View Full Version : How do YOU change the litterbox?
Sevaede
08-20-2007, 05:43 PM
I thought this would be an interesting thread! :D
I have just finished cleaning my place. During this time, I cleaned the litterbox and it got me to thinking about them. I wondered...
How do PTers clean their litterboxes? :D
I empty the whole dirty contents into a bag and it goes into the garbage outside. Then, I put the box in the bathtub. I rinse the box out. I put a cleaner (usually bleach) into the box and let it sit for a few seconds. It gets rinsed out a couple of times. A squeeze of my shampoo goes into the box, sits, and gets rinsed out. That is just for the scent. It gets rid of any smells (bleach, doody, etc.). Air dry, fresh litter! :D The tub gets cleaned with bleach and ajax. That's it!
:D
kuhio98
08-20-2007, 05:49 PM
I put the entire box inside a large garbage bag and turn it upside down. I beat on the bottom of it until everything falls out. Then I take the box out of the garbage bag and take the bag outside. Then, I pour about a capful of bleach into the box and run hot water from the shower into it. I swirl the water around some, then empty the water into the toilet and flush. I take some paper towels and dry it thoroughly. Then, in goes a couple of cups of Feline Pine topped by cheapo clay litter. 10 seconds after I set it down, Willow comes over and poops in it! :rolleyes:
Sevaede
08-20-2007, 05:56 PM
I put the entire box inside a large garbage bag and turn it upside down. I beat on the bottom of it until everything falls out. Then I take the box out of the garbage bag and take the bag outside. Then, I pour about a capful of bleach into the box and run hot water from the shower into it. I swirl the water around some, then empty the water into the toilet and flush. I take some paper towels and dry it thoroughly. Then, in goes a couple of cups of Feline Pine topped by cheapo clay litter. 10 seconds after I set it down, Willow comes over and poops in it! :rolleyes:
Soni used to do that ALL the time! :D Now Isis has taken up the position of Resident Litter Tester. :rolleyes: :D
cassiesmom
08-20-2007, 09:23 PM
I put the entire box inside a large garbage bag and turn it upside down. I beat on the bottom of it until everything falls out. Then I take the box out of the garbage bag and take the bag outside. Then, I pour about a capful of bleach into the box and run hot water from the shower into it. I swirl the water around some, then empty the water into the toilet and flush. I take some paper towels and dry it thoroughly. Then, in goes a couple of cups of Feline Pine topped by cheapo clay litter. 10 seconds after I set it down, Willow comes over and poops in it! :rolleyes:
Cassie does the same thing as Willow!! :rolleyes: I asked the vet about this - is there some reason for her using a clean box almost immediately? He said not to worry, she might be doing this as a way to reassure herself that it is still "her" box after I've cleaned it and therefore made it not smell like her.
shais_mom
08-20-2007, 11:27 PM
I scoop until I can't scoop anymore.
Then I dump it into a trash can, sweep around the box and can. I might do what Wenisrubber does and soap it up and rinse it out, dry it out with paper towels, I usually spray it with Lysol or Cooking oil spray, b/c it keeps litter from sticking. :D
Kirsten
08-21-2007, 06:34 AM
I thought this would be an interesting thread! :D
I have just finished cleaning my place. During this time, I cleaned the litterbox and it got me to thinking about them. I wondered...
How do PTers clean their litterboxes? :D
I empty the whole dirty contents into a bag and it goes into the garbage outside. Then, I put the box in the bathtub. I rinse the box out. I put a cleaner (usually bleach) into the box and let it sit for a few seconds. It gets rinsed out a couple of times. A squeeze of my shampoo goes into the box, sits, and gets rinsed out. That is just for the scent. It gets rid of any smells (bleach, doody, etc.). Air dry, fresh litter! :D The tub gets cleaned with bleach and ajax. That's it!
:D
I'm doing exactly the same, I only use a disinfectant (from the pet store) for cleaning. While the litter boxes are in the tub, I clean the floor where the boxes are usually placed. And after the entire procedure, I disinfect the bathing tub also. :)
BTW, I do this every couple of weeks, depending on the smell. Usually I only remove poop and pee biscuits (several times a day), but when the box is getting smelly, we'll have our big Litterbox Cleaning Day! :D
Funny thing is, the girls always use their box immediately after it's been cleaned! I'm sure it's their way to tell me and each other: "This one's mine!" :D
Kirsten
kuhio98
08-21-2007, 09:23 AM
Another thing that's weird.... We have two large litter boxes side-by-side (in case more than 1 has to go at the same time). Evidently our kitties have come to some agreement. They poop in one and pee in the other. Somehow they worked out this arrangement and have all agreed to it. :confused:
catmandu
08-21-2007, 09:37 AM
I scoop into a double plastic grocery store plastic bag and then dispose in the plastic bags garbage bins set out by the City as they are picked up daily. I miss the garbage shutes we had in the apartments as they were so handy for litter disposal.
CultureJunky
08-21-2007, 09:45 AM
Jack nearly always uses a fresh litter tray too! I have always wondered why he does it, my mum says perhaps he thinks that he needs to impress me by showing me he still likes it even though I've cleaned and is showing his appreciation by using it accordingly, hehe :)
kittycats_delight
08-21-2007, 09:48 AM
Another thing that's weird.... We have two large litter boxes side-by-side (in case more than 1 has to go at the same time). Evidently our kitties have come to some agreement. They poop in one and pee in the other. Somehow they worked out this arrangement and have all agreed to it. :confused:
When Lilith was still around Vixen and her agreed on the same arrangement. They had 3 boxes for the 2 of them. One was the peepee box, one was the poopie box and the other was the emergency box (in case they couldn't make it to the right box or if it was being used). The emergency box was for both. My girls were nuts but oh so cute. It is so adorable the little quirks they have. :D
kittycats_delight
08-21-2007, 09:56 AM
Litterbox cleaning the Michelle way. :p
I have 6 litterboxes to clean completely once about every 2 weeks. I scoop several times a day. When it comes to complete clean up it goes something like this. I start with the litterbox in the kitchen. I scoop out everything that can be scooped out and then use the scoop to make sure all the litter from the bottom is loose. The litter then goes into a small garbage bag which is lightly scented. I then take the box into the bathroom and use the handheld shower to blast it with hot water. I then use a special cleaner and disinfectant from the pet store (just for stinky kitties :p). Rince once more with hot water and dry with paper towel and then the hair dryer (make sure all the water is gone gone gone). I then take it back to the kitchen and add litterbox deodrant and then litter. Then I proceed to the next and the next until they are all done. In the meanwhile Vixen follows me to make sure everything is done correctly and the minute the box ix laid down she does a little pee to claim it as hers. Then Phoenix does the same and then Bella. So within 2 minutes or so after each box is clean I have 3 pees in them. :rolleyes:
Freckles
08-21-2007, 11:06 AM
Only difference with my method was using Natures Miracle.
That really took care of the odors.
mruffruff
08-21-2007, 11:39 AM
Once a week I empty all 5 inside litter boxes into a super-duper heavy weight garbage bag, scraping everything off the bottoms. This goes in a special trash can outside. Then I line the litter boxes up outside on the patio and spray them thoroughly. Brush with an old dish brush, rinse thoroughly and dry with a towel. Refill and replace.
I also have 5 litter boxes outside in a specially-built shelter and a kids' old playhouse. They get scooped daily and a sprinkle of Arm & Hammer weekly. I clean them thoroughly about every other week. They get less use.
No one seems to be in a hurry to use them when I finish.
moosmom
08-21-2007, 11:47 AM
I do what you do. Because I use Feline Pine, I wait till the pellets turn into sawdust (cleaning out the poos everyday) then I dump it into a "Flexforce" trash bag (that's a whole other story) and take it to the dumpster.
I use the FF bags because one time I carrying a bag full of litter to the trash, when the cheap bag I was using burst, covering my stairs with icky litter, poos, etc.
I clean out my boxes with Nok-Out, an enzyme cleaner that is safe for all animals. Also gets the smell out of the plastic of the box. I replace my litterboxes every couple of years.
Jessika
08-21-2007, 12:26 PM
Since I use the Tidy Cat Crystals and we only have one cat, I only have to clean it thoroughly and change litter once a month. :) But basically our procedure the the same as all of yours :)
critter crazy
08-21-2007, 12:52 PM
Another thing that's weird.... We have two large litter boxes side-by-side (in case more than 1 has to go at the same time). Evidently our kitties have come to some agreement. They poop in one and pee in the other. Somehow they worked out this arrangement and have all agreed to it. :confused:
Hey!!! Mine do he same thing!!!! Ha ha ha ha!! I though only my cats we weird!!!:D
KittyGurl
08-21-2007, 12:54 PM
How do I 'clean' the litter box? This is how I 'clean' it:
"Mom! Snow's litter box has to be cleaned!" :p
Freedom
08-21-2007, 12:54 PM
I have multiple boxes, and I do similar to above, EXCEPT --
Rather than lugging all those boxed, I bring the trash barrel on wheels IN THE HOUSE, into each room, and dump the boxes into it. I do try to dump into a plastic bag which I hang in the barrel, and sometimes it even works! :rolleyes:
Then I wheel the trash back outside.
Medusa
08-21-2007, 02:47 PM
I take the litter boxes outdoors, dump everything into a large Flex Force bag, then hose the litter boxes out, add disinfectant cleanser and scrub them well, then hose them out again. Completely towel dry them, then back indoors where I fill them w/fresh litter.
cassiesmom
07-18-2008, 04:56 PM
Does anyone out there use Lysol in the cat's litter pan? I've been using vinegar and water to clean Cassie's litter pan, but I wonder if I should be using something with a disinfectant. My sister used to use Lysol with her cats. I remember her rinsing and rinsing and rinsing the box. That's why I've been using vinegar. Is there something more organic I can try? How often does anyone replace the pan itself? She's so funny ... I empty, clean, refill it, go down to the Dumpster with the "old" litter and usually, within 10 or 15 minutes I hear her in there digging and pawing. Silly kitty :)
Medusa
07-18-2008, 05:25 PM
Years ago in Cat Fancy magazine, I think, I read that cats are sensitive to Lysol. Here are a couple of links you may want to peruse:
http://www.cathealth.com/Tox.htm
http://www.chai-online.org/en/companion/caring_dangers.htm
RICHARD
07-18-2008, 05:49 PM
I can't change my litterbox.
IT'S GOT TO WANT TO CHANGE.
Until then, it is a place where the Edster poops and pees.:confused::o:D
krazyaboutkatz
07-20-2008, 11:15 PM
Does anyone out there use Lysol in the cat's litter pan? I've been using vinegar and water to clean Cassie's litter pan, but I wonder if I should be using something with a disinfectant. My sister used to use Lysol with her cats. I remember her rinsing and rinsing and rinsing the box. That's why I've been using vinegar. Is there something more organic I can try? How often does anyone replace the pan itself? She's so funny ... I empty, clean, refill it, go down to the Dumpster with the "old" litter and usually, within 10 or 15 minutes I hear her in there digging and pawing. Silly kitty :)
I think it's best just to use soap and water to clean out the litter boxes. This is what I use and then I also use Simple Solution which is an enzyme cleaner to help make the boxes smell fresher and to help get rid of the urine smell. I use the litter boxes for many years. Depending on how hard your cats are on them, they could almost last you a life time. Good luck.:)
CathyBogart
07-21-2008, 12:08 AM
Sherpa never ever ever buries anything, so I only have to really clean it about every 6 weeks. I dump it out into the dumpster outside, rinse the pan in the tub, and wash it with a sponge especially for the litterbox and some Dawn dish soap.
Don Juan's mom
07-21-2008, 01:26 AM
I dump the litterbox into the building dumpster, then scrub outside with a Brillo pad and rinse. I then set it out in the sun to dry and disinfect.
Don Juan is the resident "litter tester" here. :p
Liz
catmandu
07-21-2008, 04:10 PM
I CLEAN THE BOXES OUT ABOUT 3 TIMES A DAY, AND THEN PUT THE USED LITTER INTO A DOUBLE PLATIC SHOPPING BAG, AND THEN THROW THEM INTO THE GARABGE BAG AT THE BUS STOP , WHERE ITS ALL GATHERED IN A BIG INDUSTRIAL BAG AND TOSSED IN THE LAND FILL.
I GUESS THAT EVERY DAY THEY GO THROUGH 8 POUNDS OF CLUMPING LITTER!!:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
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