The TRUTH about how often people clean the box

andelawhi · Apr 13, 2007

I aways scooped at least once a day. Our only litter box is located in our bedroom, so if we didn't, we'd suffer when we were sleeping at night. We just bought a littermaid two weeks ago and the cats are still getting adjusted to it, so I don't leave it on all the time.

I dump and wash my litter pans every time I have to get a new container of litter, which is probably about every 3 weeks.

meow meow · Apr 13, 2007

Originally Posted by mybabyphx

I wonder how many other people out there are wondering what my cat's name is. I guess it never occured to me that PHX could be difficult to know over the internet cuz you never hear me say it outloud lol. I live in Arizona- almost in Phoenix so everyone here just knows what PHX is. LOL it would be funny to call him P--H--X spelled out and not Phoenix. hmmm

Also I just wanted to add in here that PHX actually does look like that face that I have in my signature. Even though that's not actually a picture of him

close enough. He's a siamese mix

I totally though your cat's name was P-H-X and I must admit I thought "who would name a cat that?" Now we know.

Many people have posted that their cat will "let them know" if the box isn't clean enough or if there isn't enough litter in it, etc... how exactly does a cat let you know this???

persi & alley · Apr 14, 2007

Originally Posted by meow meow

I am starting to believe that many people do not take the task of litterbox cleaning very seriously. Then, I am afraid, when inappropriate elimination problems arise, the cat is usually out of there.

Case in point. A friend of mine recently put down her 8 year old cat for peeing in the house (mostly the newly finished basement). She said they "tried everything" to get her to stop including a vet visit. Well, during the basement remodel I was over her house and she had put the litterpan in the kitchen temporarily. It was a small covered box that was full of poop. Definately more than a day or two days worth. It just makes me wonder how often she actually scooped.

Then we were over our neighbors. They too have a small covered litterpan for their cat. My daughter was playing in the basement and opened a door to the furnace room. Cat poop on the floor. My neighbor assumes that the cat must have gotten stuck in that room at some point. Now this is the neighbor that leaves her kitty home for a whole week alone without anyone checking on it or scooping (according to her the cat doesn't care if his box is clean or not). She is also the type that will give the cat the boot if he messes up.

Lastly, my dear cousin who said that she knows when she needs to scoop by the smell -- usually every four days or so. I very nicely told her don't ask for trouble -- scoop everyday. Would you like to step through your own waste when using the toilet? Would you like to use a toilet that hasn't been flushed in four days??

These three experiences tell me that many people don't understand that this simple step (daily scooping) is really essential to your cats well-being. Most people will say "of course I keep it clean" but you have to wonder what that means.

One other example is my SIL who cleans houses. The litterbox at one house just smells like urine even when scooped. She says it looks as though the box is about 10 years old and never gets completely emptied and washed (or better yet replaced). She did nicely suggest to the owners that a new box ($5) would probably really help with odors.

Just a rant

Click to expand...

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Thank you for your rant! I have been sitting here on TCS so long and Persi is staring at me right now and I assume it is because I have not cleaned their box out yet. I am going to go do that right now!

mzjazz2u · Apr 14, 2007

It happens. I knew someone who complained of their 3 cats peeing and pooping outside the box. When I had a chance to visit them for a few days (they lived pretty far away), I noticed only one litter box in the house that was packed full of waste. I tried to explain to them that they probably needed more then one litter box and they need to be scooped out daily. It went right over their heads.

deljo · Apr 15, 2007

I have two cats who use the same large covered box. I used to scoop twice a day but lately only once a day. I will admit the litter box smells now when before it didn't. I completely could change the litter once a month and wash the pan at that time. Now since I got lazy I need to completely change the litter and wash the box and its only been 2 wks. since I did it. There is never so many clumps that the cats can't use the box. But I think because they are sitting in there 24 hrs. the loose litter has picked up the smell. This is a good lesson for me. If I don't want to smell the litter clean it more ofte.

laureen227 · Apr 16, 2007

Originally Posted by meow meow

Many people have posted that their cat will "let them know" if the box isn't clean enough or if there isn't enough litter in it, etc... how exactly does a cat let you know this???

ummmmm.... they have a tendency to go elsewhere...

ozadars · Apr 16, 2007

Kurshad never digs and does his poop on the litter so I just take the poop when he does.

mybabyphx · Apr 16, 2007

Originally Posted by meow meow

I totally though your cat's name was P-H-X and I must admit I thought "who would name a cat that?" Now we know.

Many people have posted that their cat will "let them know" if the box isn't clean enough or if there isn't enough litter in it, etc... how exactly does a cat let you know this???

If I need to change my kitty litter- PHX will sit in front of the box and meow excessively and then I'll change it and then he'll cuddle up to me and meow that he's happy. If my cat is walking around the house meowing I know it's either #1 no water #2 no food #3 litter problems #4 bored and lonely If your cat is happy with what you do for them, they will let you know by how happy they seem to be. PHX (Phoenix) literally jumps into his kitty litter box before I have a chance to put it where it belongs- that's how happy he is with it

jenny1124 · Apr 16, 2007

I thought the cat's name was P-H-X too.. hehe.

I use the Booda Dome with Feline Pine pellets for Princess. The Feline Pine was.. and still is a bit confusing for me. If you don't know, when she urinates in it, the pellets turn to sawdust. Which is fine, but I never quite know if it needs changed. I mean, when I look at it with a mix of sawdust and pellets I always think it needs all new litter, but the bag says it should last two weeks, so I guess it doesn't..

With the litter box and the Feline Pine combined, I rarely ever smell anything. I use a disposable rubber glove and pick out her feces once a day, but then she is the only cat I have.

followedbydolls · Apr 17, 2007

I have 2 littermaids, that i check daily to ensure they are running properly and if they require new litter.

I am pretty pleased with the arm and hammer litter the super scoop? non scented, it works well with these litter bins and doesn't make me or the cats sneeze

I have no doubt though that dirty boxes lead to dirty habits

jellybella · Apr 17, 2007

I'll tell you another thing that keeps me cleaning the box. I can't totally keep those little buggers off my tables and countertops, not to mention my pillow...I don't need them tracking nasty clumped litter around on their feet!

I've also noticed that the clumps stay more intact if they're not digging around in them.

catsarebetter · Apr 17, 2007

Yes, they definitely do. I have very large litter boxes (and in fact, it was suggested to me to actually use storage containers, as opposed to traditional litter boxes), with a ton of litter in them... I try to keep at least 5 inches of litter in there and when I have enough cash to spend on the extra two or three containers of litter it takes (and don't get lazy about carting them all in the house) I try to keep it about 8 inches high. It makes scooping much easier when it doesn't stick.

rang_27 · Apr 17, 2007

I just saw this post, but to add my 2 cents. Having worked with a rescue for a while now. I think your exactly right. We often have cats brought to us for inappropriate elimination. We clean the boxes every day & never have a problem with these cats that supposedly "NOTHING" worked for. Then the go to a new home & magically no problems there either. It also makes me think. I have 4 cat & 3 boxes. I faithfully scoope those boxes 2 - 3 times a day and have never had a problem. I'm not saying all problems are a matter of dirty litter boxes, but I think there are things people can do to make the litter box more attractive to cats.

littleraven7726 · Apr 17, 2007

Originally Posted by Rang_27

I just saw this post, but to add my 2 cents. Having worked with a rescue for a while now. I think your exactly right. We often have cats brought to us for inappropriate elimination. We clean the boxes every day & never have a problem with these cats that supposedly "NOTHING" worked for. Then the go to a new home & magically no problems there either.

i totally agree. i worked at a shelter for a few years, and i would counsel people on the phone who were having problems. i can't believe the number of people who would have a story that went something like this:

the person has several cats with 1 or 2 boxes. that same person hasn't had the cat checked for a UTI. at the cats shots/annual check the vet said he/she was fine (usually several months previous). so then of course i would ask all of the standard litterbox questions. i still cannot believe how many people had scooping litter and scooped once a week or less than that!

i felt like

of COURSE kitty isn't using the box. it's a heaping pile of waste!

we experienced the same thing with cats who "didn't use the litterbox" at the shelter. 99% of the time they were fine as long as they had a clean box. i can count on one hand how many truly had behavioral problems.

lochnessmonster · Apr 17, 2007

If they poop then I scoop!
Its scooped at least twice a day. The thought of they walking over their own covered over poop, then jumping on my lap, is yucky. I usually do a complete change every 4 days or so and wash out the tray at the same time. I smell urine after about 4 days and I wouldnt like to use a dirty toilet so i dont see why they should have to!
My two sit and watch me wash out their tray and pour in lovely new litter then proceed to jump and roll in it, then both of them poop in it! Charming!!!

rang_27 · Apr 17, 2007

The best quote I ever heard went something like this,

"How much do you enjoy using dirty public bathrooms?"

xxtashaxx · Apr 17, 2007

thats terrible. i have to scoop at least twice a day. i have 8 cats sharing 5 boxs 1 cat who has his own in his room as he will not use one that another cat has used ( he has a lot of issues aswell) then i have one for anne and her babys. i wash them complety out every 2 days as i have to change the litter at the end of every day. iv tried just scooping like some have said here but some of mine wee so much it has to be all changed. the only time i dont scoop is if im out for the hole day with the children , then it gets done at night when i get back.

hareting · Apr 22, 2007

I've 2 cats and 2 huge litter box and I scoop daily or at the very most, every other day.

I've been trying to tell most of my friends that having 2 litter box is better as some of them prefer to pee in one and poo in one. ..but not everyone would listen.

once told my friend that if the litter box is not clean to their standard one of my cat would poo right next to it to make me understand that a dirty box is not tolerated..and my friend answer was "i'm lucky that my cats r happy with whatever they r offered" and what they offer is......2 cats, 1 box, scoop once a week.

i once go to catsit my friends cat cuz they r on vacation..and what i found is...the litter box is so full that basically the whole thing has clump into 1 big flat surface...it was totally impossible to scoop and I dump the entire litter...

huyi · Apr 22, 2007

eww, that's gross, how can people leave so much poop in the litter tray like that? their homes must stink a lot lol, i scoop her poop at least once a day and i even put those cat air fresheners in it to make it smell nice, my cat would notice if the litter tray is too dirty as she would give off a low groaning miaow so i would clean it up straight away, but man that's dam nasty

huyi · Apr 22, 2007

Originally Posted by hareting

i once go to catsit my friends cat cuz they r on vacation..and what i found is...the litter box is so full that basically the whole thing has clump into 1 big flat surface...it was totally impossible to scoop and I dump the entire litter...

eww that's extremely gross

The TRUTH about how often people clean the box

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