Potential environmental toxin (kitchen cabinet refinish) and cats with kidney disease

[DayshaG]

I was watching one of the recorded HA! webinars for pets with kidney disease from some years back and thought I'd post this (wasn't sure what best category, so medical disease challenge it is!) once the vet mentioned limiting exposure to toxins as much as possible. Last summer I had my kitchen updated with a new floor and counter top. The counter top was bad enough for me, Bella and Maya (I tried to keep the windows open as they had to do some touch-up sawing which resulted in a lot of fine particles in the air, yuck). During this period where my kitchen cabinets were removed and taken off-site to be re-painted, I made a decision after Bella's (and mine) stress levels were increasing and she started vomiting more frequently, to pause the update until this year. It was the right call. The contractor which is a small local business, returned all of my freshly painted cabinet doors wrapped neatly until they could return this year. In my mind, re-finishing meant sanding and painting my cabinets. I didn't expect the strong odor of chemicals that remained for almost a month. I was able to keep the cabinets in a room downstairs the cats do not go in. That won't be the case for 2 days in May when they will be back to work on the cabinetry attached to the wall. I had it explained after the fact that they clean, sand away the grain of my oak cabinets, apply some kind of stain/primer, and then the paint. I believe their goal is to not show any grain. Does anyone have any experience or tips with this as I am wondering whether to raise the conversation about the possibility of eliminating some of their steps or less layers maybe to reduce the odors emitted? They said they will be sealing off my area they will be working on and I picked May so to have the windows open for air flow, but now that I have experienced having just the doors returned, it took almost a month for them to not emit odor and I am concerned about their exposure. I have an appt coming up with my homeopathic vet if you also think this is a good thing to bring up. The kitties just turned 16 and have kidney disease early stage. Thanks!

 

[Dr. Christina]

Daysha,
Great question.
I will ask Amy todisco, who spoke for us, as she has www.greenlivingnow.com and leads "detoxify your home" classes.

For the month that you could smell the doors, was that just when you were in the kitchen, or was it your entire house?
If it was just the kitchen, maybe you could keep the cats out of the kitchen, and limit your time there, too.

Definitely a great idea to ask what they could do to minimize the odors and that you are fine with the grains showing. I would think old fashioned linseed oil may be all that is needed. I would check with very elderly carpenters for how they finished wood prior to all these chemicals.

Maybe we have some community members who might know.

In terms of the kitties, remember there are so many toxins in air and water that our goal is building health and vitality so they can live well in spite of toxics (if they are sensitive to them - not all would be). Minimizing toxins helps, but loving and doing all the things you know for mental and physical stimulation are even more important

Dr. Christina