Ok, the cat survived the night, but can we talk about litter please

[LynneSin]

For those new to the story, I found a cat last night which looks like someone's pet. Although there are ferals around our apartment complex this cat was fat and had a collar on her.

She's inside my place and well fed & water. I make a quick trip to the dollar store to get a litter pan and cat litter. Let me tell you this, the $2 litter from the Dollar Store is NOT going to make the grade. She managed to use the litter box but I don't even want to get started about the odor. YUCK!!!! I'm not really good with smelly things - heck I've never changed a diaper in my life.

I don't care what it costs, even knowing that the cat will only be staying until I can find her owners (the collar had no tags on it).

What's the best litter I can buy. I want something that clumps and is also flushable (if possible).

PLEASE HELP!!!

Edit note: the cat spent the time sleeping either on me (I woke up once because I rolled over on her) or on the window sill right behind my bed (which her big butt can barely fit on). She's cute - I'm sure there's a family out there that misses their family pet!

[radwriter0555]

1. Have you put up posters yet? You MUST... Someone is really missing her

and you'll be doing them a huge favor.

I re-united a doggie with his daddy last week, by a chance siting of TWO posters, the lost one and the found one. Everyone is now happily ever after!

Do the posters ASAP.

[LynneSin]

2. I'm going to take care of that tomorrow

I didn't get home until late last night and I had to go to work by 7am this morning. I figured I'll let the apartment complex manager and the local humane society know that I have the cat if someone reports her missing. Then on Saturday, when I have some free time, I'll put some signs up.

[dusty64]

3. Scoop Away, Fresh Step, or

even non name scoopables are good. Have no fear, the cat has probably held it in for days waiting for a litter box. When I got my second stray Dusty (thus my screenname cause she's always around me while I'm online) she had been living in my apartment basement for a few days prior to my adopting her. She filled the box for a couple days and it was pretty nasty. The poor thing wouldn't go outside a box and had been holding it for who knows how long. I'm thankful some idiot decided to dump her on the streets, she has been a beautiful and very entertaining friend for the last ten years. They didn't deserve her.

[LynneSin]

4. I'm using no-name scoopables

which says it eliminates odor.

I don't think so. I have no clue how much longer I'll have this cat but I'll pay more money to ensure that litter box isn't stinking.

She must have held it in - I filled up an entire sandwich baggie with everything I scooped out of the litter box.

[ET Awful]

5. Get thee hence to a pet store

and get some Arm and Hammer litter box deodorizer, you just sprinkle it over the litter, no problems. OR

While at the pet store, buy some EverClean brand cat litter (comes in a blue box). They have several varieties, including an extra strength deodarant one.

This stuff is about $12 for a small box (enough to fill a typical litter box) or about $19 for the larger size. Works great for this guy:



(sorry, Quinn is just so cool I have to throw his picture on here at random in cat related threads).

[demnan]

8. He's really cute

thanks for the pic!

[ET Awful]

11. You're welcome. . .

He's also the most hyperactive kitten I've ever seen, that pic he was about 6 weeks old, now he's about 8 or 9.

He's more active than any kitten I've ever seen (and I've seen alot). He sleeps in my room, and he'll spend an hour and a half, while I'm just laying in bed reading or something, just pouncing on everything from one corner of the bed to the other. Never gets tired just sprint to one corner, pounce, sprint to the other corner pounce, sprint to the other pounce (and fall off bed), climb back up, continue. It's hillarious :)

[dusty64]

7. I use two plastic

bags that you get at the grocery store. One over my hand (to be sanitary) and one to drop the stuff into. When I'm done I tie the bag and bring it to the can outside. I must scoop twice a day as I have 4 cats (and a dog), but everyone comments on how they can never smell anything in my house. Never try to scoop right after a cat does its business, you've got to give it a few minutes to allow the clumps to form.

[slackmaster]

13. Cats that have never used scoopables don't take to them instantly

Try Johnny Cat or any other traditional clay-based litter.

Scoopable litter feels unnatural to a cat that is not accustomed to it.

[LynneSin]

15. Oh she took to it

I thought I was pulling giant rocks out of the litter box.

It's just the smell was yucky!!!!!

[peekaloo]

26. I like/use Scoop Away but it's not flushable

eliminates the smell(s) much better than Tidy Cat.

[demnan]

6. Buy some of that Arm and Hammer Litter Box Deodorant

or a box of baking soda to pour some into the litter box. This will help especially with amonnoia smells from the urine.

I like the Arm and Hammer Litter as well, good clumping action and contains the same deodorant.

Dump the waste with a plastic scoop into doubled or tripled plastic grocery store bags and tie to seal tightly.

Place a bath towel under the litter box to collect stray litter that falls from the cats paws, then you can shake out the lose litter and launder the towel frequently.

Between cleanings you can touch up the lid of the litter box with anti-bacterial kitchen spray and paper towels.

[trof]

9. Ha! Thought this was about newborn kittens.

Distilled white vinegar is a good deodorant.
Put a small bowl near the litter box with a rag or some cotton balls in it to aid evaporation.

[ET Awful]

10. ONE MORE SUGGESTION

If you don't mind spending $20 or so, buy a covered litter box



The cover cuts WAY down on smells.

They run about $20 or so at the pet store.

[LynneSin]

12. I'm not sure if I'm keeping the cat

It's one I've found and I will be making an effort to find the owner. I don't mind paying extra for the better litter, but the box is the $1 litter box from the Dollar Store. If for some reason I keep the cat - then we'll get the upgrades.

[ET Awful]

17. In that case . . .

You might be able to rig up some kind of cover by using a cardboard box that's tall enough and large enough to cover the whole litter box, then cut a doorway in it. After that, any openings other than the door (which might exist where the folds of the box meet, etc.) can be covered with a fabric softener sheet (which will act as a freshener of sorts to keep smells from coming out the opening, but will still allow air to circulate).

Voila, a poor mans covered litter box :).

[corarose]

28. I bet you will get upgrades LOL

That Kitty is going to live like a princess.

[LynneSin]

29. It's a slow day at work and I've been browsing Petsmart all day

:eyes:

I'm already eyeing this little toy up for the kitty since she loves sleeping on the window sill



I'm just worried if I get too attached to her I'll have to give her back to the owners (which is the right thing to do).

BTW, make that cat's entire underside white and that's what my cat looks like.

[ET Awful]

30. My roommates cat lounges on one of those all day long.

She just sits there staring out at thte world :)

[corarose]

31. You already have her Holiday Gifts picked out

Bless your heart!

[Booberdawg]

14. We used to be able to find disposable little boxes arouond here

Have not seen them lately but I really liked them. Since you only have the cat temporarily you might want to check into that. It would be good for a week.

[Mikimouse]

16. Try the Tidy Cat clumping with crystals...

I have been using it for about a year now, and the cats prefer it to anything else. I also sprinkle a good dose of baking soda on top of the litter when I do a complete change (about once a week or so). Be suspicious, though, it is that time of year when students are graduating and leaving their pets behind (the absence of tags on the collar sounds like a couple of abandoned cats I know). Good luck with your new family member (By the way, I have noticed that the smell seems to change after they have been inside for a while, and eating a regular diet; our Pooky was a real stinker when we first adopted him, but now he isn't any different from the others, not bad).

[Philostopher]

18. Yeah, but can you flush it?

I think she was looking for something 'flushable' -- We used to try to flush the Tidy Cats clump litter (I have four cats, I can't afford to keep them in the crystal stuff, though I'd like to try it). It clotted up in the toilet and we had to stop flushing it and put a small trash can next to the cat boxes to put the discards in.

I tried some stuff a few years back called "Odor Lockers" that's made with recycled sawdust pellets coated with clay. Don't know if they still market it. It was light, you could flush it without a problem, it smelled great, it covered up the smell ... well, except for the one cat in the house who decided it wasn't good enough for her to poop on, and started pooping on the floor next to the cat pan, instead. I had three cats at the time, and two of the three liked it, but her highness wasn't satisfied -- she prefers the plain Tidy Cats multi-cat clump stuff, so I'm pretty much stuck with it for the next ten years or so, unless I want to pick poop up off the floor at least once a day.

And I have four boxes -- I only changed the stuff in one box. Tink's a goon. The Odor Lockers stuff might be worth a try, though.

[SheilaT]

19. Tidy Cat

in a non-scoopable version.

Many vets do not like scoopables. They have the potential of being consumed by cats and causes huge problems.

You scoop the poop itself into a toilet and flush, and change the litter every week, washing out the litter box using comet or similar cleaner to remove odor from the box itself.

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. I'm going to add this to the list of threads

Not to read during breakfast. :D

[eyesroll]

21. Is the cat microchipped?

If you get a chance, take the cat to a humane society or vet's office that can scan microchips. (Most of them do, but call first.) If the cat's chipped, her owner's contact information will be on file.

[Festivito]

22. Some ideas.

Any clumping litter will do. Clean it daily, well often. Add a little more on top each time you see it. Only the perfume quality changes with price, and even that is questionable. I don't notice much smell from the clumps, they're in a plastic bag that goes out with the trash. In an apartment, flushing may be better.

Get a large box to put the litter tray inside. This keeps the sand from being pelted onto the adjacent floor. A covered box hinged so you can clean the tray with a cut hole in the box's front and a towel for a paw-wiping mat would also help reduce sand spray and some smell, cheaply.

An old slotted spoon stays in my box for easier faster cleaning. The clumps could be stored inside it as well.

A kitten broke into my house two months ago and made itself at home. It stole all the hearts and now owns us outright.

[EmmaP]

23. Stinky

Kitty piddle usually has a very strong ammonia smell and kitty poo is, well, just pretty stinky. I keep a trash can with a lid right next to the litter box so when I scoop the offending clumps out of the litter box, they go immediately into the covered container. I try to scoop once a day and I don't have any problem with offending odors from the litter box. Offending odors from the kitchen, now that's another story - burned my falafel last night and I could still smell it this morning.

[corarose]

33. Don't bring up Cat pee or you will get threads started

Like I did one time.

[LynneSin]

24. Well the Apartment Manager has no reports of missing cats

Although she said that it's not uncommon for tenants to move out and leave their kitties behind :cry:

I'm going to try and find her owner between now and Xmas. I'll put up some signs and I can place a free ad in our local paper. And if I can't find her owners by Jan 1st 2004 - then she'll have a new one: me.

I don't want to spend too much money on her now knowing that her status could be temporary, but the humane society has a rabies clinic this Sunday and I figured for $10, it would be wise to get a shot for her. If I find the owners then they get a nice xmas present - 2004 rabies shot already done.

We'll see - she is really cute and she did cuddle up with me when I slept last night (ok, the clawing of my left breast I could have done without). I did rollover on her once and she then relocated to the windowsill for the rest of the night

[amandae]

25. My cousin uses pellet stove fuel for her cats ...

It's basically newspaper clumps or something like that. She buys it at home improvement stores and gets a huge bag for only a couple of bucks. And I have to say that it smells a whole helluva lot better than the stuff you buy at the store (that is, it masks the smell of the kitties, I should say). She also has a ferret, who can't use the store bought kitty litter so it serves both purposes.

I think the pellets are made from newspaper or something ... anyone who knows exactly what it's made of can correct me on that one. But the pellets fall apart when it's wet and it is pretty easy to clean the litter boxes. That and the pellets are so cheap you could just replace the entire box and still not break the bank ..

Glad you and the kitty are doing well together! I hope you find her family, but if you don't it's good to know you guys get along :-)

:hi:

[Missy Vixen]

27. Safe, clumpable, flushable kitty litter!

LynneSin, if you decide to keep Kitty after all, here's a great litter. It costs a lot more than the dollar or grocery store stuff, but you can flush the kitty byproducts with no problem. We've been using it for a couple of months now. Like I said, it's more expensive, but we'll never go back to the clay stuff again.

http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com

It's made from ground corn. Consequently, the scent is much different. If scooped regularly, it won't need to be changed more than once a month, and it WILL NOT SMELL. Yes, you read that right. The cats like it. If one has kittens (and they accidentally ingest some of the litter, as some kittens do :eyes:,) it won't hurt them. Clay litter will.

We have three cats, including our pooping machine Maine Coons. When their boxes are properly scooped, there is no residual smell. The litter doesn't get "gummy", either.

We think it's the greatest.

Good luck with your new furry friend; maybe Kitty chose you!

Julie

[VOX]

34. LynneSin, I can vouch for this product too -- it's the best and safest...

Thanks for posting this, Julie.

I used to use the flushable clay litter, but I felt I was getting a case of miner's lung every time I scooped it. And I had actually seen the cats emerging from the box coughing from the dust.

The flushable clay litter also spreads everywhere, and if you walk over it with damp feet (say, if you're just coming out of the shower), the damn stuff will stick to your feet like chewing gum.

The ground-corn litter is tops in my book.

[LynneSin]

36. I saw they sold it at a local pet store

so I might pick some up for her!!! But probably only if I keep her.

I need to get better litter tonight and I'll probably just get the Fresh Scoop or something similiar

[yellowdawgdem]

38. don't flush litter

I don't have experience with the corn-based litter (and want to try that one out), but in general, I think it is best not to flush the clumping litter down the toilet afterall. There isn't really a need to, you can keep a plastic bag inside a paper bag right next to the pan, and scoop into that. It won't stink if you close it with a twist stick or something. anyway, I was wondering why it should stink that much. I mean, stinky poopies usually mean something is wrong. If you give them really good crunchies and a little soft food and good water, there shouldn't be a really bad smell. imo.

[Catshrink]

32. My plumber said not to flush any kitty litter!

Gotta be careful! It's gross and disgusting, but scoop the poop and pee balls into a plastic bag -- I use either small size plastic bags that I buy on a roll or a doubled up plastic grocery bag (because they always have holes in them).

I have 5 cats, and do it twice a day. 4 litter boxes. Cat poop is my life.

You don't want a plumbing problem! Just been through it.

BTW, I was using EverClean and I liked it an awful lot. But it's much more expensive than the PetsMart Exquisite brand, which is what I use now. As you search for a good litter, be aware of allergies. Mine have them to certain litters. A friend of mine tried the wheat stuff and her cat suffered terribly. She went back to the clumping stuff and the cat is better.

As for the window sill thing -- mine love theirs. It's a awesome thing to have. Then of course, to entertain her, you need to put a bird feeder outside the window. She will become your life...

[SoCalDem]

35. NEVER----EVER--- FLUSH---LITTER

Scoop the doo-dee into a small platic bag and twist tie it..

Call the shelter and tell them you have taken this cat in.. Give them your number in case the family calls there..

You might also put up some pictures in your neighborhood.. and ask some kids playing outside if they know anyone who has lost a cat.. Kids usually know all the pet info in the neighborhood

[regnaD kciN]

37. Not true...

There are various brands of (non-clay-based) litters that can be flushed. But not the big-name scoopables like Scoop Away, Fresh Step, etc.

[Elad]

40. Actually, it shouldn't be flushed because it's harmful to the environment

Cat feces has parasites in it that are very deadly to wild critters, and flushing cat litter introduces these organisms into the wild.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/assignment7/070903_assign7_sea_otters.html

[LynneSin]

42. I'm not flushing

:D

[nickgutierrez]

39. Poop.

:hurts:

[Rhiannon12866]

41. I use Scoop Away, the clumping and unscented kind, if I can find

unscented. I also prefer low-tracking. Cats are pretty particular about litter, however, and this cat may prefer what she's used to. I have had the most luck with this one. I just scoop a couple of times a day and we're both happy.:-)

As for finding the people that might be missing her, have you phoned your local radio stations or your local shelters and animal hospitals? When I found a lost dog, that's what my friend in animal rescue told me to do. Usually that's the first place people will check if they have lost a pet. I wish you luck with this.:-)