Have owned cats for over 45 years (yep, I’m older) and I will do anything to keep my babies be happy/ content. Am open to trying new litter/ pellets with my newcomers. Am not willing to place litter boxes all over the house, however. I have never encountered any problems with one larger box for two cats--& cleaning 3x daily. I too now have privacy screens to keep the box out of sight & give them their space/ solitude. One if the biggest issues to me is having safe & healthy cats. If a kitten never goes outside, it cannot miss what it doesn’t know. Healthy, nutritionally balanced, emotionally happy cats seem more able to be comfortable re: their ‘poop’ places, or palaces. Healthy kitties require fewer vet visits too 😻
I love the wheat hull litter I've used for the past 20 years. All my cats have loved it too. I do not understand why people think scented litter is good.
It is a good litter. I have tried them all. I also use crumbled paper for one box, but it must be changed daily and is expensive. Cats are expensive if taken care of properly, which I do.
What a refined lady, cats can be very stuborn when it comes to what they prefer, you can't keep a cat long without eating either or could lead to organ failure and death.
The scent is for the buyers, not the cat. It's the same sort of "logic" that motivates baby food companies to add sugar to baby food before a small child develops their sweet receptors in their tongues; it's added for the Mom's taste, not for the baby 's.
Great job, I hope people will listen to your advice, I read so many post on FB groups where people has constant issues with this. I have six cats and Have been using pine pellets for over 5 years now. There are litterboxes in every room and some rooms has two boxes, I use both open and large furniture so they all have a choice. I have no litterbox issues with none of my cats. It's finding the right set up for your cats and I dont get why it's so hard for so many people.
I use an under the bed plastic storage container. Of course its not under anything. It's a big long one that you can buy for under $20.00. I clean their business out every day and give it a deep cleaning a couple of times a month using dawn dish soap ( small amount ) and bleach water and give it a good rinsing and drying.
I took my tabby kitten to be spayed years ago. When she got home, she forgot how to poop in the box and for years would poop just outside the box on the floor. She's 10 now and I still have to remind her to "poop in the box." She gets it, and I am still amazed she understands me. Good girl. 🐾
I had a problem with that when my cat was young. It turned out she thought the box was too small. I now have a jumbo litter box and I haven’t had a problem since. Of course, I had a big clue from her when I once saw her getting in and out of the litter box, repeatedly, trying to dig to China all around and in the box. When she noticed me standing there, she gave me the stupid human look, proceeded to squat outside the box, took a dump, and then left the room with tail high. The litter was new and pristine.
If your cat is develops an aversion to a box then find out why. The cat was probably in pain and came to associate the box with the pain. Maybe it was too small. A cat will not "forget" where to poop. They will just decide to poop someplace else.
A friend of mine who rescues cats has devoted a children's wading pool as a litter box for her "pride" of kitties waiting to be adopted! Very roomy and never any squabbles between the cats.
I had a similar problem. My kitten had intestinal worms and was in pain when she used the box. I guess she associated it with being in pain and wouldn’t use it. I bought this stuff called “kitten attract” litter and my kitten started using it the same day.
I am always cleaning the litter box and he walks in between my legs to go pee. He's too funny, he's a feral cat I took in because he became sick outside and now he's staying. It's so funny when you bring a feral cat inside they never want to go outside ever again.
When I lived in an apartment, smell was an issue. I bought a Litter Robot (the OG version) and used store brand clumping litter from my local supermarket. My two cats took to this setup instantly. I still have the same automatic litter box, it’s easy to repair and parts are cheap… it outlived my two furry pals. We got two new kittens a few years ago and they too enjoy the litter box. It’s always clean and pretty much free of odours.
My cats HATE the wood and recycled paper litter. They only like the clumping, unscented litter. They were outdoor cats until October so we’ve been really working to find what works.
@@tazman8697 Hello Judgement guy, I moved across the country. My choices were to leave them at the house I sold or bring them with me. Because I’m a loving and responsible pet owner, I brought them with me and they are very, very happy. I guess you can call the cat police on me for this terrible choice I’ve made, OR you can F all the way off.
@@tazman8697 I moved across country 2000 miles into a rent house. Should I have abandoned them instead? At any rate, are you the cat police or just a jerk thinking they can shame people on here? Not that it’s any of your business, but they are very happy to be inside and thriving.
@@tazman8697No it’s not, it’s animal cruelty to leave them outside in the elements. That’s what actually cruel. This lady took in and helped cats and you’re upset? Are you actually serious or a troll trying to bait a random person that took in some cats? Either way…weird. As to OP don’t worry you’re fine. I like to use arm and hammer clump and seal for my cats and it works great! I am a cat rescuer and I too have found it almost impossible to get formal ferals to use anything but clay litter. Yes it’s a bit dusty but you can find ones like what I use that don’t have much dust at all. Don’t let this random guy on RU-vid make you think you should change litters. As long as the clay litter isn’t dusty it’s fine. My childhood cat lived 21 years on clay litter
I love the way my cat follows me into the bathroom every morning meowing and staring at me whilst I do my ablutions, rubbing and nudging my legs.... No personal space .... then I follow them down stairs and they look at me in disgust if I'm within 2 meters of their litter box whilst they do theirs 😅
It took years of frustration to find a litter my cat would use .. He prefers the wood shavings you use for guinea pig caged If he couldn't go outside ..he would avoid his litter trays until i found the small pet bedding.. It also masks any odours
I got a stainless steel lasagna pan with high sides. It does not absorb odor like the plastic ones & my cat likes how spacious it is. It is about 15 x 23 x 6 inches. Good video.
@@yvonnelanese-coppola4999 I just might try a stainless steel pan. As you say, they're probably easier to clean. Thanks for the idea, friends! And Miss Sparkey says thanks, too. 😻
I have open litter boxes-- big enough that they can poop on the 40 yard line and pee on the 10 yard line and have room to play a game. The sides are high enough to stop them kicking everything out on the floor. ONE is wood pellets- and they're finally beginning to use it over the clay-- which I want to get rid of. Once they get to ALL using the pellets all the time-- I'll get the clay out- it's bad for them to breathe and gets in my FAKE eye and causes issues...as well as being bad for ALL of us to breathe. They're liking the wood pellets-- and I use SOFT wood mixed in with the pellets- and it goes right through to the bottom box.. Holds the scent better too-- and I use the wood on my roses and they do GREAT with it..
My cat doesn't care about her litter, febreeze scented or unscented she uses both without issue. Was using the litter box without being trained and she was just a super small kitten
I've always used wood chip being the most 'natural' product available - but it is very lightweight. Now only yesterday there was a massive spill from the litter box - almost half the contents tipped onto the floor - fortunately nothing too 'horrid'! - cats just love to perch on the side! While watching your video I had a brainwave - whether it works or not time will tell. What I am going to try is placing a brick wrapped in a plastic bag or cling film - to discard/rinse off regularly - at one end of the box in the hope that this will counter-balance the cats resting their entire weight at the other end as they take a pee! Worth a try anyway.
Unfortunately one of my cats can’t use the pellet litter, he will go outside of the box or somewhere in the house. The other 3 have no issues with it. So one box has clay 😩which I hate, I’ve tried so many with this cat. He will only use clay.
The best litter I have found World’s Best clumping litter. Available from Pet’s At Home, on line. It’s expensive but because it clumps you only throw away a small amount every day.
I started my kitten on wood pellets,, but when I was on vacation she stayed with a friend who placed her box near her own cat's clay litter box. My cat switched back, and I've never been able to change her mind. I tried again recently, but after 4 months she would only urinate in the wood pellets, but pooped in the clay. Pine pellet odor also triggers my allergies. They are easier to use and don't track, but I had to give up on them.
I've tried getting my cat to use pine pellets for almost a year -- slow transitions, cold turkey and everything in-between -- it didn't work. He'd rather do his business on our couch so I also had to give up. I hear this advice all the time about using pellets, and not using clay. Some of us don't have a choice.
I have tried wood pellets as well but did not like them. The best, according to me and my cat, is cat litter made of corn. it does not dust that much (it does but it does not trigger sneezing), smells naturally (the artificial smells would give even me a headache) and the best thing is you can flush the pee turds and poo down the toalet. ALso it resembles more soil/sand/dirt and I think it is better for their sensitive paws. And if there is enough of it, it catches the smells nicely so that I cant even tell there's poo buried in it. It is not as cheap as clay though. Another good option is litter made of tofu leftovers
I have 7 cats of different ages and sizes, all Ragdolls. I tried so many types of litter before in a hope to find the perfect one which will tick all my requirements boxes and I found wooden pellets work the best! First it has a natural wood smell and absorb bad odour. I get pine pellets and the litter smells so good and fresh, it smells like a Forrest Second: After this litter gets wet it absorbs the liquid quickly and it starts to break down into a saw dust. The saw dust is soft and doesn’t stick to the paws like other litter especially clay. Third: it’s very easy to clean, I never use any liners, I scoop out the hard bits and the litter which is already wet leaving the rest of dry litter in the box. Then I can top up if needed and it’s good to use again! Cats really like it and I like it too, there is no litter outside the box as pellets don’t stick to the paws . And most of all when changing the litter you are not going to be suffocating be a of the smell, if you clean regularly then litter stays fresh and doesn’t smell.
1. I buy large clear storage containers, and line them with the jumbo disposable cardboard liners that you can get online. If I think my cat has trouble getting in and out I cut down one side. Then you don't need those lids to keep the litter from being scattered. 2. For the litter mat., look for the mats that have two layers. The top layer has holes so it falls through to the bottom layer. "Double layer trapper pad " - the best kind of mat you can find. 3. Whatever makes you think those wood pellets are softer than crystal litter? And who wants composted cat waste? Seriously doubt this is approved for gardens.
Misha never had an issue with her box, until we used an alternative (cheaper) litter. She expressed her objection by peeing all over the person-sized guest bed in her room. We had to strip it down to the mattress, bedspread, blankets, mattress cover, linens and all. Word to the wise, don't send the baby to buy the beer or let your good man loose in the store.
This behavior of rubbing his paws on the wall could be his way of cleaning his paws or marking his territory, as cats have scent glands in their paws. 🐾😸🤔
One of my Maine Coons does this - scratches a whole bunch on the wall of the box (I’ve got hooded trays - I know I know! The newest one doesn’t have a door attached though because the door was silly and served no purpose), then comes out and walks over to a couple of spots in the kitchen and scratches on the wall cabinets, the bin, the air purifier! Basically anything that’s got a vertical surface that’s nearby. And I say scratch - he’s not really using his claws, so it’s more of a pawing!
I tried about 6 different litter boxes for my cat…corner ones, covered ones, rotating cleaning ones, top loading one. In a broke and deapwrate bid, I got the ten dollar ikea one and prayed it would work. She loved it. I recommend it to everyone. Its durable - smells do not penetrate it, every other one did after a few weeks. Its also open and long and deep. Most importantly ita sturdy enough for my cats paws as she is a very big cat and leans on it. Ive had it for 5 years. Best purchase. Also a litter genie that you can shove a roll of regular compostable bags in is Awesome!!!
Never a fan of any video that starts off or is titled that the viewer is doing something wrong. You do not know .01% of your viewers and what they know. This alone is enough for me to never watch your videos again.
Timestamp summary for anyone who finds it useful (because the chapter names are too cryptic): 0:25 Number 9: Too small 1:06 Number 8: Using liners or hooded litter boxes 2:05 Number 7: Not using the right litter 3:07 Number 6: Using too little litter 4:11 Number 5: Not cleaning the litter box regularly 4:55 Number 4: Not having enough litter boxes 5:50 Number 3: Sides are too high 6:28 Number 2: Litter box in the wrong location 7:10 Number 1: Changing the litter brand or type suddenly
I've seen several videos claiming pine pellet litter is best. However, allergic to pine and we can't use pine-based cleaners or even shampoos that contain pine tar. What do you think is the best option for good odor control and no perfumes or scents, and also has easy-fast cleaning?
I used pine pellets for years with my cats and they did great, but one of my cats developed an allergy and I didn't know what he was allergic to. I ended up changing the litter just in case. I switched to the newspaper pellets and that seemed to be a good switch.
I have 2 of the largest litter boxes that you can get. She hasn't been tsught but she pees in one and poos in the other. It was the same with my last cat. Just automatically do it.
1:13 The truth is hooded litter boxes are fine for most cats. There was a study done that found most cants didn’t care about the litter box being in a closed in box. HOWEVER, some cats don’t like them. Some cats refuse to use them and will mess in the house. Most don’t. But some do. So that’s why they tell you not to use them. Personally I don’t. I use open boxes. But my family used closed boxes for our family cat I had growing up and he never seemed to mind it. Most important thing is that you clean daily. Not enough people clean daily 2:21 okay HARD disagree about clay litter. Not all clay litter produces dust. I’m a cat rescuer and my favorite litter of all time is arm and hammers clump and seal clay litter. It has almost no dust at all. Basically none. And I’ve never not been able to litter train a feral with it. So many cats won’t use anything but something sand like. So a lot of the “better” alternatives some cats just refuse to use. My Willow is like that. Started out as a feral I took in. She had accidents everywhere. At that time when I’d brought her in I’d run out of my normal litter and was using some yesterday’s news that had been donated. And she just wouldn’t use it. As soon as I got the clay litter she was using the litter box. And she’s just one example. I have had many fosters that were the same way with litter.
oh boy! People not keeping cats litter clean? I KNOW what time of day Pretzel goes pee & poop. Every day-same time it gets clean! If shes not using her litter box at these times- I know something is up maybe she is not feeling well. Its very basic- What would I expect to have myself, eat drink ,clean bathroom, ; privacy. Let me knkw Why doez Pretzel (my tortie) always follow ME to the bathroom every time I go & keeps wanting to be pet? 😊
Try corn cat litter. It resembles clay but it is much better for their health and for your convenience (can be flushed down the toalet, or dumped on a compost, and smell nice, it gets caught in the special matt and is not everywhere in the flat like clay ones). At least I find it best out of five types of litter I have tried so far (clay, wood pallets, corn litter, tofu litter, silicon).
Wood pellets are the WORST cat litter!! I've used clumping litter since the 80's with none of the Fear Uncertainly and Doubt as in this video. I was living overseas and clumping litter became unavailable for about a month and resorted to wood pellets - a month of stank hell and cost as the litter needed to be changed sometimes twice a day.
Had two cats for 14 years. Use two high sided boxes. Regular litter. No issues. In fact don't really have a choice as the female doesn't squat to pee, instead she fired it out as high as possible as if a trainee firefighter kitty. 😂
I have 5 cats n 3 larger trays n 2 smaller in different rooms n I also put puppy pads down as 1 starred peeing by the back door ( nightmare as we didn't notice it to start but our oldest cat she's 11 loves to pee on them so we have hopefully solved to stinky area I stray it with a enzyme cleaner , we always used silica litter for many years but with 5 cats it was costing too much we tried wood pellets they didn't n we didn't like it we are after trying so many ,we use Natures calling now ... still not 💯 happy but it'll do till we find 1were all happy with 😊
10. Teach the cat the toilet. Sawdust can be flushed. Put your box near the toilet. Switch from litter to sawdust. Switch the box for a turkey pan under the seat rim and fill it with sawdust. Put a hole in the middle and the cat will start preferring the hole ( toilet ). Don't teach the cat to flush.
Disagree with 5 litter boxes for my 4 cats. Tried this and the little boogers still use one mostly and sometimes another. I hate where the location of their chosen box lives, but it did stop the males from marking even though they had plenty to choose from.
My cat likes a semi covered box. I put mine under a table for that reason. My kitty old man hates liners as well. My cat only likes clay litter as well
My kit is okay with a hooded box. She sometimes scoots her bum to the edge and piddles on the side of the box but tbh she did that with the non hooded box too and it was more messy as it would end up on the floor
I had a covered box that a couple of cats liked. We got a large cat and he would go to the covered box back up to the door and poo that way. He could use the open box but wouldn't.
These videos and this one in particular are so so important to those out there who aren't as familiar with owning a cat as someone who grew up with them (as I did) Even the best intentioned cat owners make these mistakes and I don't blame them, I'd make mistakes owning a dog as I've never owned a dog of my own. Lived with them but I've never been responsible for a doggie. The CLAY LITTER thing is soooo important to me. Ever since it came out I've used the breeze litter system. Yes it's a little more expensive but that system or similar ones are soo worth it. The cats don't mind the thicker pellets, it's MUCH MUCH cleaner as they don't track any litter anywhere, and it helps tremendously with odor since it dries out their poopies. Also the pee pads are soooo much better than having the pee and poopie in the same place because when clay litter absorbs the pees it ends up taking up all the litter available, and is super difficult to clean. Anyways I have a cat that doesn't like to share the same litter box with my other cat and I don't have the space for 2 boxes anymore so she actually prefers to use puppy pee pads! They're cheap and she gets a fresh one every time she goes to the bathroom. She is my spoiled queen. So I keep a puppy pee pad for her outside of the regular box and she uses that when the other cat has used the box recently. She's always had issues using the litter box since she was a stray that I took in so I don't think she ever properly learned how to use one. So those of you out there that have issues try the puppy pee pads right outside and partially under the litter box (set up like a litter mat) and see if they use that instead of go where they aren't supposed to like on the carpet and see if that helps. Sorry for the long rant I just spoil my cats and care about the well being of all cats so this video to me is very important information!
Why did you own a cat if you kept it outside? Please don’t get another.. a cat needs companionship and love and if you aren’t prepared to give it the basics then best to not bother.
Lol wood for litter. This is the stupidest thing that's become a trend. Do u see a cat pooping in a tree or amidst broken down branches? No... soil soil and more soil. It's free and it's everywhere outside. Get it and your cat will thank you.
I;-'m legit trying the soil. Didn't really think about that and one cat I have won't use the litter box and I have no idea why! He used to as a kitten, so I'm going to try the soil method!
@wintermoon7003 I hope it works for you. Best thing ever not having to spend a single dollar for litter 😄. However, if your cat still refuses, it could be a mental or physical problem and get them checked.
