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sterlite tote question

post #1 of 24
11/26/10 at 1:11pm
Thread Starter 
I got a sterlite tote to use as a litterbox, and I'm wondering should I cut a hole in the side and keep the top on, or take the top off and let the cats try to jump in the box? They've never had a high-sided litterbox, so I don't know if they'll even comprehend jumping into this.
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post #2 of 24
11/26/10 at 1:15pm
All mine are top off, no cuts on front, and no problem!!
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post #3 of 24
11/26/10 at 1:49pm
i have a variety of these, some with the lid on with a hole cut out on top, some top off with a notch-hole cut on side. the latter seems to be preferred, even the smaller cats use it, they just sort of hop in and out, although this can cause problems if the box is already dirty :/

i had to cut the side-hole a little bigger and lower to get some of the cats to figure it out so i suggest cutting the hole form the top down so you can cut it lower if your cats have trouble figuring it out.
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post #4 of 24
11/26/10 at 2:08pm
Those are all I use, and have done so since as soon as my kitties were old enough to jump in. They have never had a problem. Just make sure they know that is where their litter is, and they will be good to go!
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post #5 of 24
11/26/10 at 2:28pm
No tops, no holes cut. Cats just hop in and hop out.

Queen Eva likes to tightrope-walk around the edges when I'm cleaning them.
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post #6 of 24
11/26/10 at 3:00pm
I don't care for the totes. Are we talking about the tall ones like 18 inches or so tall?

I like the low boxes because a cat can scope out where he wants to enter the box. Jumping in they land who knows where and in what? Yuk. Unless the box is next to a chair, they are flying blind, so to speak.

I have 7 seniors who use the Petmate Giant Box. The sides are higher than the normal box and it easily holds 40lbs of litter. I find the totes hard to clean as well. It is hypo allergenic and treated to repel bacteria.

But if you still go with the totes, definately....no tops.
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post #7 of 24
11/26/10 at 3:50pm
Tops off,BUT they HATE the totes that are not clear...Maybe cause I have so many cats they like to see whats going on.

I have at least one low side in all the areas just to be safe
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post #8 of 24
11/26/10 at 5:47pm
Depends on the cat. I used to have a couple tall ones that I left the lids on because I have cats that would, or couldn't, use them any other way.
Once I had just scooped a box and had the lid off..Sherman jumped in fine but he couldn't clear the sides on the jump out. He flipped the box full of litter over on top of himself.
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post #9 of 24
11/27/10 at 5:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Depends on the cat. I used to have a couple tall ones that I left the lids on because I have cats that would, or couldn't, use them any other way.
Once I had just scooped a box and had the lid off..Sherman jumped in fine but he couldn't clear the sides on the jump out. He flipped the box full of litter over on top of himself.
Well that is just the thing. I think boxes have come such a long way from even 5 years ago. IMO, you don't need to use totes. Just look around and there are many better ideas.

Even those boxes that are used for storage under beds are good. Large, yet accessable and easy for the cat to see in to make his entry.
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post #10 of 24
11/27/10 at 6:01am
Mazy loves, absolutely loves, her high sided (opaque but clear) tote box. When transitioning to safflower seed litter I had taken it away for a few days in the hopes she would adjust to the other boxes and she became very depressed.

Even when it is being washed, she will hold her pee or poop until that box is put down again.

It's a rubbermaid tote though and they don't make that style any more. The sterilite ones are narrower at the bottom so I am hesitant to try them, they don't have as much room.

The storage totes are much cheaper than any litter box designed in exactly the same way.
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post #11 of 24
11/27/10 at 6:12am
Depends on your cat and its ability to jump. If the cat is older, its best to have an easier access. IMO I'd go with the clear or more see thru ones if its on the deeper side.
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post #12 of 24
11/27/10 at 7:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post
Depends on your cat and its ability to jump. If the cat is older, its best to have an easier access. IMO I'd go with the clear or more see thru ones if its on the deeper side.
Oh yes. I do have low sided ones too, but none of my current gang are elderly. Tolly at 11 1/2 is senior, but has no arthritis trouble yet.

When Ootay got old and fragile she had a special tote with a low cut door for ease of getting in. I used the tote because she needed the sides of it to lean against to hold herself up long enough to poop.
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post #13 of 24
11/27/10 at 7:26am
Mine are open on top with no holes cut in the sides. All of my cats are at least seniors or getting close to that age and they prefer the high sided boxes over the ones that have lower sides. None have any problems jumping into the high sided boxes.
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post #14 of 24
11/27/10 at 7:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
No tops, no holes cut. Cats just hop in and hop out.

Queen Eva likes to tightrope-walk around the edges when I'm cleaning them.
My cats are adults now, so no problem stepping in. Squeak is a digger (hence the high sided box) and she will throw litter even with the big box, so no way would I cut holes in the sides. It seems like a cut hole on the side would defeat the purpose of the high box????
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post #15 of 24
11/27/10 at 9:10am
One regular jumbo cat box/ alternates with a 10 gallon tube( love this size and the ht for most cats)

One high sided 18 gallon

On lower sided tub


all get used by all 4 here
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post #16 of 24
11/27/10 at 10:50am
Does anyone else use aluminum roasting pans? Like what is used to roast a turkey? They cost about $3.00 each.

That's what they use at the shelter where all my cats came from. So all my cats were used to these pans. I like them because they are disposable - though I keep them a number of weeks and wash them. And if clean, they can be recycled.

The sides are high enough. I have the litter pans for 4 of them in the (unfinished) basement where I don't care so much about litter getting out of the pans. I have the pans on very big garbage bags. I still have to sweep up litter occasionally. Tonya's, in her room, is on big, black plastic "runner" sheets. They are easy to pick up and then pour the litter back in the pan. She's quite messy.

I only have 3 pans for 4 cats, and they are all in the basement (plus 1 for Tonya who is confined to 1 room). I know this is not the usual recommendation, but I never have any problems. I do scoop at least once a day.


Robin
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post #17 of 24
11/27/10 at 11:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
Does anyone else use aluminum roasting pans? Like what is used to roast a turkey? They cost about $3.00 each.

That's what they use at the shelter where all my cats came from. So all my cats were used to these pans. I like them because they are disposable - though I keep them a number of weeks and wash them. And if clean, they can be recycled.

The sides are high enough. I have the liter pans for 4 of them in the (unfinished) basement where I don't care so much about liter getting out of the pans. I have the pans on very big garbage bags. I still have to sweep up liter occasionally. Tonya's, in her room, is on big, black plastic "runner" sheets. They are easy to pick up and then pour the liter back in the pan. She's quite messy.

I only have 3 pans for 4 cats, and they are all in the basement (plus 1 for Tonya who is confined to 1 room). I know this is not the usual recommendation, but I never have any problems. I do scoop at least once a day.


Robin
I have used those in an emergency but it is far too $$$$ long tem.. when a tote is on sale 3-5 $ and usually lasts a yr
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post #18 of 24
11/27/10 at 7:02pm
^Petsmart is selling stainless steel pans (litter boxes) now for $30. They're basically the same large pans that you'd see being used in big buffet. I have no idea as to the quality of the ones Petsmart sells, though.

Quote:
Originally Posted by farleyv View Post
IMO, you don't need to use totes. Just look around and there are many better ideas.
I don't use large bins anymore as I do not use litter. They just wouldn't work.
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post #19 of 24
11/27/10 at 7:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharky View Post
I have used those in an emergency but it is far too $$$$ long tem.. when a tote is on sale 3-5 $ and usually lasts a yr
Well, I can see your point. But, I'm only spending about $12 on these pans every couple of months.


Robin
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post #20 of 24
11/27/10 at 7:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
Well, I can see your point. But, I'm only spending about $12 on these pans every couple of months.
Hey, you gotta do what works for you.
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post #21 of 24
11/27/10 at 8:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post

I don't use large bins anymore as I do not use litter. They just wouldn't work.
What are you using, again, strangewings? I'm sorry, but I have a hard time keeping up.

Thanks,

Robin
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post #22 of 24
11/27/10 at 11:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by farleyv View Post
I don't care for the totes. Are we talking about the tall ones like 18 inches or so tall?

I like the low boxes because a cat can scope out where he wants to enter the box. Jumping in they land who knows where and in what? Yuk. Unless the box is next to a chair, they are flying blind, so to speak. None of my cats fly in like that... All of them approach the box carefully, look inside to see where they will step, then step on the sides of it, and go inside. They know exactly where they are landing... They do jump out of it, but not in.

I have 7 seniors who use the Petmate Giant Box. The sides are higher than the normal box and it easily holds 40lbs of litter. I find the totes hard to clean as well. It is hypo allergenic and treated to repel bacteria. I also have one of these, and it is great... My rubbermaid Storage containers are treated with the same material (Microban), so it is equally anti-bacterial/anti/microbial.

But if you still go with the totes, definately....no tops.
..........................................
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post #23 of 24
11/28/10 at 3:15pm
I use a tote, top off, and she jumps in and out without a problem.
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post #24 of 24
11/28/10 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
What are you using, again, strangewings? I'm sorry, but I have a hard time keeping up.
Shallow sterilite boxes that leave around half an inch gap between them (at the bottoms) when stacked and safflower seeds - DIY smart cat box, since there's no way to purchase that around here. I cannot use clay, no hyperallergenic based litter (grain), or cedar/pine. So it was this or tidy cat breeze (at leat 4 of them).
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