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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2005Is there a better alternative to litter boxes?
My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was wondering about any alternatives. I have considered a doorway to an outdoor enclosure. My wife won't let me train them to a toilet, if they'd cooperate, that is. How do you set up your boxes? just on the floor, raised, curtained, whatever? > My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was wondering > about any alternatives. I have considered a doorway to an outdoor enclosure. > My wife won't let me train them to a toilet, if they'd cooperate, that is. > How do you set up your boxes? just on the floor, raised, curtained, > whatever? Well, why are you looking for alternatives? What aspect of the current situation do you find problematic? Oscar has two big litterboxes in the basement. Until a few months ago, she just had one litterbox.  Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was wondering >> about any alternatives. I have considered a doorway to an outdoor enclosure. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >Oscar has two big litterboxes in the basement. Until a few months ago, she >just had one litterbox. Maybe I'm just looking for a more up-to-date method. Maybe something a bit more graceful? >>Well, why are you looking for alternatives? What aspect of the current >>situation do you find problematic? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Maybe I'm just looking for a more up-to-date method. Maybe something a bit > more graceful? I don't think there have been any major developments, but I could be mistaken. The basics still hold true -- cats like to do their thing on a certain type of texture. So that limits any alternatives you might have. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > I don't think there have been any major developments, but I could be > mistaken. The basics still hold true -- cats like to do their thing on > a certain type of texture. So that limits any alternatives you might > have. Yeah man. Based on Rosalie, who lived the first 3 years of her life outdoors but who took to the litter box immediately when she began living inside, I conclude that litter boxes are one thing we have gotten absolutely right in our relationships with cats. --Catherine & Rosalie the calico >>> My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was >>> wondering [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Maybe I'm just looking for a more up-to-date method. Maybe something a > bit more graceful? If you are looking for something to hide the boxes from view, you could build or buy a folding screen -- the type of 3-fold screens that are often used to partition a part of a room. Some are decorative, often with Oriental artwork. It would be fairly simple to build a shorter version of the same idea, and there are some pet supply stores that carry this type of item. Just be sure that you allow plenty of room for the litter box. Some cats will refuse to use the box if the area is too cramped (just as some will not use an enclosed litter box). MaryL > >> My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was wondering > >> about any alternatives. I have considered a doorway to an outdoor enclosure. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Maybe I'm just looking for a more up-to-date method. Maybe something a > bit more graceful? You'll really hate my upstairs setup. I keep Cheek's uncovered box right in front of the highboy of my fancy bedroom set. No screen, no, cover, nothing. Why? Because when I hide them away they are easy to forget. When the box is visible, I will be sure to keep it clean. And when the box is clean, there is nothing gross to hide. I suppose you could go for some really cool looking litter box. However: I would avoid the covered ones, cats seem to hate them. I think they make them feel trapped. > You'll really hate my upstairs setup. I keep Cheek's uncovered box right > in front of the highboy of my fancy bedroom set. No screen, no, cover, > nothing. Why? Because when I hide them away they are easy to forget. > When the box is visible, I will be sure to keep it clean. And when the > box is clean, there is nothing gross to hide. > make them feel trapped. That's a very good point. "Out of sight, out of mind" -- and that is *not* a good thing when it comes to litter boxes. MaryL > You'll really hate my upstairs setup. I keep Cheek's uncovered box right > in front of the highboy of my fancy bedroom set. No screen, no, cover, > nothing. Why? Because when I hide them away they are easy to forget. > When the box is visible, I will be sure to keep it clean. And when the > box is clean, there is nothing gross to hide. Our cat doesn't cover up the evidence. > I suppose you could go for some really cool looking litter box. However: > I would avoid the covered ones, cats seem to hate them. I think they > make them feel trapped. Again, ours is the opposite. I guess she likes the extra privacy. > Our cat doesn't cover up the evidence. I had a cat that did this until I began picking her up whenever I noticed an uncovered pile and gently putting her back in the box and gently taking her paws and covering the pile. It cured her pretty fast. > > I suppose you could go for some really cool looking litter box. > However: > > I would avoid the covered ones, cats seem to hate them. I think they > > make them feel trapped. > > Again, ours is the opposite. I guess she likes the extra privacy. Then I would go with those who have their boxes behind pretty screens. Still, you need to scoop a lot. You will be amazed at the difference in the smell if you can train your cat to cover the poo, too. >> You'll really hate my upstairs setup. I keep Cheek's uncovered box > right [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Again, ours is the opposite. I guess she likes the extra privacy. If your cat *likes* covered boxes, they do make a really pretty carpet covered one that opens up for easy cleaning and also functions like a bench by a window at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?N=2002+113307 They have a rattan one as well and a decorative screen. Ours have to be the 2 piece box where the bottom and top portions latch on together. Without the cover, I always discover pee outside the box. I was thinking of getting one that is deep enough so her pee ends in the box even when she does her thing standing up. As far as the uncovered poo goes, she used to live with 2 other cats (for 12 years) before we got her (she's 14 now). I guess the other two cats take care of her uncovered poo. I'll try training her to cover her poo. But she does cover sometimes. > As far as the uncovered poo goes, she used to live with 2 other cats (for 12 > years) before we got her (she's 14 now). I guess the other two cats take > care of her uncovered poo. This definitely happens. Oscar has never been good about covering her poo. While Eros lived with us, when he found her uncovered poo, he'd always carefully bury it. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > Ours have to be the 2 piece box where the bottom and top portions latch > on together. Without the cover, I always discover pee outside the box. > I was thinking of getting one that is deep enough so her pee ends in > the box even when she does her thing standing up. Ahhh, I see. There have been great discussions here about litter boxes, and I believe others with this problem have used large storage containers bought from Walmart or Lowes or one of those stores. > As far as the uncovered poo goes, she used to live with 2 other cats > (for 12 years) before we got her (she's 14 now). I guess the other two > cats take care of her uncovered poo. I'll try training her to cover her > poo. But she does cover sometimes. So did Gnarly. Who knows why they do this? I trained her because I did not want to smell the poo until I was ready to scoop it! >> Ours have to be the 2 piece box where the bottom and top portions latch >> on together. Without the cover, I always discover pee outside the box. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > and I believe others with this problem have used large storage > containers bought from Walmart or Lowes or one of those stores. LeMieux likes to back up to the end or corner, and being very long-legged, tended to pee over the edge of a litterbox. Gideon has mild hip dysplasia, couldn't squat very easily and occasionally pooped over the edge. For many years, I kept the litterbox inside a plastic storage box to catch his urine, but it was always difficult to clean up the urine, which would run under the litterbox inside the storage box. Using a storage box alone is sort of okay, but they are not heavy plastic like litterboxes, and tend to start cracking and need to be replaced after a while. I switched to a mortar-mixing tray from Home Depot last year, when Gideon (17) seemed to be finding it a little difficult climbing over the edge of the storage box. The mortar-mixing tray is is 26" x 19" and 6" deep, and very sturdy plastic like a litterbox. I think it cost about five dollars. My two cats usually go at opposite ends of it. Although it's not very tall, the sides slope outward enough that they can back their feet up to the end or corner, and still have urine and feces land inside the box. Signaturejamie (jamiemck@newsguy.com) "There's a seeker born every minute." > >> Ours have to be the 2 piece box where the bottom and top portions latch > >> on together. Without the cover, I always discover pee outside the box. [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > the sides slope outward enough that they can back their feet up to > the end or corner, and still have urine and feces land inside the box. Well do you love your kitties or what?! Excellent ideas, thanks. > If your cat *likes* covered boxes, they do make a really pretty > carpet covered one that opens up for easy cleaning and also [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > They have a rattan one as well and a decorative screen. That's some box! SignatureCheryl >> My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was >> wondering [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > she > just had one litterbox. I have one litter box in a walk-in closet (with the floor of that entire side of the closet reserved just for the litter box and cat entrances and exits). The floor is carpeted, and I placed a plastic mat under the box and extending the length of that wall to catch any mishaps (the kind of plastic mat that is cut to size and has little sharp prongs to grip the carpet -- with the sharp prongs pointed *down,* of course). The other box is simply placed in the corner of one room. Again, I have a mat under it, but this one is a rubber mat that matches the color of the carpet. Incidentally, I agree with your wife. Please do *not* try to train the cats to use the toilet. It simply is not natural for a cat and also opens up the possibilities of an accident. It is no problem at all to maintain the boxes -- just scoop frequently to keep them clean, change the litter as needed, and wash the boxes when changing litter (I use a fine-grained clumping litter and change it more often than would really be necessary). MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly) http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in") >My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was >wondering about any alternatives. I have considered a doorway to an >outdoor enclosure. My wife won't let me train them to a toilet, if >they'd cooperate, that is. > How do you set up your boxes? just on the floor, raised, curtained, >whatever? My cats have an outdoor run with litter boxes. They come inside to use the ones in the bathroom. :) BarB > From: Slipslidinaway <locom@hotmail.com> > Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > How do you set up your boxes? just on the floor, raised, curtained, > whatever? I have one in the bathroom and on tile, so I just keep a dustpan and sweeper in the drawer by it with a scooper for handy sweep up. FOr the one in the bedroom where there is carpet, I bought a big office matt (the kind for under your chair) and put it in the corner, put the box on it, and then got a decorative wooden "fireplace" screen that partially hides it. Works great. We live in an apartment and have two cats. Their boxes are at the end of a hall in a corner and for more privacy for the cats, the view is obscured by a folding screen that holds photos. Signature.oO rach Oo. > My indoor-only cats don't have a problem with the boxes but I was > wondering about any alternatives. I have considered a doorway to an > outdoor enclosure. My wife won't let me train them to a toilet, if > they'd cooperate, that is. > How do you set up your boxes? just on the floor, raised, curtained, > whatever? > We live in an apartment and have two cats. Their boxes are at the end of a > hall in a corner and for more privacy for the cats, the view is obscured by > a folding screen that holds photos. Oh those are cool. That's a good idea! We have cat related photos at the bottom for them to look at on their own level. Maybe they don't care but I like to think they appreciate a good photo. Signature.oO rach Oo. >> We live in an apartment and have two cats. Their boxes are at the end of >> a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Oh those are cool. That's a good idea!
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