topic Re: litter boxes in Pet Lovers

litter boxes

charlestownliz — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 18:55:24 GMT

I love kittens and cats and have owned many in the past. I would like to have one or two again, but in the recent past have developed a strong adversion to litter boxes. When caring for a friends pets, cleaning the boxes made me gag and retch. Don't want to let kitties go outside where there are predators. Some may say "get over it", but it is a serious problem. Does anyone have a solution?? Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Re: litter boxes

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:01:22 GMT

I don't know anything about them from personal experience, nor have I done any research on reviews, but have you considered a Littermaid self-cleaning litter box? From what I recall from an infomercial years ago, there's a motorized rake that gathers the clumps and dumps them into a collection container that gets removed and put in the trash. There would be an ongoing cost of replacement collection containers.

Re: litter boxes

Mz iMac — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:18:40 GMT

Expensive but worth EVERY penny. The Litter Robot....

You'll never have to change dirty litter again. All you do is refill. When it's time to empty, just fold up the litter bag & dump in the trash.

Best of all, depending on your cat(s), you'll only have to empty the litter box once or twice a week!

Re: litter boxes

Havarti — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 23:10:57 GMT

Get a plastic tub (from the storage aisle in Target or Walmart) – or use a basic plastic litter box. Pick one that is sized low enough for them to get in & out easily and also sized to allow you to open a big heavy-duty garbage bag and place it in the bottom – open. Tuck the bag around the sides and fill it with littler - deeper than usual so thier claws don't rip the bag when they dig in the litter to cover their work. You can scoop during the week and then the day before your garbage day just pick the whole garbage bag, tie a knot in the top and toss it in the garbage. Repeat weekly. You'll want to buy heavy duty bags with a wide opening (or, slit the side seems at the top a little on each side to make it fit). Periodicaly you will want to clean the actual litter box – hose it down in the shower, soak it with a little bleach for 15 minutes, rise & let dry. Do this on the day you are going to really clean the shower. I always had a extra pan so I could clean one while the other was already set up. Hope this helps both you and your future kitties.

Re: litter boxes

Libbylady — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:50:56 GMT

We do something similarly to Havarti. We put our litter box bottom into a heavy black bag.

Tuck or loosely tie the trash bag so that you can now fill the box with litter. We have a lid section that sits on the top of the box.

We scoop daily by removing the top section. On trash day we remove the bag by pulling the bag inside out as it is removed. The litter is now inside the bag and ready for disposal.

That said, if cleaning cat litter is a real issue for you I would remind you that cats can live 20 years. That is a lot of litter work! The little poops of a kitten will grow as the cat grows. Don't offer a furbaby a home if you think you will want to find it a new home down the road.

Re: litter boxes

Stormygirl — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:36:17 GMT

@charlestownliz I have the same exact aversion to cat litter boxes. I cannot stand the smell of a litter box nor am I able to handle the smell of cat excretion. I can smell even the cleanest of cat owners litter boxes that they become nose blind to ........I wouldnt expect anyone else to do my "dirty work" so no kitty for me LOL. Besides the fact I have become allergic to the dander.....if I take benadryl it helps though. Nice though they have alot of handy litter box gadgets today but I am sure I would still smell it. LOL Hey someone needs to invent Poo-Pouri for kitty! (Call it Poo-for-Puss?) hahahaha! Have you thought of getting a dog instead? LOL just kidding. My Doctor told me yesterday that maybe I need to adopt a furry friend. LOL yea that went over like a lead balloon to DH

Re: litter boxes

pattypeep — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:42:22 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
Expensive but worth EVERY penny. The Litter Robot....

You'll never have to change dirty litter again. All you do is refill. When it's time to empty, just fold up the litter bag & dump in the trash.

Best of all, depending on your cat(s), you'll only have to empty the litter box once or twice a week!

My sister in law just told me about these two days ago. She said it's expensive but worth every penny. I was complaining about litter boxes and told her that after our little guy goes over rainbow bridge I'm done with kittys. As much as I love them, after 40 years, I'm done. Have two dogs (plus a cockatiel that found me) and that will have to do.

Re: litter boxes

GCR18 — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 00:35:31 GMT

I tried the automated litter boxes and putting the garbage bag under the litter. Both worked for a short period. I would talk with the Dr about it.

Re: litter boxes

jaxs mom — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 13:11:00 GMT

Get someone else to empty the pans? I don't know. We use Tidy Cat Breeze system. It's two parts with pellets on the top that need to be scooped and a grate with a tray underneath that holds the pad. You just just change the pad and scoop the pellets. Much much less smell than with clay litter. It also stays cleaner longer because the the urine flows through and is collected in the pad instead of clumping up in clay litter.

Automatic boxes had their drawbacks, the box is unavailable when it's in it's cleaning mode after use and the recommendation of one box her cat + an extra would really add up with my 7 cats.

Re: litter boxes

savetheanimals — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 13:21:20 GMT

I would suggest you do not get any cats or kittens until your problem is better. Sounds like something in your head that you have to find a way to deal with or get medical attention. Please do not bring cats in your home, they will probably end up outside to go to the bathroom and bad things can happen. Hope you can find help for your problem.

Re: litter boxes

NickNack — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 13:59:27 GMT

@savetheanimals wrote:
I would suggest you do not get any cats or kittens until your problem is better. Sounds like something in your head that you have to find a way to deal with or get medical attention. Please do not bring cats in your home, they will probably end up outside to go to the bathroom and bad things can happen. Hope you can find help for your problem.

I agree with savetheanimals. I would definitely not get a cat or kitten. Even with an automatic litterbox, you have to take the litter out and you can smell it. I think you would have a hard time with this. I'm afraid the cat would have to be rehomed or live outside. Neither situation would be good.

Re: litter boxes

dklcat5 — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:02:38 GMT

Is it the smell? The texture of picking it up? For smell, put a little vaporub under your nostrils. I have a super gag reflex and have found I can't pick up the poo/urine from clay litter, I only use clumping litter. It may not be as good for kitties, but I have rescued 5 and scoop 4 boxes (tried 1+ 1 extra but found they only use the 4) twice a day and this is what works for me, texture and smell-wise. The clumping also keeps odors down.

Re: litter boxes

jaxs mom — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 23:52:13 GMT

You bring up a good point about clumping litter, I have 3 long haired cats. Clumping litter isn't really good for them. They are more likely to have hair touch the litter when they go and wet clumping litter will attach to their long fur. It's also dangerous for kittens. I use non clumping for small kittens and moms when we have taken them in. Then I transition them to The Breeze system when they are old enough. I haven't found clumping litter to reduce smell at all. I used to use it.

Re: litter boxes

Pooky1 — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 00:16:50 GMT

they make a self cleaning litter box that actually washes cat litter after cat uses it. theres a small hose that needs to allways needs to be hooked over toilet bowl so dirty water drains in to toilet. seen them on line. they look really cool. but they go for like 400 bucks, look up self cleaning litter boxes.good luck

Re: litter boxes

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:36:38 GMT

I use disposable litter boxes and I use the pet as Mart brand litter. I like the disposable boxes, I just put it in the trash. I use Kitty's wonder box disposable litter box. I order from Amazon because my house is small and I don't have a place to wash the litter box.