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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why so many people keep litter trays in the kitchen?

175 replies

MrsTawdry · 03/01/2015 20:39

Another thread got me thinking...I see it all the time. Cat's litter trays in the kitchen!

Where you keep and cook food. And sometimes where you eat.

My cat's is in the bathroom where toiletting happens.

AIBU to think this is the only place for a litter tray?

OP posts:
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5
ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 04/01/2015 15:23

Tiggy2610. I don't suppose we could have a photo??

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 04/01/2015 15:27

Ours are in the understairs cupboard, the door is left ajar, might copy PP and get a catflap. Bathroom would be ideal for ease of scooping, but you'd either have to step over it get to the toilet or have them behind the door which would then barely open. No space on kitchen floor or hall/landing, no utility, porch or conservatory. We have to have trays as we shut them in the house at night and I'd rather clean a litter tray than know they are shitting in the neighbours gardens having been on the receiving end of that in the past.

TheHermitCrab · 04/01/2015 15:28

That's why I keep mine in the bathroom chockbic it's lino. But we also have a little litter catching mat out the front of the tray, they like to throw litter :)

IAmAllImportant · 04/01/2015 15:30

Why would anyone keep it in the house, let alone in the kitchen?

Because my cat is a house cat! We got him at 17 months of age, he had not been neutered, there are too many wild cats already and we don't want to contribute to the problem!

tiggy2610 · 04/01/2015 15:38

chipping I'm away from
cat HQ currently but our litter tray is based on this Pinterest find. It's essential a wooden box DH knocked together with storage cubby holes on top and a curtain over the front. Grin was surprisingly easy to make actually, even though DH acted like he's just constructed a life size replica of Big Ben Hmm

tiggy2610 · 04/01/2015 15:38

Sorry, pic would help wouldn't it...

To wonder why so many people keep litter trays in the kitchen?
TheHobbit · 04/01/2015 15:47

Hes beautiful Tiggy. By the way my old cats name was Tiggy! Wink

Carrierpenguin · 04/01/2015 15:49

Thehermitcrab - I have literally no where else in the house a little tray can go, the bathroom is too small and the living room is too small for a dining table, so I have a small table in the kitchen.

I do feel embarrassed to have anyone to tea, although the trays are not immediately next to the table I do understand it's not very pleasant for them to be in the room. I'd love a utility room but can't afford to move house.

This morning at breakfast a cat used the litter tray, I jumped up and changed it immediately. Not pleasant and I wouldn't admit to it to friends but I can live with it if it means I have my pets.

I will definitely only meet friends in coffee shops after this thread!

tiggy2610 · 04/01/2015 15:53

hobbit I wish he was mine, but he just came with a Pinterest photo! He is bloody gorgeous though. My name is from Tiggy, my elderly ginger tom we had growing up!

My two kitchen poo-ers are here in their Christmas jumpers Grin

To wonder why so many people keep litter trays in the kitchen?
9Bluedolphins · 04/01/2015 15:59

WE put it in the bath - just remove it when using the bath, obviously. This really keeps the mess down!

Aeroflotgirl · 04/01/2015 16:11

Twiggy that's a nice litter tray Smile

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 04/01/2015 16:16

Twiggy, you two are adorable in their jumpers!

I'm trying to picture where you said you store all the stuff and where the curtain fits into the plan?!

Don't worry, it's not important, my brain's just trying to work it out. It gets a bit like this in the holidays!

emms1981 · 04/01/2015 16:16

We have one in the kitchen, I quite agree it is minging and I'm a house proud person but its the only room I can use.
The rest of the house has carpets and one of my cats is a messy cow and quite often misses and pees on the floor, the bathroom isn't big enough.
One of my cats won't go outside. Next doors cat is always shitting in my garden and I am fed up of cleaning that up so would hate for anyone to have to clean up after mine.
As long as they are cleaned out regular its not to bad.
My dh brother and sister have trained theirs to use the loo but I cba with that!

browneyedgirl86 · 04/01/2015 16:22

We keeps ours in the kitchen, it's a large kitchenand it's cleaned out every day. Wouldn't dream of keeping it in the bathroom.

tiggy2610 · 04/01/2015 16:24

chipping it's the same as that box but white and the curtain just goes across the front and is attached the a bit of wire. DH just built a little extra box that sits on top that we can lift off when tray needs emptying. A suppose a wicker basket on top would do the same Smile

tiggy2610 · 04/01/2015 16:26

I suppose a wicked basket on top would do the same...

I think the holidays and back to work blues are getting me as well!

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 04/01/2015 16:33

A wicked basket on the top??? Is that for when they're being naughty then? Xmas Grin

I thought you meant the curtain hid the rest of the stuff, not like a little door curtain for the cats. How cute. Do they share? My two refused to share, that was a right hassle.

DanyStormborn · 04/01/2015 17:46

We have one in each bathroom (3 for 2 cats) - I wouldn't like them in the kitchen but wonder what I'd do if we had only one bathroom.

marne2 · 04/01/2015 17:51

Why wouldn't you dream of putting it in the bathroom ( where humans crap ) but have it in the kitchen where food is prepared? Hmm, I'm pleased my cat poops outside.

FamiliesShareGerms · 04/01/2015 18:28

Ours is in the kitchen because it's the only place with a quiet alcove for it to go. Funnily enough, the house wasn't designed to accommodate litter trays... Ideally we would have it somewhere else (or not at all) but life isn't ideal...

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 04/01/2015 18:32

It's the best room for it. Can't have it in the living room, I think that would be worse than the kitchen. don't want it by the front or back door as the first thing to hit you Grin bathrooms aren't big enough and that only leaves the bedrooms.
It is one of these though - the purple and cream one.

I REALLY want one of these with the steps though.

To wonder why so many people keep litter trays in the kitchen?
To wonder why so many people keep litter trays in the kitchen?
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 04/01/2015 18:46

Do people who think it's disgusting to have a tray in the kitchen think that the cat shit leaps out of the tray and into the lasagne?
Hard floors are the only place for litter trays with my two because Pumpkin likes to flick it. I have three trays as they are too young to go out yet, one in the downstairs loo, one in the upstairs loo (separate to bathroom) and one behind a curtain in an alcove in the kitchen. They are emptied daily so don't smell.

My two are not allowed on surfaces, but they like to sleep on the chairs in the kitchen. No one realises the tray is there unless they go looking for it, it's tucked away. Pretty sure no hygiene issues. I don't routinely dip my hands in the tray before starting to cook the dinner or anything.

EddieStobbart · 04/01/2015 18:53

Had to out it in the kitchen for our new cat while he was shut in acclimatising to his new home. Hall is too small (just a vestibule then stairs) as is bathroom and in the latter it would be more complicated to change.

Have just got rid of it entirely as the cat's been going out for a couple of months now and has completely stopped using it even though it was still available.

EddieStobbart · 04/01/2015 18:55

I did hate it in the kitchen though - kitchen's not very big and being 2 feet from a cat taking a dump while we were all eating was a pretty unpleasant experience...

skittycat · 04/01/2015 19:07

Mine are in the cupboard under the stairs which comes off the kitchen. They are out of the way, away from work surfaces and are cleaned out regularly. If I had a utility room I would put them in there but I dont, and if I put them in the bathroom then there wouldn't be enough space for me to use my bathroom.

At the end of the day I think it's personal choice, each to their own.

And regarding work surfaces, one of mine goes on the work surfaces/table and refuses to learn she's not allowed on there. The others don't seem bothered tbh... They've got far more interesting things to climb on than kitchen surfaces.

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