Various Litter Questions

bab-ush-niik · Jan 19, 2006

I wasn't sure what section to put this in. Feel free to move it. I just cleaned the litter box, and had a few litter related questions.

1) I've read a lot about the cat food issue recently, and I'm switching Puppy's dry food over to a brand with no by-products and less filler. One article said that he will poo less since there will be less filter. Will it be less stinky, too? He's the stinkiest cat I've owned!

2) I have a Booda Loo covered litterbox. It has a flap over the door. However, when Puppy uses it, about 50% of the time he covers his waste while his rear is sticking out the door. The end result is a small pile of litter gets kicked out of the open door. I don't want to punish him because he is trying. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?

3) I'm using litter box liners, but it makes it hard to scoop. I'm thinking about just ditching them. Does the litter box get too dirty without them?

nutmeg · Jan 19, 2006

what should i look for as food with no by products and less filler? Will it mean my cats will be hungry more often?

lionessrampant · Jan 19, 2006

1. Most likely, but it depends on how his body processes the food

2. Yes, you can purchase a litter mat. I have these in front of all of my litter boxes and my cts have no problems stepping on them. Sometimes, they are pokey and cats don't like stepping on that testure. But the one I use is soft and porous to catch litter.

3. Ditch them. Empty your box cmpletely and clean it with a bleach solution (1/20 bleach) and rinse and dry thoroughly every 2 weeks.

Nutmeg, no they won't be hungry more often. In fact, quite the opposite. They'll get the nutrition they need from less food. Where in teh area do you live? Perhaps I can point you in the direction of a store with high quality foods. I'm in the city proper, north side.

sharky · Jan 19, 2006

Originally Posted by bab-ush-niik

I wasn't sure what section to put this in. Feel free to move it. I just cleaned the litter box, and had a few litter related questions.

1) I've read a lot about the cat food issue recently, and I'm switching Puppy's dry food over to a brand with no by-products and less filler. One article said that he will poo less since there will be less filter. Will it be less stinky, too? He's the stinkiest cat I've owned!
Yes it will help alot ... canned will smell still but not as bad .... dry should give a huge improvement .... I am finding raw has very little at all..

2) I have a Booda Loo covered litterbox. It has a flap over the door. However, when Puppy uses it, about 50% of the time he covers his waste while his rear is sticking out the door. The end result is a small pile of litter gets kicked out of the open door. I don't want to punish him because he is trying. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?

try a deeper box

3) I'm using litter box liners, but it makes it hard to scoop. I'm thinking about just ditching them. Does the litter box get too dirty without them?

I never found those useful/// may I ask what type of litter your using

bab-ush-niik · Jan 19, 2006

I'm not sure a litter mat will help. He's not tracking it out on his feet. He's actually kicking it out, so there's a full pile in front of it. A litter mat would make it harder to sweep up the pile. I was wondering if there's something else wrong about my litter box setup that this is happening.

Nutmeg, go to www.peteducation.com and check out the articles on cat food. They cover pretty much everything. PetEducation.com is related to a pet store (DrsFosterSmith.com), but they do have really good information. It's the only pet store that gives correct information on reptile care, so I trust their cat care articles are equally correct. Their store sells quality products at reasonable prices, and the sales are excellent. I always stock up during sale time.

Thanks for the info lioness! I guess I'll have to go buy some bleach.

nutmeg · Jan 20, 2006

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

1. Most likely, but it depends on how his body processes the food

2. Yes, you can purchase a litter mat. I have these in front of all of my litter boxes and my cts have no problems stepping on them. Sometimes, they are pokey and cats don't like stepping on that testure. But the one I use is soft and porous to catch litter.

3. Ditch them. Empty your box cmpletely and clean it with a bleach solution (1/20 bleach) and rinse and dry thoroughly every 2 weeks.

Nutmeg, no they won't be hungry more often. In fact, quite the opposite. They'll get the nutrition they need from less food. Where in teh area do you live? Perhaps I can point you in the direction of a store with high quality foods. I'm in the city proper, north side.

bab-suh-niik, i live in the NW suburbs of Chicago, Palatine. I appreciate the help!

bab-ush-niik · Jan 20, 2006

Sharky,

I'm using generic Giant Eagle brand scoopable litter. It's really small grained, not much dust, and clumps very nicely. I don't think it has odor control in it. We bought air fresheners to take care of that.

Yeah, I'm really hoping the new dry food will take care of part of this problem. Raw diet is going to be too difficult for us, and we're going to have to continue with the less expensive canned food for now. I am watching the labels now though, so at least I get food that's 25% meat rather than 3%.

I thought this box was pretty deep, but I guess he's a tall cat. I'll see what else they have.

lionessrampant · Jan 20, 2006

Originally Posted by Nutmeg

i live in the NW suburbs of Chicago, Palatine. I appreciate the help!

I'll try to look for something. I'm from the SW burbs originally, so I know that area a lot better. My BF is out near Arlington Heights...I'll ask him

yosemite · Jan 20, 2006

I just last week bought a new litter pan for Bijou. It is a Booda ? too but it has a little ramp with wee bumps (stairlike) on one side that he goes up and then turns right into the litter so the litter is totally contained. Then to exit he has to walk down the ramp to get out and by the time he exits all the litter is off his feet and on the ramp which I vacuum up every weekend.

Before this pan I had a towel under the other litter box and there was litter all over the towel and the hardwood floors so I had to sweep up every night.

I do not use liners. After washing your litter pan spray it with Pam and the "stuff" comes out easier. I don't use Pam so I just put a bit of veggie oil on a paper towel and wipe the litter pan with that before filling it with the fresh litter.

bab-ush-niik · Jan 20, 2006

Thanks for the Pam idea; I'll do that too. I saw the other Booda box (it's like an igloo, right?) It's a little large for our space though. I'll have to get that one when we move.

yosemite · Jan 20, 2006

Originally Posted by bab-ush-niik

Thanks for the Pam idea; I'll do that too. I saw the other Booda box (it's like an igloo, right?) It's a little large for our space though. I'll have to get that one when we move.

That's the one. Funnily enough, it actually takes up about the same floor space as our old square covered litter box. It's taller by a little bit which we needed for Bijou as he's a growing boy.

In fact, that is why I got it as Bijou had to have his head sticking out the opening in the other box when he used it. Both kitties seem to love the new igloo shaped one since Mika's litter is hardly used any more and the new one is mega-full at the end of the day.

Various Litter Questions

bab-ush-niik

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nutmeg

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lionessrampant

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sharky

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bab-ush-niik

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nutmeg

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bab-ush-niik

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lionessrampant

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yosemite

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bab-ush-niik

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yosemite

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