Booda Dome Litter Box

Does anyone have the Booda Dome Litter Box? I bought one, but I think it will be too big for my kitten when he comes to live with me at 8-1/2 weeks. So I also picked up a small plastic litter box with short sides to use in the beginning.

I just wondered if any kitties are using the Booda Dome with success?

I have one upstairs, mainlly for the use of my "rescue torti" Kasey; main litter boxes are in the basement.

Kasey is 8 to 10 years old with an old injury to her left, rear leg. She can walk fine, and run but can't jump or climb. However, she is a happy, indoor cat.

She certainly isn't a kitten but even with her mobility problems, she uses the Booda Dome quite easily.

I've got one. Starting using it when Harvey was about 3 months old with no problems. I really like and they seem to as well.

Eight and a half weeks is a little young, are you sure he can't stay with his mother until he's twelve weeks? It might ruin the whole gift idea, but it will benefit both your new kitten and you if he has a little longer with his mother (kitty mothers have things to teach their kittens, too).

By twelve weeks you'll find that he'll try to defy the laws of gravity, so to speak - up the sides of furniture, blankets hanging off the bed, maybe even curtains. So he'll maneuver a litter box just fine. I suggest you get him some kitty furniture early, just something smaller with a nice sisal rope wrapped post on it. This way you can direct him to that before he starts thinking furniture or carpet feels better under his claws.

Other tips - remove any ribbons, strings, eyes, buttons, etc from toys so he can't choke.

I have one that I've recently retired... too small...

No, I can't wait 4 additional weeks until I get Domino --- the family is delivering all the kittens to their new homes on Mother's Day. Of course, if he is not litter trained or eating properly, that will be another story. I do understand there are other socialization reasons to wait ... but if I want this kitten, I have to take him at 8-1/2 weeks.

Thanks for all your input regarding the Booda Dome.

Thank you for your help. I have kitten-proofed my apartment as best I can. What should I do about electrical cords? Should I spray them with bitter apple spray?

I am home all day and night, so I will be able to keep a close eye on Domino.

You might have to spray them.
Let him out and watch him.
If he tries to chew the cords then spray them.
There also is a special tape you can put on the cords but i can not remember the name of it.
My sister has a chewer and she is 3 years old.

Originally Posted by newkitten0309

No, I can't wait 4 additional weeks until I get Domino --- the family is delivering all the kittens to their new homes on Mother's Day. Of course, if he is not litter trained or eating properly, that will be another story. I do understand there are other socialization reasons to wait ... but if I want this kitten, I have to take him at 8-1/2 weeks.

Thanks for all your input regarding the Booda Dome.

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I have taken in kittens at 6-8 weeks and they have done ok as adult cats. The reason I had adopt young kittens was because I grew up a in rural community and my family hadn't adopted the kittens they would have probably been killed or dumped out in wooded areas. The kittens would sometimes bite and sctrach for awhile but after 4 months they calmed down in that area. I noticed in your posts and website that you are going to home with him a lot. I think that will help because you can house train and socialize him well. I wouldn't worry too much about him leaving his mother too early.

There are also special products like this for to secure cords.
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/h...uards-kit.html

Originally Posted by newkitten0309

No, I can't wait 4 additional weeks until I get Domino --- the family is delivering all the kittens to their new homes on Mother's Day. Of course, if he is not litter trained or eating properly, that will be another story. I do understand there are other socialization reasons to wait ... but if I want this kitten, I have to take him at 8-1/2 weeks.

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That's too bad. Do make sure you have a good wet kitten food for him and maybe even consider picking up some formula mix since most kittens aren't fully weaned yet at that age.

Unfortunately we do get people posting sometimes that think it's ok, or even proper, to take kittens and puppies home around 6-8 weeks. Often because they believe that their new pet won't be as cute a few weeks later or because they think that younger animals bond better. (not sure why anyone thinks that?)
Then later they may have feeding/digestive, biting, and scratching issues.

If you find yourself with the latter two being problems for you as your kitten gets older, another cat/kitten is a great solution. Plus with kitten season there will be a lot of cats needing homes.


I wouldn't worry about cords, honestly. Some cats are chewers and you do hear about them but a vast number aren't - you tend not to hear about those because they're not a problem. I've never had a cat seek out and chew cords.

Thanks for the info about the cord guards. I'll keep those in mind, in case I have a chewer.

I'll have to get some formula, as suggested. Will I need a bottle, or will this age kitten drink it from a bowl?

Originally Posted by newkitten0309

I'll have to get some formula, as suggested. Will I need a bottle, or will this age kitten drink it from a bowl?

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At that age you can mix it in with his wet food meals. It's mostly just to make sure he is getting enough nutrients and liquids (wet food goes a long way towards helping this, too).
I usually let kittens have it up to 12 weeks, if they want it. Smaller kittens that don't seem to be catching up with litter mates will get left on it longer.

Of course the most important thing is to get him in to see a vet. Since you know when you will have the kitten you could go ahead and make his first appointment to make sure he's healthy and get him ready for his kitten shots.

Okay, I called and made a vet appt for Domino ... he will go to the vet the day after he comes to live with me.

He will have a complete exam and also get his vaccinations started.

To begin, I am a great Booda fan. However, I began a fan years ago, when they had "box" type boxes. The walls were high and it was difficult for the urine, if sprayed, to reach the outside of the box. The charcoal filter through the top, fabulous! I had six cats at the time and I heard numerous times from visitors, "I can't believe you have cats! There's no litter box odor!"

With that being said, Booda is losing me as a fan. The dome shape boxes, it is easy for the urine, if sprayed, to seep outside the dome. There is very little worse than removing the lid to clean, only to find your hand wet with cat urine!!! The dome barely allows room for the cat to use the box.

In addition, if you are like me to where you actually physically wash the dome to ensure its cleanliness, you have to make sure you have a bag big enough because with the way the bottom of the dome is shaped, you are almost 100% certain to have litter overspill the edges of the bag. Whereas with the "box" shaped boxes, you could have the litter run out on corner of the box. With the dome, simply not possible.

Thus said, my recommendation, do not purchase the dome.

Colleen Smith