for cat-lovers: an alternative to cat litter

[RoniMan]

if anyone can help, any advice will do.

One of my friends has a sick cat. Apparently it has some bladder control problems. So it drips pee everywhere. Now, I'm not a cat-lover, but from what I've heard, cat pee SMELLS. Apparently, the cat can't go on cat-litter. So she has to clean stuff up all the time. In addition, it's smelling up the house. Is there something that will help her with this? And I like this girl, so kicking the cat isn't an option I'm willing to give her :P

btw, she has hardwood floor

TIA

[DarkFury]

Sand is the normal alternative to cat litter....

However sand won't control the "smell". Is there a particular reason the cat can't use litter? Is it allergic or something?

[TofuNinja]

bladder control issues

Has she taken her cat the vet? if the kitty has a urinary tract infection it can be quite serious. That is the best advice I can give you on that topic

If the cat normally uses the litter box then see above. If the cat just refuses try cat attract. Perhaps Puppy pads might work.

Summery, take cat to vet. If the smell is getting to you Roni, have the girl sleep over at your place ;)

oh and check out this website

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html

[RoniMan]

Summery, take cat to vet. If the smell is getting to you Roni, have the girl sleep over at your place ;)

:heh: I like the way your mind works.

She's taken the cat to the doctor already, and it had surgery already, but it's fairly old, so this prob is chronic now. The main focus I'm trying to help her is to help with the smell.

DF, I'm not exactly sure why the cat doesn't go on the litter, but he doesn't.

I've been looking online, but there's so many suggestions, I'm not sure what really works. Also, most people are talking about carpet, she's got a hardwood floor.

[TofuNinja]

confining the pet may work, but it sucks for the cat. maybe MORE litter boxes, like one in each room if possible that way kitty knows there is always a toilet near by

[Prngr44]

http://www.tvproducts2000.net/urine-gone-pic.jpg

[Showtime]

1) Eww.

2) Cats are innately evil and eat peoples' souls.

3) Cat piss? All this drama for a cat? C-A-T? What are we talkin' about? We're talkin' about a cat?

4) Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Kick Old Mr. Bo jangles to the curb or euthanize it. Just stop by and accidentally leave the door open. She will thank you or she will be angry. Either way you win imo.

Oh and are you really sure you want to date a future crazy cat lady?
Single female.... check
Loves cats....... check
Place smells like cat piss.... check

In 10 years you will be reading about that crazy cat person with 107 cats that you tried to help. Or maybe in 10 years it will be you and the crazy cat lady that were reading about. ;)

[RoniMan]

1) Eww.

2) Cats are innately evil and eat peoples' souls.

3) Cat piss? All this drama for a cat? C-A-T? What are we talkin' about? We're talkin' about a cat?

4) Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Kick Old Mr. Bo jangles to the curb or euthanize it. Just stop by and accidentally leave the door open. She will thank you or she will be angry. Either way you win imo.

Oh and are you really sure you want to date a future crazy cat lady?
Single female.... check
Loves cats....... check
Place smells like cat piss.... check

In 10 years you will be reading about that crazy cat person with 107 cats that you tried to help. Or maybe in 10 years it will be you and the crazy cat lady that were reading about. ;)
.....uh.....thanx? :rolleyes:

[DarkFury]

1) Eww.

2) Cats are innately evil and eat peoples' souls.

3) Cat piss? All this drama for a cat? C-A-T? What are we talkin' about? We're talkin' about a cat?

4) Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Kick Old Mr. Bo jangles to the curb or euthanize it. Just stop by and accidentally leave the door open. She will thank you or she will be angry. Either way you win imo.

Oh and are you really sure you want to date a future crazy cat lady?
Single female.... check
Loves cats....... check
Place smells like cat piss.... check

In 10 years you will be reading about that crazy cat person with 107 cats that you tried to help. Or maybe in 10 years it will be you and the crazy cat lady that were reading about. ;)
Maybe we should send a box of cats to your house as payment for this post. :D

[chrissy]

Kid and pets (http://www.kidsnpetsbrand.com/hottouse.htm) for any stray messes. You can use it on hardwoods (test first of course!)fabrics. Basically any water safe surface.

Our first test was when we moved from our house on kozak to this one. Donnie moved the cats in MY CAR without a carrier. One of the cats urinated in my back seat. I was furious! We used a bottle and the smell was gone. And we are talking 100+ degree weather we get here!

We use it for the animals and when Patrick was potty training.

As for the litter, is it clay litter that the cat doesn't like? Try a pine litter (http://www.naturesearth.com/).

[redcolours]

i dont have a cat.
YET.
this is handy cuz im looking to adopt, not one, but TWO cats (so each ahs a companion). SOON.

or should i say looking to get adopted by those two cats? :P

anyways, thats my worry - i would love to care for a cat (or 2), just want to make sure i take care of the smell factor.
Cat'e pee DO STINK A LOT. i know - training the cats to use the litterbox fixes 90% of the issue.. but accidents happen. i just want to know how to control it right away.

thanks for the info!

(off topic: i preferred to get a cat instead of a dog, since dogs are fkn NEEDY as sh!t. i dont like needy creatures).

[DarkFury]

i dont have a cat.
YET.
this is handy cuz im looking to adopt, not one, but TWO cats (so each ahs a companion). SOON.

or should i say looking to get adopted by those two cats? :P

anyways, thats my worry - i would love to care for a cat (or 2), just want to make sure i take care of the smell factor.
Cat'e pee DO STINK A LOT. i know - training the cats to use the litterbox fixes 90% of the issue.. but accidents happen. i just want to know how to control it right away.

thanks for the info!

(off topic: i preferred to get a cat instead of a dog, since dogs are fkn NEEDY as sh!t. i dont like needy creatures).

Honestly, you really don't have to train cats to use a litterbox... as they have a NATURAL tendency to want to cover up their excrement.

Now granted, getting them to tell the difference between a big flowerpot and their litterbox might be a chore, however a healthy cat will RARELY poo on the floor if it has a choice to poo in a spot where it can cover it up.

Now as far as cat pee goes... if you have a male cat, you might want to have him neutered... which will reduce his urge to mark his territory. Female cats don't do this (which is why I usually only have female indoor cats :D )

As far as the smell of the excrement, well you have 2 ways of helping to control that:

1) Control what they eat... because what goes in ultimately comes out. Pretty much I will not feed my cat anything that has an oily/fishy smell as that ultimately will come back to haunt you. My cat eats Purina "indoor cat" forumula cat chow exclusively and has almost no smell at all. People who come to my house almost don't know I even have a cat until I tell them I do. :D

2) Use an odor absorbing clumping litter inside an enclosed litterbox. This helps to contain the smell. On top of this, either clean the litterbox frequently either removing the litter from your house in a sealed garbage bag or do what I did and get yourself a LITTER LOCKER (http://www.petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=1600). The Litter locker is very similar to a baby's diaper disposal system. It traps away the clumped poo and pee and seals it within a plastic bag so that you never have to touch it or smell it. :D

But seriously, you shouldn't have to take much effort to train a cat to use a litterbox. Question is, are you patient enough to train them to use the toilet directly and then flush afterwards. :D

[Paymaster]

If the cat was experiencing pain during urination, the problem with not using the litter box may be mental. Even if the pain is gone, the animal could be associating the pain to the litter box. She may need to give the cat a new litter box, in a different place, with a different litter, or something to eliminate the association to pain.

[oblongmelon]

My vet told me once that once an older cat starts "leaking" and not using the box that it's time to go to the big soft cat pillow in the sky.

[redcolours]

Honestly, you really don't have to train cats to use a litterbox... as they have a NATURAL tendency to want to cover up their excrement.

Now granted, getting them to tell the difference between a big flowerpot and their litterbox might be a chore, however a healthy cat will RARELY poo on the floor if it has a choice to poo in a spot where it can cover it up.

Now as far as cat pee goes... if you have a male cat, you might want to have him neutered... which will reduce his urge to mark his territory. Female cats don't do this (which is why I usually only have female indoor cats :D )

As far as the smell of the excrement, well you have 2 ways of helping to control that:

1) Control what they eat... because what goes in ultimately comes out. Pretty much I will not feed my cat anything that has an oily/fishy smell as that ultimately will come back to haunt you. My cat eats Purina "indoor cat" forumula cat chow exclusively and has almost no smell at all. People who come to my house almost don't know I even have a cat until I tell them I do. :D

2) Use an odor absorbing clumping litter inside an enclosed litterbox. This helps to contain the smell. On top of this, either clean the litterbox frequently either removing the litter from your house in a sealed garbage bag or do what I did and get yourself a LITTER LOCKER (http://www.petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=1600). The Litter locker is very similar to a baby's diaper disposal system. It traps away the clumped poo and pee and seals it within a plastic bag so that you never have to touch it or smell it. :D

But seriously, you shouldn't have to take much effort to train a cat to use a litterbox. Question is, are you patient enough to train them to use the toilet directly and then flush afterwards. :D

thanks for the good advice, DF!

thats what my friend said - give the cats sand, and they tend to gravitate towards it when they need to go.
(why i love cats more than dogs - they clean up after themselves).

is it better to get 2 litterboxes, 1 for each cat?

i was also told to use a bit of baking soda in the litter.

the male is neutered, and the female is spayed, and both already have their shots. theyre relatively young, not even a year old. I was thinking of just one (the male), since hes very playful, more of a lap cat. But he has a companion, the female, who has that "paranoiac" disposition. But once she warms up, shes cool. I was told she needs to see that playfulness from the male to coax her to be more outgoing.

what's a "standard toy" for a cat?

also,any way to prevent cats from having fun with the furniture? scratching post, yes? maybe regularly trim the nails? theyll both be indoors only.

[DarkFury]

thanks for the good advice, DF!

thats what my friend said - give the cats sand, and they tend to gravitate towards it when they need to go.
(why i love cats more than dogs - they clean up after themselves).

is it better to get 2 litterboxes, 1 for each cat?

i was also told to use a bit of baking soda in the litter.

the male is neutered, and the female is spayed, and both already have their shots. theyre relatively young, not even a year old. I was thinking of just one (the male), since hes very playful, more of a lap cat. But he has a companion, the female, who has that "paranoiac" disposition. But once she warms up, shes cool. I was told she needs to see that playfulness from the male to coax her to be more outgoing.

what's a "standard toy" for a cat?

also,any way to prevent cats from having fun with the furniture? scratching post, yes? maybe regularly trim the nails? theyll both be indoors only.
If the litterbox is big enough/deep enough, you can get by with one... however I'd HIGHLY recommend a Deodorant clumping litter in the litterbox (personally, I use Tidy Cat clumping litter... works like a charm! :thumb: ) Tidy Cat has everything you need already in it so you just pour and scoop up the clumped waste and just dispose of it (with very little smell... thank goodness.)

My cat mostly loves to play with her little "fake mouse toy". Basically it is a cloth mouselike toy approximately the same size as a real mouse. She bats and chases that toy all over the house. Other good toys include: a dangling "swat toy" that you can hang from a door or doorway, a ball ring where the cat can swat the ball inside that goes in a circle, or any other small "non swallowable" toys.

As far as the claws go... well my cat is declawed on the front paws only. I know that some members here don't agree with declawing, but hey... she's an INDOOR ONLY cat, and honestly life around the house got MUCH better after the procedure was done. Trying to trim her nails was like sticking your hand in a live buzzsaw. She still has her back claws and she knows how to use them if you piss her off... but for the most part she is very sweet and loving... the model of the perfect indoor cat. :D

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/d4rkfury/frankie600closeup.jpg

[johnnymk]

That's the first pic of your cat, DF. She's a real cutie.

[DarkFury]

That's the first pic of your cat, DF. She's a real cutie.
Heh... yeah, first I've posted here.

Here is actually the "first pic" of my cat when she was a lil' kitten...

She was SOOOOOO cute back then, but she's a sweetheart now. :D

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/d4rkfury/frankie1.jpg

[molecularfire]

Uhhh... Roni... have you guys just thought of getting the cat a diaper?

[redcolours]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/d4rkfury/frankie600closeup.jpg

thats what the cat im looking to adopt looks like!

[RoniMan]

Uhhh... Roni... have you guys just thought of getting the cat a diaper?
she doesn't want to do that.

i bought the kids and pets cleaner chrissy recommended. so we'll see how that goes first.

[renovation]

we have 2 cats .and one came down with a bladder infection .cost us $600 for a sunday night vet call .it was bleeding and it was the wifes call . the vet tells us it got pissed becouse we went away . and to feed it this special urinary tract heath dry cat food by special kitty or some other companys . we get it at walmart cost like $3.74 for 8 pounds . it seem to work .also had to give it pills for like 10 days .these were included in the $600 .00 vet bill . cats can be very tempermental SOBs .
i know you can shread news paper and use it as litter .but the smell of there piss is very bad . im glad they cover it .it maybe becouse they cant handle it them self :) . she can always try training it to use the potty . and also to flush .hehehehe good luck on this !

[RoniMan]

we have 2 cats .and one came down with a bladder infection .cost us $600 for a sunday night vet call .it was bleeding and it was the wifes call . the vet tells us it got pissed becouse we went away . and to feed it this special urinary tract heath dry cat food by special kitty or some other companys . we get it at walmart cost like $3.74 for 8 pounds . it seem to work .also had to give it pills for like 10 days .these were included in the $600 .00 vet bill . cats can be very tempermental SOBs .
i know you can shread news paper and use it as litter .but the smell of there piss is very bad . im glad they cover it .it maybe becouse they cant handle it them self :) . she can always try training it to use the potty . and also to flush .hehehehe good luck on this !
i don't suppose you remember the name of the cat food you mentioned?

[johnnymk]

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070528/LIFE05/705280351/1006/

"One of the most common complaints is "won't use little box,' " says Jim Monsma, director of communications at the Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington. But "at least 95 percent of the time, the same cat uses a litter box fine at the shelter."

A visit to the vet can eliminate any health problems.

One of the many reasons to neuter your pet is that it usually prevents them from territorial spraying, especially males. "Neuturing helps cut down on spraying because removing the testosterone reduces the tendency for male cats to want to be dominate and mark their areas," says Dr. Patti Iampietro, a veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

Your vet also can rule out underlying medical issues, such as urinary tract and bladder problems. "Also, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease or other disease where the urine is less concentrated and the cat is drinking more can lead to urination out of the pan," says Iampietro.

One thing to do is look at your litter.

There are many different varieties of litter — experiment to determine your cat's preference.

"I like the clumping kind because you can get all the waste out every day. But clumping is not good for kittens younger than 6 months old. The fear is that they might lick it off their paws and get a blockage," says Monsma. "But ultimately, it is your cat who will decide, and some are pickier than others. If you should want to change litter for any reason, you can mix the new in slowly. If you go slowly enough, your cat won't freak and go on a litter strike."

You also should consider litter box placement and litter box type.

"Bear in mind that cats like privacy," says Monsma. "You can't put a litter box in the middle of a busy hall and expect a cat to use it."

And, cats can be as picky about litter box type as they are about the litter in it.

"Use different types of pans in different areas of the house," says Iampietro. Some cats may prefer the covered type of box and others may dislike it. Older cats or kittens may have trouble climbing into a box if the sides are too high.

Experience matters, too.

"If something falls with a loud "bang' next to the litter box while they are in it, they'll avoid it from then on," says Monsma.

And, keep your litter box clean.

Finally, we like cats for their cleanliness, so we shouldn't be surprised if they don't want to use a dirty bathroom any more than we do. "I am absolutely adamant about scooping every single day," Monsma says.

More than one box helps as well. Iampietro says "provide one more litter box than the number of cats."

"I let my nose tell me when to dump out all the litter and start with fresh," says Monsma. "Then I wash the pan out with a mild bleach solution and make sure it's dry and no longer smells of bleach before refilling it. "It helps to have two pans so that if one is being cleaned and your cat feels the urge, he won't end up going on the floor."

[DarkFury]

Maybe this would help as well... (if clay litter is a problem)

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3635725

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/07/64/37/58/15/0764375815569_500X500.jpg

BTW... as far as "special foods" for urinary tract infections, have you considered the Purina ONE Special Care Urinary Tract Health Formula?

http://www.petco.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=870455&cm_ven=biz&cm_cat=12&cm_pla=870455&cm_ite=870455

http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/1/1780054917C.jpg

[GraingerGuy]

As far as the claws go... well my cat is declawed on the front paws only. I know that some members here don't agree with declawing, but hey... she's an INDOOR ONLY cat, and honestly life around the house got MUCH better after the procedure was done. Trying to trim her nails was like sticking your hand in a live buzzsaw. She still has her back claws and she knows how to use them if you piss her off... but for the most part she is very sweet and loving... the model of the perfect indoor cat. :D



An alternative to having the cat declawed is having the vet put caps on the claws. My fiancee's aunt did that to her cats and it worked pretty well. The only thing is that you'll have to do it again after a while as it's not permanent like declawing.

[DarkFury]

An alternative to having the cat declawed is having the vet put caps on the claws. My fiancee's aunt did that to her cats and it worked pretty well. The only thing is that you'll have to do it again after a while as it's not permanent like declawing.
Agreed...

But more visits to the vet = $$$$$

Seriously, my cat is in no danger without those front claws. We don't expect for her to go out and kill her own food. :D

[cheapie]

:heh: is there any other country on earth where people would put up with a cat walking around dripping pee? i'm with obby. that's the sign that it's time for that cat to move on.

[Napoleon54]

(off topic: i preferred to get a cat instead of a dog, since dogs are fkn NEEDY as sh!t. i dont like needy creatures).
Stay away from women. :shifty:

[DarkFury]

Stay away from women. :shifty:
True... but at least women have a few other "useful features" that sorta make up for that one downfall. :naughty: :D

[GraingerGuy]

Agreed...

But more visits to the vet = $$$$$

Seriously, my cat is in no danger without those front claws. We don't expect for her to go out and kill her own food. :D

Oh I wasn't critizing your choice of keeping those claws from your person and couches.....I was just throwing another option out there for redcolours.