# I have become my wife's zookeeper - 3.5 cats, 1 dog, 1 rabbit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991 "2008-10-28T20:34:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/61 "2008-10-31T04:18:24Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > QUESTION: If I scoop litter pretty much daily, would I still need more than 1 large litter box for 3 cats? The expert recommendation is one box per cat, plus one. So 3 cats should have 4 boxes, by the rulebook, and especially if any are prone to litterbox issues such as someone’s not using them. Now, people have to do what works for their home, too. I have 3 cats and 2 very large litterboxes.. There are no usage issues. If there were, I’d figure out a way to add more. So, do what works for your home, but I really think you should have 2. The pair of cats who are used to each other are probably fine sharing one, as it sounds like they have for some time. The new cat should warrant another box, just to make sure the other 2 are comfortable with the extra waste. After hearing about how you were caring for the boxes, I can see how it’s been an issue for you! Yes, daily scooping is really no big deal, I have it as just part of the evening routine. (Pick up the cats’ bowls, put in the sink to soak, scoop the boxes, then wash bowls - hands only washed once that way - then feed the fuzzies) One of the keys is having the litter deep enough and adding more every few days to compensate for what you’re scooping out. If the litter is a good 3-4 inches deep, then the “urine plugs” as I call them, stay on top and are easier to remove - there’s no scraping the bottom. I have piles of dirty laundry. The cat boxes are clean. Can you tell which chore I would negotiate for? Best wishes! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/62 "2008-10-31T13:38:48Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > My wife just told me she had a Roll n Clean at one point but the poop ended up gunking up and sticking in the tray. Is that true for you? No. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/63 "2008-10-31T20:27:46Z")
OK, I just bought a Roll n Clean. I’ll test it out this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/64 "2008-11-01T00:46:14Z")
Sounds like you’re rationalizing yourself into becoming a doormat. > [@Bearflag70](#): > > OK, yesterday was our anniversary, and I didn’t want to negotiate chores. However, I skirted around the subject and she disclosed that she used to scoop cat litter pretty much daily, but after 8 years of doing it, she “burned out.” If she’s burned out on cleaning out the litter box, then she doesn’t need any damn cats. I predict a lot of future resentment if you don’t put your foot down on this, pronto. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/65 "2008-11-06T18:42:58Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > OK, I just bought a Roll n Clean. I’ll test it out this weekend. Holy cow! The Roll n Clean is GREAT! I bought one large one, so I’m going to get another. Just flip it and dump it! NO mess! NO fuss! NO getting soaked and covered in poop trying to wash out litter boxes EVERY WEEK! I’m writing the infomercial. :):p:D ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/66 "2008-11-06T18:52:25Z")
You’ve convinced me, **Bearflag**. We might have to give that a try ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/67 "2008-11-06T19:12:28Z")
We went to the local Petco over the weekend but they only had the small Roll n Clean. Guess we’ll have to order the big one online. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/68 "2008-11-06T19:27:08Z")
Notably, when you roll it over, you should give it a couple of little taps on the underside to knock some of the clumps off the grill and into the tray. Also, cat litter duty is suddenly much better than laundry. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/69 "2008-11-06T19:41:26Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Holy cow! The Roll n Clean is GREAT! I bought one large one, so I’m going to get another. > > Just flip it and dump it! NO mess! NO fuss! NO getting soaked and covered in poop trying to wash out litter boxes EVERY WEEK! > > I’m writing the infomercial. > > :):p:D Glad it’s working well for you. If you need another satisfied Roll n Clean customer for your infomercial, I’d be willing to do it. I’ve found that, when you roll it back, you have to roll it a little further than vertical to keep the litter from being all in one end (which puts it off balance). ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/70 "2008-11-08T18:01:52Z")
I have a lot of pets, and I just moved into my own house, so there is no other adult to share animal-keeping duties with. It can be done by one person (namely, your spouse) if necessary. My method: Dogs are in crates while I’m at work. I walk them before I leave each morning, and put them out about 20 times every evening. They get fed twice a day, morning and evening. They get plenty of people-time as my schedule varies a lot, but even if your wife is gone long hours, you could get away with crating them for a good portion of the day. My cats mostly stay in the garage or outside–they seem to prefer it right now. I keep a small trashcan beside each litterbox (I have 2) and scoop every day or so, then take the trash out when I get to it. Quicker that way. Like the dogs, they eat twice a day, generally. Once a week, I clean the garage–animals tend to knock things over, get everything hairy, etc. I put the door up, mop the floor, hose it all out. It’s only been a couple of months, but so far, so good. BTW, I have 3 dogs, 5 cats. Or is it 6? I’m not a crazy cat lady yet, but I certainly plan to be one someday. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991/71 "2008-11-09T21:37:00Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > OK, yesterday was our anniversary, and I didn’t want to negotiate chores. However, I skirted around the subject and she disclosed that she used to scoop cat litter pretty much daily, but after 8 years of doing it, she “burned out.” > > Up to now, I had no idea how to maintain a littler box because I never had cats and never expected to have to learn it. Once I took over poop duty, I would dump the entire litter boxes weekly, hose them out, wipe them down, and re-fill them with new litter. > > After reading this thread, I just scooped the litter boxes last night instead of washing them out while she did a load of laundry. Then I thought that poop duty might not be so bad if more frequent scooping is all that’s really required, with only a monthly litter dump & wash. It also might not be so bad if I had the right tools, such as two large Roll n Clean thingies and two LitterLockers. > > With the right tools, poop duty is really a job that takes perhaps a couple minutes a day of quick sifting instead of 20-30 minutes a week lugging litter boxes outside, dumping an entire bin full of foul waste, washing everything down with a garden hose, getting myself wet in the process, wiping it all down, re-filling the boxes, and getting really grumpy in the process. > > Hell, I’d almost rather do poop duty than laundry if that’s the case. > > QUESTION: If I scoop litter pretty much daily, would I still need more than 1 large litter box for 3 cats? One 6 1/2 oz of cat food results in 12 oz of cat shit. It is just the way it is. I use the plastic bags the newspaper comes in. I scoop it ,knot the bag and toss it in the garbage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-my-wifes-zookeeper-3-5-cats-1-dog-1-rabbit/469991.md?page=3)