I used Tidycat and I bought a couple of those big “litter box enclosures” from Amazon. I lined them with vinyl sheeting, and scoop them at least once a day. Those litter box enclosures are solid enough to sit or stand on.
I used to have one of those litter boxes you roll over to scoop out dirty litter but it scattered more litter than the cats do. (And what’s up with that, cats? It’s not an Olympic event.)
It’s good to change out the actual litter boxes now and then. I get the ones that have high backs, but I’m going to get a see-through rubbermaid tote, cut a hole in it, and try that as a litter box. That way they can see out but not kick everywhere.
First, I will readily admit that I Am Not A Qualified Biologist, gardener, or sanitary engineer. So I could be wrong.
We have a disposal problem with catbox waste. And we have a garden. Well, many people do.
I often see recommended additives to garden soil as gravel, sand, aerator-causing granules of sawdust, shredded paper, etc., as well as manure and manure derivatives. Better yet, the same ingredients made into compost. To me, those ingredients sound a lot like used kitty litter.
So why not dump it (and work into) your garden soil? Obviously there is a desirable ratio, and that should be determined and respected. But why not?
Too much nitrogen kills plants. So even if it’s just a flower bed, and not a vegetable garden, it’s risky to put raw waste in the soil. You certainly don’t want to put it near food stuffs.
Amen. Just because something says “flushable” on the label doesn’t mean you should.
If you’re on your own septic system or on a sewer system, only put in the stuff that’s supposed to go there: water and human waste (including TP). Most anything else is a bad idea.
I have one cat and one litter box. I use only unscented clumping litter, WalMart brand or from Petco. I scoop every 24-36 hours and completely dump and rinse the box every week and replace the litter. Her box never smells.
Get a few rolls of dog poop baggies and scoop out the pan with those. Put your hand inside baggie, pick up poop and pee clusters, tie up the baggie and put in the trash. Less messy than sifting with scooper.
My wife and I love cats. However, when our last child moved out 13 years ago, he took custody of the cat. This thread reminds me of why we now love having no livestock in the house.
I use the unscented clumping one from Wal-Mart or PetCo. The pieces are very spherical, though, and my cat has fluffy toes so she tracks that shit everywhere.
We tried the crystal kind several years ago specifically to combat the tracking issue. But that stuff was painful to step on barefoot, like tiny Lego pieces, so any bit that gets kicked out becomes an ouch moment.
I used Swheatscoop years ago, can’t remember why I switched back to clay. I think it just didn’t clump hard enough for my preference, IIRC.
I can’t tell you which litter we use (changes occasionally), but we do have a very civilized cat. He will go outside in the back yard and spend two hours or so there, then when he comes back in he’ll head directly for the litter box. This never varies.
I don’t have a cat either, but I too have been reading this with interest.
A handful of kitty litter in the bottom of the garbage bin every week to keep it sweet.
I’m using the blue crystal. I’m liking it because it doesn’t clump the way some of the other stuff does, but the real reason is because I got a couple bags of it free. A bag last me all year, so it will be a while before I buy more.
