|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 14, 2014 20:01:56 GMT -5
Scooped n swept this evening. Cat's follow up at vet went well. Changing food to one with some fiber, and continue low dose of laxative indefinitely.
|
|
|
Post by cyn on Nov 14, 2014 21:52:53 GMT -5
No cat poop on the floor, yippee! I know she's not ill, because she's still urinating in there. The only thing I can think of, is that I used to have the litter box under a shelving unit, and I removed it because I wanted that area cleaned up for when the repairman fixed my dryer. I never put it back, because it looks better without it. Maybe she feels insecure in the box, with it exposed? Which it isn't really, since it's tucked beside the washing machine, against a wall. But cats are cats, and she'll do as she pleases - I'd better get used to it, I know. I could put the shelf back, and see if that helps. Or not. IDK - a nice clean wall with an open box, or a scruffy shelf with a lidded box? Blech, to both.
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 15, 2014 8:17:54 GMT -5
Scooped and swept.
|
|
|
Post by cyn on Nov 15, 2014 10:05:30 GMT -5
Cleanbee, thank you so much for this thread! Now I know that I'd better add this to my daily routine, like first thing in the AM and last thing in the PM, if I want that clean floor. IDK why my cat's decided that only 1 poop in the litter is acceptable, but she has. I suppose she's telling me that she's on board with this anti-squaloring, and her box counts too? If I won't tolerate recycling on the counter, then she won't tolerate a poop either? Nothing out of place? OK, cat - you've got a deal! Thanks to cleanbee, I'm now accountable for this and I won't walk past the box without scooping it out: all day long, and into the night - a poop free zone, coming up.
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 15, 2014 17:36:57 GMT -5
You're welcome cyn. The daily scooping has really made such a difference for me, my house, and of course the cat!
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 15, 2014 18:30:42 GMT -5
cyn. While my cat never goes outside of the litterbox I can definitely sympathize with you on determining the right setup and the aesthetics (or lack of) that go along with it. My cat is 13 and I have just recently found the setup that works best for both of us. I've been scooping regularly for months now but the box has been moved here and there, I've experimented with different litters (Dr elseys clumping is working great), liner/no liner (found that 5 Inches deep of litter and no liner works best for us as long as I scoop daily) , lid/no lid, etc. A few weeks ago or so I moved the box to a dead space In the kitchen. I fought doing this for a long time because who wants it near the kitchen? But it makes scooping n sweeping convenient bc I can dump straight into the kitchen trash and then take the trash out, kind of killing two birds with one stone. I'm definitely not happy with making an already unattractive space with bad feng shui even less appealing, but what is most important right now is that the cat is happy with it and it is really convenient for me having it there, so that means the scooping is more likely to happen. I got great litterbox tips on dr Lisa Pierson's site: www.catinfo.org/?link=litterboxTake a look, maybe there is something there that will help you and others here.
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 16, 2014 8:53:22 GMT -5
Scooped and swept this morning. I might change out the litter today.
|
|
|
Post by yrwelcome on Nov 16, 2014 13:36:12 GMT -5
Hi Cleanbee and Cyn I scooped n swept , changed out the litter in the 2 litterpans yesterday. I use The World's Best Cat liter and no other! (lavender scented, multicat formula).... but there could *always* be something better! Cleanbee, I'll look for Dr Elseys and maybe give it a try. Thanks for the link to the tips, too. Yay for a poop free zone Cyn .... My 2 pans are in my office, where I spend a lot of time, so Its easy to stay on top of it.
|
|
|
Post by jendela on Nov 16, 2014 17:45:18 GMT -5
Hi yrwelcome and cleanbee, well done. I have swept today and checked litter, will change it in the next few days. Also refreshed cat water bowl. I am using two different litter products - an organic plant pellet base topped with recycled paper pellets, and the combination works well at keeping smells down and preventing too much dust. Both products are biodegradable and garden friendly, however there is just too much volume for me to consider trying to dispose in the yard so into the bin it goes. The odor control makes it easier for me to keep the tray clean. However, the website says that it shouldn't be used when dogs are around, as it is organic and 'may be consumed inadvertently'.
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 16, 2014 18:13:02 GMT -5
Good job changing out the litter yrwelcome! Wtg jendela on sweeping and checking ! I changed out the litter a while ago and while doing that disturbed A MOUSE that was hiding behind the box This is worrisome because just this week I came home to a dead mouse on the floor that one of the dogs or the cat killed ! I can't believe this, as neat as I have been keeping things. I have some traps, I guess I will set one up, ughhh i hate having to kill them. We have some live traps at work I suppose I could borrow one and try to rehome any that I catch.
|
|
|
Post by cyn on Nov 16, 2014 21:07:29 GMT -5
Cleanbee, thank you for the catinfo link - I got some great ideas from it, like using a plastic bin with a door cut out instead of the shallow pan (I sure have enough bins around here, rotfl) I added more litter, because it wasn't 4" deep as was recommended on the site. Scooped this AM before work, and it's still clean now. So's the floor, yay!
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 16, 2014 22:14:27 GMT -5
Hey cyn that's great I'm glad you found some helpful tips there! I've found keeping the litter 4-5 inches deep works really well! But Even with scooping daily I still find I need to change out the litter every couple months because the clumps sometimes break apart and leave smaller chunks that my scooper doesn't pick up ( I'm on the lookout for a scooper that has smaller openings which should solve that problem). I just browsed that site again and I'm going to do the tote with a door cut in the long side, too. I'm happy with my current box, but it has the opening on the top and that can be hard on older cats' joints. I'll have to put the opening facing the wall (with some space between the wall and the box) to keep the dogs from foraging. I scooped again this evening and sprayed the scooper with Clorox cleanup. Good job, everyone. Happy cats and litter boxes all around tonite
|
|
|
Post by larataylor on Nov 16, 2014 23:23:23 GMT -5
Scooped a few times today, when I noticed something. I'm resisting the sweeping thing. I want a dust buster, which I can't afford, of course. Or at least some little dustpans and brushes to keep near the boxes. I don't have enough of those … they're always ending up in basement or addition, and I really want them all over the place, so I always have one handy.
|
|
|
Post by cleanbee on Nov 17, 2014 7:47:16 GMT -5
Good job scooping several times larataylor. That's the most important part! I bet once that becomes very routine it will be easier to add In the sweep now and then. Ive thought about getting a DustBuster too but I already don't have a proper place to store all my brooms, mops, vacuums, etc and I don't want to add to the clutter, and of course the cost. For now what is working is keeping the brooom nearby and a dustpan with long handle that I got at the dollar store, so I don't have to lean down or squat to sweep.
|
|
|
Post by cyn on Nov 17, 2014 8:02:30 GMT -5
I think using the bin idea will cut down on the need to sweep, since the litter won't get flung out of the pan. At least, that's what I'm hoping, ha. I'm going to look for an old aluminum slotted spoon in a thrift store (or just bend a spatula) because my scooper is crappy too - it's way too flimsy to lift the larger clumps and that's why I'm getting the same problem, with smaller chunks being left behind. I always dumped my litter on garbage day! I had no idea you were supposed to leave it - but obviously that's the practical aspect of clumping litter. DUH! I feel silly
|
|