Litter box questions [Archive]

cassiesmom

11-28-2008, 09:31 PM

Reachoutrescue posted this photo of the litter box provided for a cat who was just admitted to their shelter. I'll show you the picture and then ask the questions.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/Reachoutrescue/RESCUE/Nov262008002.jpg
It's a storage box, which got me thinking. Some storage boxes you can purchase at K-Mart or Target have high sides. Cassie is good at kicking the litter over the side of the box. I put a cotton rug underneath the box, but I still hoover up a lot of litter. I wonder if a storage box would be better, because of those high sides? If I cut down two of the sides so she can get in and out easily? Would I cover the cut sides with duct tape, do you think?

Also -- does anyone have experiences with pine litter, good or bad? I am trying to switch her from clay to pine. I'm mixing them right now, but the pine pellets are too big for the slots in the scoop. I'm not sure I'm doing this right. She's using the box as if nothing had changed, no problem there, and I am trying to keep it regularly scooped.

Thank you all,
Elyse and Cassie Cat

moosmom

11-28-2008, 10:32 PM

I use two long and deep rubbermaid bins for litterboxes. They work great! I used to use Feline Pine and am thinking about going back to it. I only switched to the scoopable because Buddy, my foster kitty, hated Feline Pine and started peeing outside the box. After ruling out a UTI, I changed to scoopable. Everyone was happy. Buddy has since gotten a new home and I think it's safe to go back to Feline Pine. It's better for my 16 year old kitty Mollie Rose's allergies.

Feline Pine is great. You take out the solid waste and when the pellets turn to sawdust, you toss the whole box out and start over. Yeah, I think I'm gonna switch back. It's alot less messier than the scoopable too.

Emeraldgreen

11-28-2008, 10:46 PM

I just posted in that thread and then saw this one. :) I was talking with my husband yesterday and saying how I wish they would make litterboxes with super high sides because our foster cat Barney has a habit of getting in the box but peeing over the side. I don't think he means to but he likes to hug the sides. lol
So I asked my husband if he would cut a hole in a rubbermaid container about two sizes bigger than Barney on one of the sides. I got home and it was all set up and it's working great. Here is a picture of the box. My husband just grabbed a beat up rubbermaid that he was using for kindling so it's dirty. I didn't want to complain though because he did such a good job setting it up. I will clean it up when I change the litter. ;)

catmandu

11-29-2008, 02:49 PM

I PUT NEWSPAPER AROUND THE THREE RUBBERMAID BOXES AND THE STANDARD BOXES, AND THEN LIFT THE BOXES UP AND POUR THE CLEAN LITTER BACK IN.:eek:
I HAVE NEVER USED THE PINE LITTER, BUT I HAVE TRIED THE FRESH STEP , AND IT WORKS WELL, AND IS A LOT LIGHTER TO CARRY.
AND THE 7 POUND BAG LASTS AS LONG AS THE 40 POUND CLUMPING LITTER , AND IS EASIER ON THE ENVIROMENT :love::love::love:

Catlady711

11-29-2008, 10:35 PM

I use these (http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd260075). 29 gal Rubbermaid storage container, only mine is clear not blue like the one in the pix. I don't cut the sides down on them as I have cats that stand on their tiptoes when they pee. Given the ages/health of my cats, they have no problem getting in/out of the boxes.

I use Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter but that is a sort of clay based litter. Does the cat have an allergy to clay that you're switching to pine?

jenluckenbach

11-30-2008, 08:41 AM

I've never used storage boxes for litter boxes, but I have thought about it.

I have used pine pellets though. You scoop out the poops and the urines dissolves the pellets into sawdust. Since the pellets do not go through the scooper's holes I would dig down to bring the poops to the top, drop them off the scoop and then scoop only the poop up with a minimal amount of pellets. (hope that made sense)

I also found that if you want to get rid of some of the sawdust before you actually dump the whole pan you can do this:
Take a scooper full of litter but instead of shaking it over the litter box, shake it over your garbage bag. The sawdust goes through to the garbage and the whole pellets stay in the scopp and can be placed back into the box.

My primary litter though, is SCOOPABLE pine! I like it because it is much lighter to carry than clay based. (both bringing in the fresh bags and taking out the used clumps to the garbage). And (as long as the cat covers) the odor control s quite good. But beware, it does track out of the box. :(

Freedom

11-30-2008, 09:16 AM

Cassie is good at kicking the litter over the side of the box. I put a cotton rug underneath the box, but I still hoover up a lot of litter.

Elyse and Cassie Cat

I use the boxes with hoods, for that reason; they kick the darn stuff everywhere! Helps with odor control as well.

I was thinking if you use one size box, and the lid from one 3 or 4 sizes larger, you can just lift and dump the litter back in, rather than hoover it up. I keep firm plastic mats in front of the entrance to the hooded box, so I can just lift and dump it easily.

I've only ever used Tidy Cats scoopable litter. RB Amber refused to use any other kind, so I just stuck with that. He's been gone for 5 years now, but I guess I am a creature of habit. :rolleyes:

krazyaboutkatz

11-30-2008, 05:40 PM

I use 4 Rubbermaid litter boxes that I bought at Petsmart and my cats love them. Here's the link: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755434. I also have 4 of the Petmate litter boxes and I only use lids on 2 of them. They're also from Petsmart but I don't see them on their website. Here's a link to them from another site: http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-10515. Mine came with lids but I took most of them off.

I also put cat mats around the litter boxes and I put the puppy pee pads on top of them in case some one pees over the edge or out the doorway. I've been using Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Clumping Litter which is scent free and they all seem to love it. Here's a link to it:http://www.epinions.com/review/Dr_Elsey_S_Precious_Cat_Ultra_Clumping_Cat_Litter_ 40lb_Bag/content_441887002244. I've tried the Feline Pine but didn't like the pine scent or the way you couldn't scoop out their urine. Good luck.:)

GILL

12-01-2008, 08:33 AM

I posted this on "introducing Ali".
We use the storage containers, but I cut an opening in one end. They only have two step over a 5 inch door. Some of our kids are flingers and will shovel a ton of litter each time. I have foound that you can put the lid on and it keeps some of the smell down. For our larger guys ( Bart, Mits, Peak) it usually keeps the aim in the box. A regular litter pan is way to small for a 20+ lb cat. These guys will shoot 6 inches over a regular pan.
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mruffruff

12-01-2008, 10:10 AM

I use the large storage bins, also. But I lay them on their sides and slide the regular litter boxes into them like drawers. The sprays are contained even if the cat doesn't tolerate enclosed spaces. (I put a layer of newspaper under the litter pan to absorb any liquids).

I'm not sure my semi-ferals would like the Rubbermaid containers, but I'm going to give it try with a couple.

LionHart

12-01-2008, 08:51 PM

catnapper

12-01-2008, 08:58 PM

I have a HUGE plastic storage bin as a litterbox in my one room. It works well, except Allen STILL tends to use the floor next to the box instead of the inside of the box :rolleyes:

MBones

12-03-2008, 10:47 AM

We started using the storage boxes as well; they are about 2' high so we just cut holes about 5" up for the cats to get in and out of. This makes it a bit more difficult to fling the litter out of the box! I've also got one who for some reason would pee over the top of a standard litter box, so this keeps everything contained. The walls are high enough that I don't need a cover for them, which the cats like.

We got ours for about $4 each at BigLots. Works much better than the $20 ones at Petsmart. I highly recommend these!

cassiesmom

09-07-2009, 05:06 PM

Dominick's supermarket had a bargain on Yesterday's News litter, so I went for it. $7.69 on sale for $5, and the bag had a coupon on it for $2 off ... so I got 14 pounds of Yesterday's News for three bucks. (For comparison, a 10-lb bag of clay litter costs $2.49.) We've never used it before; Cassie is a trouper and doesn't mind when I switch litter types on her. I threw a little pine over top of the Yesterday's News. Here is my question: do I change Yesterday's News every week, like clay; or every 3-4 weeks, like clumping?

Thanks,
Elyse

katladyd

09-07-2009, 05:16 PM

I use regular litter boxes and clumping litter. I have always liked the clumping litter because it is easy to clean and it keeps the smell to the nonexistent point. What's funny is that Ming is a very large cat, over 20 pounds (his nickname is Waddles). Mac is on the small side, around 7 pounds. Neither of them has a problem fitting into the box in the kitchen, no litter is scattered and they never "thinks outside the box". In my son's room, we have a different story altogether. The litter is scattered everywhere. I put down an old bed sheet and they still kick litter outside of that. Plus, I find tootsie rolls on the sheet all the time. Go figure.:confused:

jenluckenbach

09-07-2009, 06:42 PM

Here is my question: do I change Yesterday's News every week, like clay; or every 3-4 weeks, like clumping?

Thanks,
Elyse

It will be more like clay than scooping. The pee will not clump, it "dissolves the pellets". You scoop out the poop regularly and dump when it gets low on pellets (or it smells, whichever comes first.)

Cataholic

09-07-2009, 06:48 PM

EmeraldGreen, you and your husband are genuis'!!! I have plastic garbage bags taped to the box on 3 sides and then taped to the wall (box is in closet) to keep the over achiever pee'rs from perfecting their craft! I will get those large storage containers and leave the lids off of them. I might have to build something to have the kittens step up on temporarily.

What a great thread I stumbled into.

allmycats

09-07-2009, 11:22 PM

I have used the plastic storage boxes like in your picture for litter pans, for years, actually the ones I use are a little longer. they take more litter, but for several cats , seems to work out well. Actually I just bought a regular sized litter box at the grocery store for only $3.49, at petsmart the same size is around $10.00. I am going to see how it goes, I still have some of the other ones around.

I use Tidy cats litter.

K2QC

09-08-2009, 06:34 AM

My daughter uses storage containers for her two rescue cats (they are both adults) and use the same litter box.

She cuts a hole in the TOP of the container lid.

We all know how cats love to climb so it is no problem with them figuring out the opening leads to the litter box. When they're getting out, any litter stuck in between their toes usually winds up on the "lid" of the container, resulting in very little litter on the floor.