How to make up litter tray

[inchoccyheaven]

We have 2 cats bro and sis both nearly 15 yrs old. For past few months male cat has taken to peeing on anything that is left lying around, clothes, carrier bags, wellies that are lying on their sides etc, and tonight he has peed on ds2 bed [:(]

Spoke to vet recently and they suggested getting him a litter tray which I had been putting off doing as really didn't want to have to do that after all this time, and haven't got a great place to put it.

However because of the cold etc I have bought litter tray but what is best way of making it up? I have used a charity bag as a liner and then put newspaper in followed by litter. Is this right and how often do I empty it out?

I have put it on landing upstairs which DH isn't happy about as cat has knocked some of the litter onto carpet already, but the only other place to put it would be in the hall way where people would have walk past it all the time. Our back door is in dining room so don't really want it to be where we are eating and kitchen is so tiny with no door so not practical to put it in there.

Any advice welcomed :)

[Jayne266]

Charity bag as a liner?
Use a puppy training pad or newspaper to line it with and something to scratch with either cat litter, shredded newspaper some cats even need mud initially.

It needs to be away from the cats food and ideally somewhere with a bit of privacy. It should be cleaned everytime after use with warm soapy water/ cleaning product (don't use bleach).

If the place to put it is a issue then you can get one with a top to it.

Is this cat new? Has it only just started to wee in the house.

If not new this can be a sign of a behavioural problem or even medical am guessing your vet has checked them out. So hopefully it will just be ok with a litter tray.

[Grumpla]

Clean it after every use? Blimey, I do mine about once a month!!

I use those silica granule things, poop scoop daily, change the litter every 2-3 weeks. If using normal cat litter I changed litter every 4-5 days. I only have one cat though.

I just tip all the litter away into the bin, give it a good scrape out into then bin and refill. Don't bother with liners etc as my cat hates plastic bags.

[Bilbobagginstummy]

Could you put it in the bathroom? Easy access for flushing cat poo!

I don't bother with liners or anything: litter in tray, scoop solids whenever they appear (daily these days as older cat no longer does his thing outside), empty litter and clean tray when they start smelling every month couple of weeks.

[catkitson]

If he needs training to use the box, you can put him in a room with only his water, food, blanket and a litter box. Make sure his food and bed is far away as possible from the litter tray. Put 50/50 soil to clay litter in the box if he really doesnt like litter, with some of his poo, if possible. Cats are by nature, clean, he should get the idea and use the box. You can gradually up the percentage of litter to soil. Ive done this with a cat, and it taught them quickly - two, perhaps three days and he should get it.

I wouldnt put newspaper in, and my cats hate liners - the litter goes directly into the box. The smell of the newspaper might be offputting to him. I put mine in the living room, but have one which is covered and doesnt look like a litter box. I also have one in the hallway, and a third in the bathroom.

You might have to see which litter the cat likes. I have one which will only go on paper litter, another which prefers clay. Both mine hate the crystals, and would pee on anything else rather than use a box filled with it.

Long term, a covered litter box minimising tracking of litter, but I have to say you should expect to be picking up a bit of litter from the floor.

Clean it out by scooping every day, and a total change every 4 days or so, which includes for me, washing out with cat safe disinfectant.

I take it the vet has ruled out urinary infections?

[inchoccyheaven]

bugger typed out big reply then lost it. Will start again.

We have had both cats from kittens and used a litter tray when first got them before they could go outside but haven't had to use it since then. They are nearly 15 yrs old so I forgot what to do with a litter tray.

I used the charity bag as a liner so I could hopefully dispose of litter easily, but I guess I can just tip it straight into bin if that's the done thing.

I spoke to vet on phone and she said it could be behavioural but he would have to be referred for that as they didn't deal with it there. She said he could be feeling vunerable now he is older and not wanting to go as much if other cats about. There is a cat across the road who has lived there several years but still torments my cats so this could be the reason.

Our bathroom is tiny so no room for a tray in there unfortunately and I won't risk putting it in any of the other rooms in case he pees on anything in the room instead. He peed on a welly that had fallen on its side in the hall last night and has peed on, paperwork in a box, clothes on the floor and a couple of beds which is highly frustrating.

I have noticed the last few nights that if I offer him to go out the back door he will go into garden do his business and then come in so will be watching him for signs of needing to go to try and stop him doing it in the house.

Will try just the litter in the tray and see how we get on. Glad to hear that most don't wash it and change it after each time of use as I just know I wouldn't be doing that. Have looked at the crystal litter online but will see how I get on with normal litter first as crystal is much more expensive.

Thanks for advice :)

[cozietoesie]

Very worth a try. I just put litter straight into the box (a good deep layer of clumping Fuller's Earth), scoop out leavings onto a couple of sheets of old newspaper, bin the resultant parcel and do a little top up with fresh litter. You don't need to dump the whole lot every time they use it. In fact it's better if you don't because even the unused litter gets a slight aroma (to their sensitive noses) and reminds them of their duty place.

A few tips.

Get yourself a cheap metal garden trowel from the nearest pound shop and use that for scooping. The hard edges make things a lot easier.

Ask friends and neighbours for the old newspapers if you don't buy any yourself - and keep a plastic bag near the tray for interim disposal. You should be able to get loads of papers very easily.

Clean the spots he's used very thoroughly to get his mind focussed on his new optional place.

I think you'll find that if he has a proper tray to use if he wants, he'll be unlikely to pee at will on other parts of the rooms.

By the way - if your other cat decides they want to use the tray as well and litter behaviour is good, you may need to get a second tray. One per cat at least is the rule. (For indoor cats.)

[inchoccyheaven]

Thanks cosie for tips. I really hope he stops the peeing if he has a tray too. He might go out more when weather is warmer or we will at least be able to keep back door open so he has option.

Hope we don't need second tray there's not enough space!

[Hamnvik]

I second getting a covered litter tray, bit more private for them and you don't have to watch them do their business that way!
And we buy value food bags (50p in Sainsbury's) and scoop the dirty litter in that before putting it in the bin.

[catladycourtney1]

I agree about not using a plastic liner - cats like to dig around, and their claws can get caught on the plastic and they end up flicking litter everywhere. Covered litter trays are great for some cats, mine have one of each type but seem to prefer the open one, but lots of cats do prefer the privacy.

I always use cheap, non-clumping litter (the clumping stuff is a bit crap, you can't really scoop out the clumps when they've peed on it anyway because it just disintegrates, so its not long before it's all clumps and needs changing), and I scoop out the poos as and when, and I empty the trays, give them a good clean and refill once a week or so (it seems to last longer some weeks than others, for some reason). I have two indoor cats, if just one of yours is using the tray it might last a bit longer.

[portraitoftheartist]

Blimey, imagine designing, building and selling a house too small for a cat litter tray!
Agree, no liner, no newspaper. Remove clumps, top up litter, wash tray only as necessary.

[inchoccyheaven]

Of course our house isn't too small for a cat litter tray portrait, but as I have been told they like to have privacy there are limitations to where it can go that are practical,especially at the moment when I am wary of leaving any rooms open for him to get into because of his present behaviour of peeing on everything. Why be bitchy about that ?

Thank you for your advice on dealing with the litter tray though,it is helpful. :)

[Ponders]

the crystals are quite a bit more expensive than ordinary but they smell less & last longer - \link{http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter/silicate_litter/49994\one 5L bag of this from zooplus} lasts 8-9 days with my 2 & they pee a LOT - ordinary litter only used to last 5-6 days, but otoh a 16L bag of \link{http://www.petsathome.com/shop/scented-lightweight-non-clumping-antibacterial-cat-litter-16-litre-by-sepi-cat-102154\Sepi Cat from Pets at Home} is only £4.60 & fills the tray at least 3 times.

But the crystals are much less revolting to deal with when used so it's swings & roundabouts...

we have \link{http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter_litter_boxes/hooded_litter_box/litter_boxes_filter/146680\this covered tray} which both cats use - I think they prefer the privacy & as a bonus you don't have to see the poo, and it minimises smells. You can take the door off which an older cat might prefer?

(zooplus are great btw if you haven't used them before - good prices, 5% discount as well for a small annual premium, & nice quick delivery )