HELP!!!!! w/litter box selection--new persian kitty mommy

I was an only child and always wanted a pet when I was younger but was never allowed because my mom knew the clean-up responsibility would be on her.  Now that I am a mom, I found that I had similar views of choosing not to be a pet owner due to the clean-up responsibility. My 11 y.o. has literally begged me for a cat since he was like 6 yrs old and I have finally got to the point where I am ready to give in.  I started seriously looking for a Persian cat about a year ago and actually made contact w/several breeders.  Fast forward to Nov. 2014 and my son and I literally found our puurrfect little Persian almost right in our back yard. I had planned on having to make several trips to meet with different breeders possibly out of state to find our dream cat.  That said, when we saw him, my son and I fell in love immediately and I didn't hesitate to put down the deposit.  Now herein lies the problem.  I haven't  actually brought my kitty home yet and am now in the process of trying to make my home ready and now I am COMPLETELY freaking out about which litter box system I should use for our new kitty. 

I LITERALLY just spent several hours reading and watching Amazon and YouTube videos about various self-cleaning litter boxes and now I can honestly say that I am more confused than ever.  I basically am looking for the most fuss-free, odor-free, sanitary and kitty-friendly litter system available.  And, just as soon as think I've found "the one" it turns out to have some MAJOR flaws in the end.  Some of the ones I looked at and am still considering are:  Omega Paw Self Cleaning, The Robot, Litter Genie, PetSafe Simply Clean Continuous, Breeze Cat Litter System, ScoopFree self-Cleaning plus others I can't think of right off the top of my head.  But I swear my head is spinning with the variables like to cover or not to cover?  Self-clumping or crystals?  Expensive or cheap?  Disposable or re-usable?  What's a new cat mommy to do????  Please HELP!!!!!  The kitty litter issue is the single-most reason why I never owned a cat up to this point.  I am TERRIFIED at the thought of kitty pee/poo smells in my 2 bedroom apt and can barely stand to look at my own poo let alone kitty poo.  There must be a middle ground solution to this.  I would appreciate if any other more experienced kitty parents have mastered the litter issue particularly for someone who is squeamish in that area.  I hope this doesn't mean that I won't be a good mommy because I have TONS of love to spoil my kitty with and he will be treated like royalty in my house, but I would be lying if I said that I am having cold feet due to this issue alone!

Having owned Persian cats for the past twenty five plus years. I have to tell you they are the hardest breed IMO to take care of very High maintance. They really need daily or at the least every other day combing. If you don't soon your Persian is going to have impossible to remove mats.Which can turn into a real health issue. Most have a finiky digestions and often have soft bowel movements and sometimes runny bowel movements. They often need their butts washed as feces tends to stick in their fur.And you have a mess if they have the runs!!! Many keep the fur around their bottoms cut shorter. its called a sanitary cut.. And this breed needs a monthly bath...They aren't suited to being outside they should be a inside kitty.

    Do feed what the breeder has been feeding if and when you want to change brands of food do it slowly mixing there old with the new brand...Milk is a big no as is fish types of cat foods. None of mine can tolerate fish gives them the runs the same day. And it gets messy.. Not trying to scare you off./ They are a loving gentle breed but they require alot of attention. Maybe more then your able to give...

Hello Gardenandcats,

Thank-you for commenting and for sharing your insider tips as I truly do appreciate any help I can get being a first-time Persian kitty mommy and all.  That said, I must stress that my issue is specifically tied to the litter issue and not their hair/daily grooming or feeding habits.  I would be curious as to how often you wash your Persian's rear end?  Also, do you have any comments/feedback on the most fuss-free/odor-free litter system currently available?   My son will be helping me with the cleanup but I know the brunt of the responsibility will fall on me.

For now, use whatever litter box and litter your breeder uses. This will help reduce the chance of accidents as your new kitten slowly gets ued to his new home. As your kitten gets older, you can change the litter box and/or type of litter if you wish. Here's a good web site written by a vet that has tips on litter boxes: http://catinfo.org/?link=litterbox

To reduce odor in the box, scoop daily and feed a high quality diet. A poor quality food can result in really smelly poop. You can post over in the nutrition forum for more help on the best diet to feed. Catinfo.org is also a good place to read about nutrition. A good clumping litter will also help. I personally use Scoop Away.

The Litter Genie isn't a litter box. It's like a Diaper Genie parents use to put dirty diapers in. It's really no big deal to scoop the clumps into a plastic shopping bag or something similar, tie the bag close, and toss into a trash can (like the kitchen trash can or outside trash can). Automatic litter boxes have a container that holds the clumps and you either empty the container into a trash can (or bag and then put into a trash can) or you toss the whole container and replace with a new one.

Your breeder should have very specific advice for many of your questions, and I would definitely follow it as they know their cats.  I'm quite sure they'll tell you to use the same litter, type of pan, and diet that they have been using.  Once you've settled in and figured out what you like and don't like, then you can make changes if you want.

I suggest that what you want to think about right now above all else is...KITTEN PROOFING. You didn't actually say if you were getting a kitten or an adult, and of course Persians are pretty mellow, but all the same you want to make sure that potential cat toxins are not accessible (including many houseplants), cords and electrical outlets covered or tacked down, dangling strings tied up and out of the way, etc.  And you'll want to get yourself a scratching post, a cat perch or tree, and some toys as well as the complete set of grooming tools.  Again, your breeder should have a shopping list for you and very specific tips.  For example, I got my Siberians from a breeder, and they had very specific and somewhat unusual recommendations for feeding, oral care etc.  All of which were right on the money, and I still ask for advice every so often.

I use Dr. Elsey's clumping litter and a large, uncovered litterbox with high sides. I read the litter page on catinfo.org very carefully and followed all of the instructions. I scoop the box at least twice a day, and rarely change the litter fully. I dump it out every few weeks and disinfect the box, but I refill it with the same used litter. I keep the litter at least six inches deep, so nothing ever hits the bottom of the box. I keep a box of disinfecting wipes next to the litterbox and disinfect the sides of the box if any litter ever clumps on them. I disinfect the scoop a couple of times a week with the same wipes. Between that and the clumping, all of the "used" litter is removed every time I scoop, so what remains does not smell at all (trust me, I would not have a cat if he made my house smelly or dirty). I considered a covered box, but I figured it would be harder to keep clean.

Switching to raw made the stools very firm and very small. They have almost no smell after they leave the cat :-) They leave no residue on him, so I don't have to wash his bottom anymore. Both of us are much happier.

I am squeamish and particular about cleanliness, so I understand your concerns. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

I know I am late responding to this, but I wanted to thank-you for sharing your litter box routine and for the suggestions you made.  Just as a little update, I've had my new baby for a little over a month now and loving every minute!  I now know that my litter box fears were all completely unjustified.  My baby is so clean, never has accidents and the litter box area rarely has a smell.  I make my 11 y.o. son clean the box several times daily and we use the Litter Genie to keep odor away and that seems to be working for us.  I am still experimenting with different types of litter though.  The breeder had him on a natural clay litter and I recently switched him to the Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal which I do like but don't like the way it tracks.  Also, there are times when I can detect a smell but it is never overpowering.  I keep Febreeze scented oil warmers near the box which helps out a bit also.  But other than that, everything is going great so far!  Thanks again!

i have 2 cats and i know that the best littler boxes you are going to find are at pet smart.About the cover on the littler box i dont think you should do that because cats will get bigger and most likely wont be able to fit in it. i suggest self clumping because it easier to clean up. BTW a brand of cat litter i HIGHLY suggest is Fresh Step. hope i helped! good luck!

I don't have the best sense od smell so I'm a bit paranoid about keeping things clean. I use Walmart's special kitty unscented litter and mix in baking soda. It has the same effect as the arm and hammer litter but for half the price. I scoop twice a day and keep the leavings in a litter locker until I have enough for the garbage.

Woed of caution with long haired kitties. Watch out for cling-ons!

Yup, gotta watch those cling-ons!  I regularly comb the business end of my cats and that works well to prevent them - much less scary for kitty and less involved than a sanitary shave.

If your Persian kitten is a digger, you might consider a Sterilite storage bin with a door cut in the side.  I personally think the litter boxes in pet stores are ridiculously small and overpriced, and high sides are the best defense against tracking and litter scatter.   And while you're at Home Depot spending the $8 on the bin, pick up a piece of plush or sisal outdoor carpet for a litter mat.  These work better than any litter mat I've tried, which also are crazy overpriced.

And congratulations on your new kitten!!  Post a photo please!