Bigger Litterbox?

babyharley · Oct 19, 2005

I was wondering if when your kittens get older, if you up graded their litter boxes to bigger ones? Right now I just have the standard size one for Harley, and he is getting so big so quickly that I was just curious as to if anyone up graded to bigger ones for their cats, or if the standard size is okay to stick with?

I am looking at getting a bigger one, WITH BIG SIDES...cuz he is having a big problem with getting his litter all over, even worse than before!

What kind of litter boxes does everyone here use?

laureen227 · Oct 19, 2005

it's the cat, not the box! i have littermaids, the automated boxes. never had a litter problem till Cable - i swear she's digging to China! she gets it everywhere...no one else does. you might try a covered box - that way there's only the opening where the litter can escape. i think, from what i've read, that this one is pretty sizable.

babyharley · Oct 19, 2005

WOW....I am in love with this!

I wonder if he would really like it, or if he would be afraid of it? This looks awesome, do you know of anyone that has one?

catwoman70 · Oct 19, 2005

I do! I go bigger plus I love to give them room and privacy.
Also, I have 2 since I have 5 cats! DOMES I love DOMES! LOL

babyharley · Oct 19, 2005

I think I might have to get one of these, are they returnable if he wont use it? He is SO picky about his litter and such! I got some new litter the other day (Feline Pine) or something like that, and it was the pellets, not actual litter, cuz I thought that would help with not getting it all over when he digs around and it would be MUCH easier to clean up, but he wouldn't use it! I had to wait until the next day (I got it at night and wasnt able to go get different stuff that night) until I got his same kind of litter b4 he would go to the bathroom again, he is FUSSY...so do you think he would have a problem adjusting to this kind of box?

I really want one of these--living in the apartment, having something that reduces the smell would be fabulous too...

laureen227 · Oct 19, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

I think I might have to get one of these, are they returnable if he wont use it? He is SO picky about his litter and such! I got some new litter the other day (Feline Pine) or something like that, and it was the pellets, not actual litter, cuz I thought that would help with not getting it all over when he digs around and it would be MUCH easier to clean up, but he wouldn't use it! I had to wait until the next day (I got it at night and wasnt able to go get different stuff that night) until I got his same kind of litter b4 he would go to the bathroom again, he is FUSSY...so do you think he would have a problem adjusting to this kind of box?

I really want one of these--living in the apartment, having something that reduces the smell would be fabulous too...

you'd have to check w/the store as to whether you could return it. but a lot of people seem to like that one. & i think the litter is more important to the cat than the container. i've changed to different boxes for mine before, & as long as the litter is the same, i haven't had any problems. when you get the new one, be sure not to use fresh litter, but use what's currently in his pan (minus lumps & poopies, of course!) & that way it should smell right to him.

maherwoman · Oct 19, 2005

It's true...depends on the cat. Believe me, he'll let you know if he doesn't like how small the one he's using is. I would say your idea of getting one with bigger sides (to solve the litter-going-over-the-sides thing) is a great idea.

We have to use two boxes, mainly because Hobbes likes to have one to pee in and one to poop in. It's strange, but I'm guessing he doesn't want to step in one to do the other, or some such. Funny, because he's REALLY not picky about anything else, but he will pee and poop galore all over the house if he doesn't have two prestine litterboxes. (He also doesn't like covered ones...picky picky! LOL!)

At any rate, the bigger sided one should be big enough. If you wind up with a cat over 15lbs, I would consider a larger one (larger than the average, I mean), but for now, it sounds like one with taller sides is just the ticket!

kai bengals · Oct 19, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

I was wondering if when your kittens get older, if you up graded their litter boxes to bigger ones? Right now I just have the standard size one for Harley, and he is getting so big so quickly that I was just curious as to if anyone up graded to bigger ones for their cats, or if the standard size is okay to stick with?

I am looking at getting a bigger one, WITH BIG SIDES...cuz he is having a big problem with getting his litter all over, even worse than before!

What kind of litter boxes does everyone here use?

This may or may not be an option for you, but...we used it when we had 2 bengals that were big and messy with their litter scratching. I went to the hardware store and bought a big rubber-maid container. It was about 3 feet long and 18 inches high. Tossed the lid out and poured the litter in.
Both of them took to it right away...they could dig and scratch to their hearts content..nothing escaped except for a few small pieces when they jumped out.
There is no cover with this option..so no privacy and you have to scoop regularly to keep the smell at bay.
On the up side, they are cheap...about $20.

babyharley · Oct 19, 2005

What great ideas!!

He is so fussy about so many different things, that I just want to make sure that I get something that he WILL like!

I really like the dome idea, I just want to make sure that he doesn't get any on the floor cuz the one that we are using now is just horrible! On my blue carpet, and that litter, cuz its gray/white, I can NEVER see it, until I go ahead and step on it and then of course I track it thru the apartment!!

babyharley · Oct 19, 2005

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

This may or may not be an option for you, but...we used it when we had 2 bengals that were big and messy with their litter scratching. I went to the hardware store and bought a big rubber-maid container. It was about 3 feet long and 18 inches high. Tossed the lid out and poured the litter in.
Both of them took to it right away...they could dig and scratch to their hearts content..nothing escaped except for a few small pieces when they jumped out.
There is no cover with this option..so no privacy and you have to scoop regularly to keep the smell at bay.
On the up side, they are cheap...about $20.

This would be great, the only problem is that I don't know if he could jump up into one of those? He might get tired of jumping into it and just go on the floor, haha.....he's only 4 months old, not big enuf to use a rubber-maid container? Unless I get one thats not so tall on the sides?

larke · Oct 20, 2005

It just strikes me that an energetic cat (like our newest one) will cover the steps with litter in no time and you'll still have a bunch trailing onto the floor...

stampit3d · Oct 20, 2005

We got a plastic storage container at Walmarts for under $10. It is about 16 x 20. We tossed the lid also, and hubby cut a section out of one side, part way down....to make easy access for Toby and Tedy. (Tedy can flick littler like all get out...and this has helped soooo much!)
Linda

ginger's mum · Oct 20, 2005

Our girl tries to hop out with as much litter stuck to her paws as possible! Sometimes even goes in and jumps out just so that she can have some litter to chase about the place. I've just changed to a covered box it the hope that it will reduce this.
Good luck with your puss.

amitya · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

This would be great, the only problem is that I don't know if he could jump up into one of those? He might get tired of jumping into it and just go on the floor, haha.....he's only 4 months old, not big enuf to use a rubber-maid container? Unless I get one thats not so tall on the sides?

I switched Peanut Butter to a rubbermaid container with lid when he was 3 months old-- he never flinched. LOVES it. Now i dont have to worry about much litter all over the floor. I think harley will be fine with one-- i would probably start out with a 18-20 gallon. We have a homeade 18 gallon one and it fits him perfectly-- although we are going to get a bigger size soon-- hes just getting sooo big-- ( BTW PB is about 6 months old now)

julieanne · Oct 20, 2005

I bought a rubbermaid container too, but I didn't throw the top away. I cut a hole in the top with a jigsaw 9in. in diameter and filed it with a fingernail file. I got some kitchen drawer liner (it's kind of sticky, little squares) and hot glued the liner to the top tucking the ends in through the hole so the cut part of the plastic would be covered and to knock the litter off their paws. Both my cats took right to it - and they can dig all they want and hardly any litter tracking.

ashleynicole · Oct 20, 2005

My BF has one of the Buddha domes, and loves it! He said the stairs really help with Mick tracking litter everywhere. I really want to get a pretty purple one for Marlee, but I just don't have the $40 to spend right now. I'm hoping my mom will decide to buy it for her GrandKitty soon.....

sandtigress · Oct 20, 2005

lol I'm trying to get my boys to do use a home-made top entry box like you guys are talking about, but I've got one of the smaller Booda domes, and even though its a tiny bit on the small side for them, they won't use the bigger one! Oh well, cats will be cats.

babyharley · Oct 20, 2005

I really want one of those domes, they look so nice!!

I think I might have to go and get a rubber-maid container and make one myself!

All of these ideas are just great, does anyone have any pics of their home made ones??

beckiboo · Oct 20, 2005

I have a rubbermaid box, and the first day I filled it with litter, it was sitting in the kitchen. Festus junped in, and rolled in it! She looked just like when the baby kittens just start learning about the litterbox, and think it is just a nice sandbox. She just rolled, and scratched at it a little, and rolled some more. Then she laid in there on her back for a while!

Mine all like it. But I have kind of a short one, so can't put the lid back on. I've also heard that they want the lid to be firm (if you are going to leave it on), so it doesn't wiggle when they jump up on it. I LOVE the idea of using kitchen liner on the lid to knock off all the litter!

maherwoman · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

I think I might have to get one of these, are they returnable if he wont use it? He is SO picky about his litter and such! I got some new litter the other day (Feline Pine) or something like that, and it was the pellets, not actual litter, cuz I thought that would help with not getting it all over when he digs around and it would be MUCH easier to clean up, but he wouldn't use it! I had to wait until the next day (I got it at night and wasnt able to go get different stuff that night) until I got his same kind of litter b4 he would go to the bathroom again, he is FUSSY...so do you think he would have a problem adjusting to this kind of box?

I really want one of these--living in the apartment, having something that reduces the smell would be fabulous too...

Yeah, when you get a new kind of litter, you need to mix it with the old, and gradually lessen the old in mixing until you eventually are just using the new kind, so they don't get a little shocked by the change. You start with it being 3 parts old kind to 1 part new...then gradually lessen the old each time. It's a pain, but kitty will use the new kind that way. Kinda gotta trick them like that.

Bigger Litterbox?

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