Nic! Glad to see you back! I see you have a good plan in place and now let's get going on it! I'm sorry kitty is peeing everywhere. They are funny creatures and do start and then stop behaviors for seemingly no reason. My cat is a tiny throw up machine!

I'm glad you can rent storage so economically. My last year in a storage spot was costing me $300 a month. I'd had the storage for years and years and then once I made the decision I couldn't keep it anymore, I found this website and I got to work! I put a lot of effort into not lamenting the wasted money and I got rid of everything in it. Some things were easier said than done yet I did it.

I've been working in my house for several years now with some very good progress. My bedroom is now acceptable and clean 90% of the time and I'm working toward the other spaces.

Let's do this! I believe in you and we are here to support you! One thing that has helped me is to eat right and stay hydrated when tackling these tasks. Makes all the difference in the world!!!

It sounds like you had already thought through my concerns and have a good plan and a good start!

I'm very glad you are checking for cat pee as you go!

What can we do to help you?

I'm wanting to move, and taking everything to the storage unit except what is essential. I plan to live in new apartment for 2-3 months with just bare bones. Table, bed, TV, dresser, etc...you get the idea. 10 outfits (it would be less, but my work wear and after work attire are very different and not interchangeable).

Then when I go back to look at all my things, I'll be used to living without so many things and it will be easier. I'm looking forward to experiencing life without being surrounded by everything. I have noticed I left some things at my family's home for awhile accidentally, then when I saw them again, I tossed almost all of them out. I had been without them 2 months, it wasn't a big deal anymore. I could tell what was actually important, and kept a couple keepsakes vs everything.

I already considered it and storage is definitely the best bet for me. I tried to avoid it because someone else mentioned it costing too much, but honestly, it's $30-60 a month for my sanity and relief. I regret not doing it sooner, I hate that I listened to my friend and put it off for so long. It has cost me a lot more than $30 a month in sanity alone. But it was what he wanted. $30 for one unit and $60 if I need the additional) I've already tossed anything with pee that couldn't be cleaned, and tossed a large amount of other items just to be rid of them. So I know I'm on the right track. I don't want any trace of pee anywhere so unless it's irreplaceable I don't want it in here.

I am renting the smallest unit they have and adding a second one if I need to, later on, if this one gets full of what I have here. That way I'm not paying for space that I'm not using yet. It is a 5 x 10 unit. I have taken over a few items so far, and even that was a huge relief. It's out of our way, and safe from pee.

Everything that is sorted is marked, and color coded. Anything taken that is not sorted is on a certain side of the unit, so I can keep things separate. I definitely don't want to just pile everything in and worry about it later. When its away from home, neatly in boxes, I can sort though it without the suffocating anxiety I feel when I'm surrounded by it in my personal space. I feel anxious and panicked and crash when it's in my kitchen or near my bed. I tested it out by taking things out to storage then sorting, I dumped way more items that way. I found it easier to breathe and toss things.

Yes I bought items in the past to sell and haven't bought anything in a long time. I sold 2 items, I really didn't have time to list more I was focused on boxing things up, the sale of the 2 small items covered 4 1/2 months of storage.

Nic, think about the cost of the storage space and the amount of money you are likely to recover selling the items - do you really think that you can sort through them and sell them fast enough to more than pay for the storage?

Because if you can't, you would be better off to donate the items and be done.

Maybe start by sorting through and throw out anything with cat pee that isn't both important and washable and box up the rest in boxes marked "sell", "donate", and "can't decide". You get the "can't decide" category to help you keep moving, but try not to use it if you can help it.

Get the donate boxes out as quickly as possible, and then when you are down to "sell" and "can't decide" figure out how big a storage space you would need and what it would cost.

Also, have you stopped bringing in items to sell? Because if not, moving things to storage will probably make your problems worse, not better.

Sorry to clarify, I moved in with the roommate two years ago, but my cat only started doing that a year ago.

I used to sell on ebay so I hoard things I could resell, also a lot of clothing, shoes, beauty products, items from my childhood.

I feel like renting a garbage bin and throwing everything in it without looking but I know I would freak out after.

My plan is to put as much as I can into storage, and live a normal life in my home. And go through a box at a time in storage selling or donating things as I go until it's manageable.

Yes I keep up with my cat's needs, he gets dry food, and sometimes wet food and treats, and fresh water. He has started to pee on things though and that is very problematic, because I get so discouraged when sorting and finding pee on something. Even when his litter box is spotless he will do it. He's healthy, the vet ruled out UTI or anything else, he learned it from a roommates cat from 2 years ago, who would pee on everything, since we have moved into a place of our own, he still does it. The only other thing according to the vet is anxiety. I'm wondering if all the clutter gives him anxiety or that my anxiety makes him nervous. And once it's cleaned up and I'm happier the pee will stop

Hey Nic glad you are here! The most active thread here is The Daily Chat, then What are you doing today. We are a fairly active group! Would love to help you get started, provide support, discuss ideas, celebrate, commiserate, etc.

What types of things do you hoard? What types of solutions have you considered? Are you able to keep up with litter box and make sure kitty has fresh good and water? Have you thought about where to start?

Welcome--we are here for you!

My hoarding has become worse than ever and I am suffocating in desperation.

I'm 30 and female. I feel like the last year I've been imprisoned by my things. I can't really date or have a life and sometimes I don't want to stay out for fear someone will get into my home and see everything.

I have a plan. But I don't know how well it will work out.

But I'm here, and trying.

I live alone in studio apartment with my cat, who I love dearly. I want so badly to have a life.