipped ) so I doubt he will give cat any attention

That’s strange. Once our cat was neutered he was left alone. Neutered males aren’t called Toms so that’s where my confusion came in.
Put a paper collar on the black cat asking the owners to contact you

 

[Doodlebug005]

That’s strange. Once our cat was neutered he was left alone. Neutered males aren’t called Toms so that’s where my confusion came in.
Put a paper collar on the black cat asking the owners to contact you

My apologies I always refer to him as a Tom! No point in contacting neighbour- we have called him several times when dogs were chasing farmers sheep etc “ ok ok ya ya will sort it out” …. saw them chasing calves this week🫣 he doesn’t care- the cat ( if his) is there to control vermin- will keep an eye- try and find out if it is his- if it’s not we will try to catch it and get it to a rescue. It is obviously hungry.

 

[Snippysnips]

I’d rather he didn’t get near my cats space at all- if he could be scared away without hurting him that would be ideal- ( thought about putting hubby in the shed overnight with the garden hose - he would’t do it) might see if i can get a second hand catflap without paying full price for something my older two might not figure out

It's not guaranteed but some don't like walking over mesh wire, you could maybe get some cheap an make a sort of border around the area which keeps your cats in their little zone an hopefully this one out, again though it's not guaranteed, some might just walk over it

 

[Doodlebug005]

It's not guaranteed but some don't like walking over mesh wire, you could maybe get some cheap an make a sort of border around the area which keeps your cats in their little zone an hopefully this one out, again though it's not guaranteed, some might just walk over it

Will try that thank you

 

[Bloody orange Hell]

That’s strange. Once our cat was neutered he was left alone. Neutered males aren’t called Toms so that’s where my confusion came in.
Put a paper collar on the black cat asking the owners to contact you

My cat who is neutered was being bullied by a local Tom. I caught the fuckcer halfway in the cat flap. I was sitting quietly in the kitchen. Heard the cat flap and turned to see this bloody cat coming in. He froze when he saw me and backed out.
I now have a catflap which reads microchips. I bought it from zooplus - they were cheapest at that time. After having to try to get rid of the smell of cat piss in my house from the Tom who obviously got into my house one time and sprayed downstairs, I’d say it is worth every penny.

eta my neighbours who owned the tomcat also didn’t care. I guess he did not spray their house just tried to mark other cats houses. What stopped him picking on my cat was me getting a dog. (Not because of that but it sorted the problem out)