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Post by blossoming on Jun 5, 2010 7:02:57 GMT -5
okay. i don't know if this is really THE secret, but it seems to be a pretty big deal as far as i can figure it out. i've never had a cat box before and was NOT looking forward to the idea of it. but, what seems to have made as much difference as scooping daily (sometimes twice) is this: changing the litter and hosing down the box weekly. if i continue to have an indoor cat, i know i will be changing the litter weekly for the rest of my life.  . seriously. even if i can't keep up with the hosing it out. i have had jobs where i changed others' cat litter boxes before. no matter how hard you try and no matter what the kind of cat litter, there will always be stuff you can't get out. i know that folks not scooping often is an issue with odor, but i'm realizing now that the leave behinds that you can't ever truly remove and not changing the litter enough can also be a serious culprit. yes, it means more litter. but for real, it makes a difference. what i have been doing is not putting as much litter in there in teh first place. there is plenty, but not tons. so i'm not wasting each week. and even if i was......geeez....better that than the alternative. |
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Post by Script on Jun 5, 2010 7:09:41 GMT -5
Dear Blossom:
I would like to add a related experience.
The secret to outdoor garbage pails in general: hose them out occasionally. I was on foot the other day, walking on a sidewalk in my area [nice homes]. The garbage truck had JUST gone by. All the big trash bins were empty and OPEN. The stench from some of the bins was pretty awful [oxymoron]. And the bins were empty!!!!
thanks for sharing your words of wisdom
luv from script
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Post by blossoming on Jun 5, 2010 11:18:12 GMT -5
hiho script  that is so true about garbage bins. |
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Post by phoebepj on Jun 5, 2010 15:33:32 GMT -5
IMO - they make disposable litter pans - they are slightly more expensive than just the litter and the box.. but imo also more sanitary because you can dispose of them easy. I'm trying a new method for my apartment myself...
I'm throwing it out.. i'm not even gonna try to change the litter. If i can manage to get those disposable litter pans, then great, but i'm trying just getting a regular plastic litter pan and tossing it, litter and all (when its full) into the garbage.
There are ways to save on costs with this instead of paying 99 cents for a plastic litter box.. why not get a turkey roasting pan, or a large party baking pan (you know the kind made of foil that are disposable - and usually come in packs of 5 or so)... getting litter, and then just disposing of the whole thing when its sufficiently used.
I find i dont change the box enough to really care whether i have to dispose of it enough. its a whole lot better than trying to scrub, dealing with spilt dirty litter.. etc.
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Post by messymimi on Jun 5, 2010 17:56:39 GMT -5
Yes, washing them more often would definitely help at my house. Thanks for the reminder.
messymimi
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Post by Chris on Jun 5, 2010 20:15:22 GMT -5
I didn't used to be a fan of the clumping cat litter but now I won't go back. I like Fresh Step Multiple Cat formula so much .... And you're right, changing it out completely helps a lot as does cleaning the box. I don't have to clean it weekly with this brand of litter but I do a complete change monthly + things are staying so clean and good smelling with this stuff. |
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Post by notsomessyshell on Jun 5, 2010 21:53:36 GMT -5
Contemplating switching to the pine litter. I have a lot of customers who swear by it. Currently we use the litter with activated charcoal to keep it from smelling so icky.
I agree with cleaning it out, I only add that cleaning it out with the enzymatic cleaners really does get the odor out. We empty the litter out and use and old toilet brush to clean it with. Spray on the cleaner and let it sit for a little while, scrub and rinse.
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Post by DJ on Jun 6, 2010 2:12:43 GMT -5
i've switched to "The World's Best Cat Litter" it has worked out fairly well for me. the downside is i am only changing the litter out once a month but even with that the litter boxes really aren't smelling bad.....
i scoop once or twice a day
after i scoop i sprinkle baking soda on the litter
once a month i toss all the litter
spray the box with an enzyme cleaner
let it sit
scrub it out
lightly bleach it. rinse it out. refill...
it's suiting both me and my cats and our pet sitter was pretty impressed with the results.. our 5 cat 5 ferret household doesn't have reeking litterboxes. hallelujah...
i've also found it hugely helpful to spray the whole area around the litterbox with enzyme cleaner. the smell will start to sink into woodwork, walls, anything around it in my experience... so thoroughly cleaning the whole bathroom area is a must for me....
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Post by glimmercat on Jun 6, 2010 3:44:23 GMT -5
messyshell, a word of advice about the Feline Pine-type litters. They do smell terrific (like a walk through the woods, not at all like the typical clay litter smell)! But depending on which brand/type you get, you may end up with "sawdust" all over the place. Being like sawdust in texture, it tends to cling to fur/paws much more than clay litter does, in my experience. Also, it may take some time for your cat(s) to adjust to the different texture. My Schmutzi really doesn't like it, so unfortunately, we're sticking with the decidedly un-environmental clumping litter for now.  meow |
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Post by DJ on Jun 6, 2010 3:57:24 GMT -5
glimmercat, mancreature's pumpkinchunks didn't like the pine type litters either though he used it with great protest... he really does like the corn and wheat based clumping litters though... they are far less dusty than the traditional clay clumping litter, which i approve of.. and they are safe to use for the ferrets... as well as having the finer texture that alot of cats are use to...
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2010 12:22:27 GMT -5
I am a fan of the world's best kitty litter. But you do need to put some baking soda in it for smell. It doesn't seem to track as bad as clumping litter.
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Post by downandout on Jun 9, 2010 14:43:12 GMT -5
ive got one cat and three litter boxes so i only scoop every other day. been using a store brand of clumping litter which works out well. not so much dust and controls odor really well. only one of the litter boxes is the hard plastic reusable type. the other two are cardboard boxes i bring home from work. i cut the top flaps off and cut an opening for her to enter easier and then when needed the whole thing is chucked out.
i tried a couple of the name brands of clumping litter but either they were so perfumy that i hated them or so dusty they made my cat sneeze.
i dont think ive ever seen the worlds best cat litter at my grocery store is that only sold at pet stores??
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Post by glimmercat on Jun 9, 2010 14:55:24 GMT -5
The linky from their site: www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/products/where-to-buy.phpI just checked for a store near me, and I'm going to give them a try next time I get some extra $$. Thankies, hordfest, for mentioning it!!  (I don't mean to ignore djollydjolan!!   I just realised that you basically said the same thing--my bad. Appies!!) meow |
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Post by notsomessyshell on Jun 9, 2010 21:05:43 GMT -5
Now I am confused! Maybe I will get the worlds best stuff. I think we have that on sale this week. |
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Post by ClutterBlind on Jul 2, 2010 23:46:17 GMT -5
I have never hosed down my cat's litter boxes in the 8 years I've had her. She's got two boxes now, side by side. She likes to alternate, and I don't have to scoop as often. The secret for me is to use the white plastic kitchen trash bags to envelope the litter boxes. I have either the medium or the large size box. It totally encloses the whole box. I tape down the open end with some clear wrapping tape. I double bag the box and the inner layer protects the box, so I don't have to hose it out. I do keep my Kitty's claws clipped. But the times they've gotten long, she has never torn through both bags. If she did, I'd simply put on 3 or 4 bags until I found out how many layers she'd need to not go through to the box. Or, I'd use one of the super thick, lawn & leaf bags for the innermost layer. I scoop it out periodically. When I'm ready to change the kitty litter, I cut the packing tape open, bunch the open top of the bag down a little toward the bottom crease of the bag, then pull the back side over, so the bag flips inside out and all the kitty liter is contained inside. Toss the bag of kitty liter, then put on new bags. Kitty's second box is actually the top cover of a Kinko's paper box. Those boxes have tops that slip off that are like a cap. It's not a regular box with flaps. I just go to a Kinkos/FedEx Office copy center and ask for their left over boxes before they break them down & throw them away. Staples copy centers use similar copy paper boxes, too. They are red boxes. So I just flipped the cover over and it's an instant litter box, at just the right height & length. It was originally a test box, to see if two boxes worked better. If it did, I would buy another plastic litter box. But, with the 2 kitchen trash bags over it, Kitty still has never soaked through, where I had to replace the box yet. I think this cardboard box is going on over a year now.  |
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