Bigger Litterbox?

Originally Posted by maherwoman

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.

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Well, being not so smart here the other day, I dumped out ALL of his old litter and just dumped in the new, UGH, I really shoulda known better, I was not so happy with myself after that smart move!

Originally Posted by babyharley

Well, being not so smart here the other day, I dumped out ALL of his old litter and just dumped in the new, UGH, I really shoulda known better, I was not so happy with myself after that smart move!

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Heehee....done that, too. I've had cats most of my life, until I had a particularly difficult one, and then didn't have them for about four years. Enough time had gone between that I've found myself doing things with my two babies, that I sit later and think, "oh, what a dork! I should have TOTALLY known that!!" I'm almost back in the swing of kitty things...but I think we all have our moments.

Anyway, I would try the Feline Pine again...it's really great, has quite a bit less smell, is easier to handle, and is just much better in general.

When we first got our kitten he was 6 weeks old so we got a teeny tiny litter tray and upgraded within a week because he was so messy, he is now 5 months old and we have had a giant one for about 2 months, so he's on his 3rd one. Thanksfully he isnt too fussy and as long as its in the same place, knows thats where he goes to the toilet.
This one is brilliant, it has a cover round the edges that curves in so that not as much can be spilled out, although there is still some spilage as he likes to get the litter between his paws and flick it around the room!
I'll try and take a photo of it when I get home, it might be a little cheaper than the little housey one, although that looks awesome. My cat loves hiding so much he'd probably spend all day in there!

Lauren

Originally Posted by maherwoman

Heehee....done that, too. I've had cats most of my life, until I had a particularly difficult one, and then didn't have them for about four years. Enough time had gone between that I've found myself doing things with my two babies, that I sit later and think, "oh, what a dork! I should have TOTALLY known that!!" I'm almost back in the swing of kitty things...but I think we all have our moments.

Anyway, I would try the Feline Pine again...it's really great, has quite a bit less smell, is easier to handle, and is just much better in general.

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I still have the bag of Feline Pine, I'm gonna start mixing it in with his regular litter, I just love the fact that Feline Pine is bigger pellets and sooo much easier to clean up! Although last night I did get a Swiffer Carpet Flicker and that is AMAZING on picking up the regular cat litter that was on the floor. I even spilled some on accident to try it out, Harley just looked at me like I was crazy!!

Originally Posted by babyharley

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??

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I hope it's OK to post this - Amitya was very helpful and posted links to photos when I asked about a plastic bin litterbox:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ight=litterbox

I'm still looking for a bin that's tall enough for my big guys but that isn't HUGE all around so it won't take 50 pounds of litter to fill to a good level.

Whatever box you get for Harley, it should be large enough for him to stand up and move around comfortably inside, without feeling cramped. He wouldn't want to have to hunch over while he's having a bowel movement.

We have a regular Booda dome and I love the way it looks, but petite Felixia is the only cat who'll use it because it's rather smalll. The Booda step dome looks neat, but I think it would still be too small for my bigger cats.

Thank you so very very much for your help with posting that post!

So with that Rubber Maid one with the hole in the top, they don't have a hard time jumping out or anything? That looks so great, I really like that!

Harley is getting too big for his litter box now, I really have to get something new fast!

I was at Shop Ko the other day and I found a box with higher sides, that kinda curve inwards that is a lot longer than the one he has now too, for $15, not a bad price anways, but I still think he will kick litter out--I realy think Im gonna have to go with the Rubber Maid one!

Originally Posted by babyharley

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??

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I don't have a pic of the litterbox I made, but I got the idea from this site I found when I went looking for a better litterbox than the one I had. It looked interesting, albiet pricey for what it was, and I figured I could make one myself for much cheaper. I think it ended up costing me about 7 dollars, and took about an hour to make. We've been using this kind for 2 years. (I remake it every so often) I thought Moses would be alot older before he was able to use it, so I had a regular box for him, but in less than one week, he started using the homemade one.



http://www.clevercatinnovations.com/...rbox_about.cfm

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.

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The favorite box in my house is a rubber-maid clone (steralite makes a cheaper version) - about the same dimensions as you described, followed by a box with a partial top cover (hole in top). The rest of my boxes are regular covered ones, or open trays covered by a wooden carpeted box with a hole in the side for them to crawl into.

Yes I would recommend a bigger box with sides even to control the litter throwing, I dont know why some cats make a mess and some dont? My little Murphy tosses litter everywhere!?!? But my Chichi is very tidy with her covering ups maybe its a boy thing?

Originally Posted by JulieAnne

I don't have a pic of the litterbox I made, but I got the idea from this site I found when I went looking for a better litterbox than the one I had. It looked interesting, albiet pricey for what it was, and I figured I could make one myself for much cheaper. I think it ended up costing me about 7 dollars, and took about an hour to make. We've been using this kind for 2 years. (I remake it every so often) I thought Moses would be alot older before he was able to use it, so I had a regular box for him, but in less than one week, he started using the homemade one.

http://www.clevercatinnovations.com/...rbox_about.cfm

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These look really great!! --but the cats don't have a problem getting out or anything?

Originally Posted by chichismom

Yes I would recommend a bigger box with sides even to control the litter throwing, I dont know why some cats make a mess and some dont? My little Murphy tosses litter everywhere!?!? But my Chichi is very tidy with her covering ups maybe its a boy thing?

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I think you're right, I think it might just be a boy thing!! My next kitten (hopefully!) will be a girl, maybe then she will be cleaner?

We have the one size litter box pretty much for their whole life. We have an extra large one in the cat room because it used to be a covered one, but that wasn't chosen on purpose. My cats are pretty good at not flicking litter everywhere.

Originally Posted by babyharley

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??

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Here's a thread I just opened for my handmade litterbox cover.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67258

Originally Posted by babyharley

These look really great!!

--but the cats don't have a problem getting out or anything?

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I just bought one of those about 2 weeks ago. I had to take the cover off at first until they started to use it then added it back on. They like this one!

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Here's a thread I just opened for my handmade litterbox cover.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67258

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WOW-that is amazing!! If I really had room for that, I would have John make me/Harley one!!

I really like the rubber maid ones with the wholes in the top, I just don't know if Harley is big enuf to jump in and out? I have a feeling he would get lazy and not want to jump back out again...

Harley is gorgeous BTW

Originally Posted by chichismom

Harley is gorgeous BTW

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Awww, well thank you very much, I will have to tell him tonite when I get home

Kisses, cuddles and headbutts from Harley to you!

Originally Posted by laureen227

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.

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Maybe she's getting ready to wire a network?

My cats have always kept the same box. I know my mother has had good success with the littermaid box because instead of scratching for entertainment Pumpkin would jump out and wait for the action! She also put thier other litter boxes inside the old dog kennel, but then space wasn't a problem.

babyharley -

None of my cats ever had a problem getting in and out of it. Moses took right to it at about 10 weeks old. He's a curious kitty, though. He saw his big brother getting in and out of it, and had to try it too. After that, he stopped using his own baby litter box.

Neither one of my cats are elderly, disabled or over 20 lbs. I think as long as they are healthy, not too heavy and you know they can jump as high as the container is, there wouldn't be a problem.

I never put it down without the top on it. I put it there, they jumped on it, smelled the litter inside, and just knew what to do.

Originally Posted by JulieAnne

babyharley -

None of my cats ever had a problem getting in and out of it. Moses took right to it at about 10 weeks old. He's a curious kitty, though. He saw his big brother getting in and out of it, and had to try it too. After that, he stopped using his own baby litter box.

Neither one of my cats are elderly, disabled or over 20 lbs. I think as long as they are healthy, not too heavy and you know they can jump as high as the container is, there wouldn't be a problem.

I never put it down without the top on it. I put it there, they jumped on it, smelled the litter inside, and just knew what to do.

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Great!!
Harley is as curious as they come I think...haha!

I do believe this weekend I'm going to go and get a rubber maid container and see if I can get something workin'!!

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR HELP AND ADVICE!!!