Litter tray for old cat

[Harry1603]

I'm a long time Mumsnet lurker who has finally decided to take the plunge and post!

I'm hoping I might be able to get some advice about my Mum's cat. We had a stray cat who has been around the neighbourhood for a few years - we think he was left when someone moved. Over the last couple of months he's been coming into our garden and DH and I started feeding him.

We couldn't take him in as Harry (our cat) was getting stressed so we took him to the vet who scanned him (no microchip) and he was negative for leukaemia and FIV. It would have broken my heart to put him back outside so my Mum agreed to take him. He is an old boy but is settling in nicely with Mum apart from one thing - he doesn't like cat litter! He's happy to use the tray but only if there is earth in it, otherwise he goes beside it.

Obviously Mum doesn't want earth trampled through the house so does anyone have any ideas how we can convince him that Catsan is much better than soil?!?

Thank you in advance.

[cozietoesie]

What kind of litter were you putting in the tray? (I'm also wondering whether you could make a 'transition' for him by mixing some earth with litter and gradually (over, say, a few days) changing the proportions.)

[cozietoesie]

Oops - Catsan. (Sorry.) Not one I'm used to because my boys wouldn't have used it.

[Harry1603]

Thanks for the reply. He's been having Catsan as it was all we had when we took him to Mum's (Harry won't use anything else!).

I'll tell her to try mixing the soil with litter. I presume he doesn't like it as for the last few years he's had to go outside and is only used to soil.

[cozietoesie]

Maybe he likes something a bit heavier if he's used to earth. (Catsan is fairly light with fine grains isn't it?) My boys all prefer fuller's earth (only cheap) so that might be an option also.

[Harry1603]

Thanks for that, I'll look into getting that for him to try.

BTW can I just say that, before he moved in with my Mum, I asked around and he didn't belong to anyone. I didn't want anyone to read my first ever post on Mumsnet and think I'm a cat thief!

[cozietoesie]

Of course not!

If you're looking for fuller's earth litter, it's usually/often called 'Natural Clay Clumping Litter'. Most supermarkets will sell it - and many smaller shops as well.

[timtam23]

Catsan can be a bit hard & "pebbly" underfoot, especially for old cats. Mine never liked it.

I have Cat's Best Oko Plus which my very old cats liked a lot - it is small softer particles & clumping (but not cheap). Fuller's earth, I haven't used for any of my cats but it is earth-like & clumping and is also cheap & widely availble so definitely worth a try

[cozietoesie]

It's just taste that leads me to buy it really, timtam. That's the one they like (as long as it's Sainsbury's or Co-op in our case) and as they're the ones who have to use it, I know my duty. At least they're not like Fluffy's boy who'll only use expensive perfumed stuff!

[Harry1603]

Cats are funny creatures! We tried Harry on a cheaper litter and I'm sure he was walking round with his legs crossed rather than use it!

I'll take a look at the Oko Plus as well and try William (Mum's cat) on a few different ones and see what is to his liking!

[Harry1603]

My mother bought a bag of topsoil for William and guess what? The day she got it he started using Catsan! He's keeping Mum on her toes!

[cozietoesie]

Huh! He has her number, I think.

[Selks]

I like the sound of William! How lovely that you both care for the old boy so much, he's very lucky

[Harry1603]

He's a lovely cat - when I go round I sit on the floor with him and he rubs around me, headbutts me and just loves having a fuss made of him.

Mum's dog had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks ago and she was really down (understandably) to the point that she didn't want to go downstairs in the morning. William sits at the bottom of the stairs meowing loudly so she doesn't have a choice now! He needs a home and Mum needs company so they are made for each other - even if Mum doesn't want to admit it at the moment!

[WitchWay]

We took in an old cat who was hanging around the garden but had to pass him on as our two were outraged & getting crosser & crosser after a two week introductory period. Codger went to live with my recently widowed mum & has settled in well, but he is rather a creaking gate, poor old thing!

[WitchWay]

Codger is a real fusspot & very vocal - he chats on & has to have the last word. Mum says he's a bit of a pain as he has to be pressed up against her as much as possible, but she likes having another creature in the house

[cozietoesie]

Just to point out that Seniorboy has been a creaking gate for 5 whole years now. (And boy does he milk it!)

[cozietoesie]

Codger is wonderful by the way.

[WitchWay]

he is a lovely old cat!

[Harry1603]

Codger is gorgeous! I'm so glad he's got a home, I hate to think of them out there in the rain and cold. We bought William a kennel and he did sleep in it but it wasn't a long term solution so I was so grateful when my Mum took him in.

It's very difficult to get a picture of him as he's either curled up in a ball or else he walks towards you for a fuss!

[WitchWay]

That's a really nice picture - he looks lovely too!