We use Bio Bags, the same that we get to pick up dog poop. They are 100% compostable.
Note “biodegradable” bags sometimes means they disintegrate into little plastic bits that actually are a bigger pain in the ass than if the plastic stayed in one bigger piece in the landfill. So you want to be sure you’re getting compostable starch-based material that will genuinely compost.
They aren’t cheap, but we consider the expense a Cat and Dog Tax. We buy them by the case because it’s more cost-effective to buy them in bulk.
I’m sure they notice it; they’d probably like it cleaned twice a day, too. They’d also like minced chicken for supper and to sleep in the bedroom all day - they don’t get those things, either.
ETA: Forgot to say, our cats are 11 and 14 years old, and we’ve never had an accident yet. I think we’re good (for now).
Just do please remember that if the cats get old and start to eliminate upstairs, it might be because they’re just too old to manage the stairs comfortably any more. Cats do get arthritis and sore bones and joints as they age. I only say this because we had a pair of cats who had lived in a home for 12 years get returned to the shelter because they wouldn’t go down to the basement any more. The adopter (the standing joke is “we should charge for rent!”) ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT add litter boxes to the main floor of the house and chose to return the old ladies to the shelter instead. X-rays here confirmed that both had debilitating arthritis in their spines, hips and legs. They were put in an office here together and never had a litter box problem, and once they were put on pain management for the arthritis, even jumped up onto desks and chairs again.
I don’t mean to rant, please don’t take it that way. I just want anyone who reads this and has inconveniently placed litter boxes, especially stair-accessible only, to recognize the possible issue if their cats are suddenly finding a spot on the first floor to use after more than a decade of no problems!
Our older cat actually does have arthritis in her shoulders and hips - I’ve thought about moving a box up for her, but she’s still getting up and down okay. Now that you mention it, I’ll broach the subject with my husband and see if he thinks we should try a box upstairs for her and see if she stops going downstairs altogether.
Well, he doesn’t think it’s a great idea since she’d go downstairs to hang out with him, anyway (his office is down there, and she’s his cat). I’ll keep an eye on it at any rate - if the stairs seem to be getting too hard for her, I’ll move a box for her.
One cat, one litter box, scoopable litter plus Arm and Hammer Cat Litter deodorant; I scoop every 2-3 days. If I have a trash bag in the kitchen that’s ready to go out anyway, I’ll just scoop into there and take the whole thing out. Otherwise, plastic grocery bags.
If I get overwhelmed with other things and simply do not scoop often enough, I will know. Not just because of the smell but because my cat will stop using the litter box!
One cat, two litterboxes. I clean them both every day. When I had 3 cats, I had 4 boxes, always cleaned them every day, sometimes twice a day. I hate going into a house or apartment that smells of cat urine or faeces.
I use plastic grocery bags when I have them, but since they are no longer available for free in most supermarkets, I’ve resorted to keeping all kinds of empty bags of frozen fruits, vegetables or coffee bean- the kinds with the ziplok closures.
