The Vent and Rant Thread

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

We have a slight problem with the kittens. <snippage>

Since Luna mostly uses the downstairs litter box my mother replaced it with one with a high back, she also switched to saw dust pellets as a filling, since those give off less smell and are easier to clean. After a couple of days of reluctance they didn't have a problem with this new system. And last week we got the same litter box for upstairs, which they also accepted.

<snippage>

I cleaned up the mess, put some tin foil down on the spot in the hallway and locked my catflap. Until Maru has accepted the new situation she won't be allowed in my rooms.

Have you tried clumping litter, rather than pellets? When you use pellets, even though they are easier for the human to clean, they still stink to the cat. Just an idea.

Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Have you tried clumping litter, rather than pellets? When you use pellets, even though they are easier for the human to clean, they still stink to the cat. Just an idea.

Hitch

Well, it looks like it wasn't Maru acting up, but Luna being in heat. The poor thing just tried to get it on with the kitchen sink. So it's more likely her urinating in spots she shouldn't. Luckily we have an appointment with the vet for Monday to get them both neutered.

We tried the clumping one, but they throw out the clumps. They've been fine with the pellets, especially since I scoop twice a day.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Have you tried clumping litter, rather than pellets? When you use pellets, even though they are easier for the human to clean, they still stink to the cat. Just an idea.

Hitch

Kittens that are started out with regular litter do NOT want to switch to the pellets ... and you can have a life long battle over it. Plus it can derail all their litter training. Once you get kittens litter box trained you do NOT want to mess with them.

Plus, any litter type change has to be gradual - change the box first, then gradually transition the litter. Too much change at the same time can upset kittens and cause urination outside the box.

As Hitch said, switch to low-dust clumping litter to combat smells.

To transition to pellets, if you must, add litter boxes with pellets to the rooms in addition to the old boxes with regular litter. Let the cats adjust slowly by having a choice as to which box to use.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Kittens that are started out with regular litter do NOT want to switch to the pellets ... and you can have a life long battle over it. Plus it can derail all their litter training. Once you get kittens litter box trained you do NOT want to mess with them.

Plus, any litter type change has to be gradual - change the box first, then gradually transition the litter. Too much change at the same time can upset kittens and cause urination outside the box.

As Hitch said, switch to low-dust clumping litter to combat smells.

To transition to pellets, if you must, add litter boxes with pellets to the rooms in addition to the old boxes with regular litter. Let the cats adjust slowly by having a choice as to which box to use.

Yeah, all of this ties with my experience.

Vis-a-vis the clumps--you need a deeper box, then. I have pretty large Maine Coons; the female isn't so big, only 9-10 lbs, but the male is nearly 18lbs, and a big bruiser of a guy. We have a very deep box, basically this one: https://www.chewy.com/frisco-high-si...navy/dp/168284 (no affil) and it's a life-saver for bigger or enthusiastic cats.

I find pelllets almost never work well with cats. They loathe the smell, and you can hardly blame them. I know, you want to make it easy and all that, but you can't scoop out what soaks in and can't be seen. It's like cedar chips. Nice idea, for the humans, but it sucks for the cat.

And heat? Oh, yeah, good thing you're going. Most vets won't neuter during a heat cycle though, if memory serves. (Is that an old-fashioned thing? It's been nearly 30 years since the last time I had to have a female neutered; our MissStorm was already neutered when we got her...)

Hitch

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Kittens that are started out with regular litter do NOT want to switch to the pellets ... and you can have a life long battle over it. Plus it can derail all their litter training. Once you get kittens litter box trained you do NOT want to mess with them.

Plus, any litter type change has to be gradual - change the box first, then gradually transition the litter. Too much change at the same time can upset kittens and cause urination outside the box.

As Hitch said, switch to low-dust clumping litter to combat smells.

To transition to pellets, if you must, add litter boxes with pellets to the rooms in addition to the old boxes with regular litter. Let the cats adjust slowly by having a choice as to which box to use.

After their first reaction to the pellets we then mixed it up with their old filling, slowly decreasing it. Luna seems to prefer it; she used to poop upstairs, but since switching she does everything on the pellets.

As I said before it's most likely Luna who is in heat. Which coinsided with us moving the litter box. We're keeping an eye on it, after Monday, when they get neutered we'll know if that was the cause or not.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

And heat? Oh, yeah, good thing you're going. Most vets won't neuter during a heat cycle though, if memory serves. (Is that an old-fashioned thing? It's been nearly 30 years since the last time I had to have a female neutered; our MissStorm was already neutered when we got her...)

Hitch

We got the pellets that disintegrate when wet and the fall through holes in the bottom to a lower box, I empty that twice a week and clean it, solids gets scooped out twice a day. Luna prefers it over the old filling, Maru doesn't seem to care anymore, she goes on which box is nearest.

We checked and cats can get neutered when they're in heat. I can remember that cats had to be a year old before they got neutered, Nikita got in heat very young and it was very bad, especially for her. The vet neutered her early. Now cats can get neutered at 6 months old, and it seems we've made the appointment right in time.

[DiapDealer]

Ah, there's nothing like the melodious sounds of a leafblower being used to inflate a giant Santa on a motorcycle to let you know Christmas time's a' comin'.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Ah, there's nothing like the melodious sounds of a leafblower being used to inflate a giant Santa on a motorcycle to let you know Christmas time's a' comin'.

MWAHAHAHA.

Hitch

[DiapDealer]

Like caltrops strewn on an ancient battlefield, the wire ornament hooks hunkered deep in the plush carpet. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the vulnerable underbelly of the vacuum to pass over.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

We got the pellets that disintegrate when wet and the fall through holes in the bottom to a lower box, I empty that twice a week and clean it, solids gets scooped out twice a day. Luna prefers it over the old filling, Maru doesn't seem to care anymore, she goes on which box is nearest.

We have never had much problems with cats and their litter and our choices have been really just driven by what was convenient to us. At some time or another we have used most commercial types plus the likes of sand off the beach, etc., but some years back a breeder suggested trying the crystal litter (it is a form of silica gel) and we have found it to be very successful.

When we tried the first lot we were surprised that the cats liked it as it is very crunchy under their paws but they took to it straight away. It lasts a long time and does not tend to smell (and it has no odour of its own), it also does not get wet as it just absorbs liquids as silica gel does.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Like caltrops strewn on an ancient battlefield, the wire ornament hooks hunkered deep in the plush carpet. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the vulnerable underbelly of the vacuum to pass over.

I was sure you were going to say 'vulnerable underbelly of the unshod foot'

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I was sure you were going to say 'vulnerable underbelly of the unshod foot'

Nah. They lie flat for the naked foot. But they'll jump right into the upright vacuum, snag the beater-bar and smoke a belt within seconds if you don't get it turned off quick enough.

Maybe not technically very caltrop-ey in nature, but I couldn't think of another weapon/warfare reference to riff on.

[DiapDealer]

NEWSFLASH: No one cares (not even a tiny bit) that their chili doesn't meet your tired, ridiculously rigid (and entirely dogma-born) notion of what's "allowed" to be called chili. Keep it to yourself.

[gridlewak]

Re: cat litter issues. We started using a biodegradable litter made from wood products that could be flushed down the toilet. Worked good for the new cat but not for the older one who wanted nothing to do with it.

For us, it was great being able to just flush it away. No bagging it, and putting it onto the regular garbage, where the stink still seeps out of it while waiting for garbage day.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

NEWSFLASH: No one cares (not even a tiny bit) that their chili doesn't meet your tired, ridiculously rigid (and entirely dogma-born) notion of what's "allowed" to be called chili. Keep it to yourself.

Uh-oh, Chili Wars. Here in the US Desert Southwest, man, we take those battles very seriously! :-)

Hitch