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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Please talk to me about litter trays- I need your advice!

38 replies

bigbuttons · 04/06/2017 21:19

I have 2 ,13 week old kittens who are growing fast. They are too young to go out so have a litter tray. Can I ask how often you change the litter? What brand you prefer and why?
How do you deal with stinky litter ?
I remove poo each time I see it and top up the tray daily, but am finding I need to do a complete change every couple of days as it is solid with wee. Then it festers in a bag whilst waiting for the rubbish collection- not nice.
Currently using a Bob Martin's brand.
Any tips/ routines gratefully received.
I've only ever had adult cats before who simply went out' so this is all new to me.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/06/2017 21:24

I used to use catsan but it smelled really quickly. Now I use a mix of super benek corn litter and other clumping litters which clump so you can remove poo and pee so the litter needs changing less often. I get the litter online from zooplus or bitiba. I am trying worlds best litter just now as it has 40% off on zooplus

Ruhrpott · 04/06/2017 21:25

I find the pets at home wooden pellets the best and they are relatively cheap

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 04/06/2017 21:29

I use a silicon one, I can't think of the name but I order it from zooplus. It's meant to last a month but I change it when it looks like it needs doing - normally every two weeks or so. My cats do have access to the garden though, I think they wee out there as well,
so possibly with two kittens only weeing there it would need changing more often. I also try to time my emptying it with the bin collection, so sometimes I will do it a couple of days before it needs doing to avoid the festering problem.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 04/06/2017 21:31

I just checked, and I tend to get the tigerino silica one, but have also used the catsan one in the past and it's basically the same.

ememem84 · 04/06/2017 21:35

I use clean paws. 5kg bag goes in the tray and then I scoop twice daily. It's a clumping one so needs changing less often.

Catface likes a clean box. She meows in the evening to let me know when she's done.

When we're down to about a cm of litter I empty clean the box and then refill.

TheABC · 04/06/2017 21:37

First off, I recommend having two litter trays in different places around the house, if possible. It prevents one cat from hogging it or bullying the other over access. You can place them inside cabinets, boxes or under shelves as long as there is sufficient headroom and a cat door cut for them. IKEA hacks (google it) have some brilliant ideas.

Cat litter is a matter of preference. We use a clay based clumping cat litter as we can quickly pick out the pees and poos and it lasts that bit longer before you need to change it. Be aware that some types are more liable to fly out of the box than others - if either of your cats like to dig, get a high sided container to keep it all in. We actually use IKEA Torkis laundry baskets as we have large cats (and keep them in dedicated areas). I also highly recommend a tracking mat to clean your kittie's paws - again, less mess and you won't find litter granules on your bed or sofa.

Good luck!

dementedpixie · 04/06/2017 21:38

Although I didn't use clumping stuff until mine were around 4/5 months just in case they ate it although the biodegradable ones are safer than the clay based ones

Want2beme · 04/06/2017 21:39

I have 3 cats & 5 lItter trays. 2 of my cats are pretty much indoor cats, they only go out with me once a day, (one's a scaredy cat & other ones v old), and they use 4 of the trays. My other cat goes out but tends to come back inside to use her litter tray. I change the trays as soon as they're used. I put newspaper on the bottom of the tray, then put a little bit of litter, tesco own brand cos it's light & doesn't clump, on top, just enough for them to scratch around in, then throw out clean and start again. I know it's not practical for everyone to do that but I work from home, so am able to.

swapsicles · 04/06/2017 21:41

If its solid after a few days it needs to be deeper, with clumping in particular it needs to be at least 3/4 inches deep so the wee forms into balls you can scoop out easily.
I agree with the pp who said super benek cat litter, im currently using tigerinio baby powder version but its terrible and wont clump!
Non clumping i go for pets at home wood chips.

dementedpixie · 04/06/2017 21:42

I have 1 extra large tray for 2 cats as when I had 2 they would use the same one anyway. It has a high rim to prevent litter being chucked everywhere

bigbuttons · 04/06/2017 21:46

Thank you! I think I had read that clumping litter isn't so good for kittens because basically they try to eat everything! Well one of mine does, he's like a goat. The girl is very fussy.
But I like the idea of being able to pick out the used bits. They are very good with the tray though.
I can't wait until they can go outside!

OP posts:
bigbuttons · 04/06/2017 21:48

Definitely need to get a bigger tray, that's for sure!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/06/2017 21:49

Mine go outside but then come in to use the litter tray!

this is the tray I have

dailydance · 04/06/2017 21:51

Two cat-adult sized trays in different locations. Wood pellets may be good if one of them thinks it's a goat ;)

lljkk · 04/06/2017 22:05

I like wooden pellets because the non solid waste is compostable.

After cat sitting a friend whose cat had clumping litter... I hated it.

No superior performance with regard to smells.

LizB62A · 04/06/2017 22:07

I use Cat's Best Öko Plus Cat Litter - it's wood pellets and clumps. It seems expensive but you just remove the poo and lumps where they wee, then top up so it lasts for ages.
We've got 2 cats and 2 litter trays - one normal size litter tray in the conservatory (which they come in to use when they're outside during the day, and a large litter tray with a cover in the house

dementedpixie · 04/06/2017 22:14

There are many types of clumping litter. I use a biodegradable one and it can also be composted and allegedly you can flush waste down the toilet ( I don't do that though)

Wolfiefan · 04/06/2017 22:18

The ideal is one litter tray per cat and one more. I'm guessing you're not putting enough litter in. You need to put a good 3 plus inches deep of litter.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/06/2017 22:56

I have two indoor cats. They share a large box with no issues. I use intersand extreme clumping litter. It's like sand. No smelll. Scoop once daily and full change monthly.

Firefries · 04/06/2017 23:02

I prefer basic stones over all the clumping stuff otherwise it just gathers massive clumps and I think it stinks more. I empty it daily and move the stones around to surface and dry and I think that helps. Yeah two boxes would be better. And they will stop eating it. Just pull them away if they try any of that. My kittens used to do that and they are fine big cats now with no problems.

Kokusai · 04/06/2017 23:15

You could do with at least two trays for two kittens.

I use Cat's Best Öko Plus, fill it up nice and deep so the kitten can have a good scratch.

I scoop poop and wee climbs at least twice a day but usually more often.

It's fab, really doesn't smell.

Botanicbaby · 04/06/2017 23:45

I use wood litter for my lovely rescue cat and fill the very large litter tray quite shallow though I change the whole tray frequently. I never top up. I can manage to scoop poos out as soon as they are done but once she has had a wee on it, then the whole tray is changed. I don't see the point in scooping some of it then.

I couldn't go back to clumping litter (unless it was what the cat preferred) and can fully understand cats not wanting to use stinky full trays, I don't blame them. I am at home so it is easy for me to change often.

bigbuttons · 05/06/2017 05:23

Thank you, the choices are more complicated than I thought!
I am hoping one large tray will do until they can go outside.
I am currently researching the cat litters mentioned!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/06/2017 06:51

Cats best oko plus tracks very badly and we were finding it all over the house. I wouldn't use it again

Lonecatwithkitten · 05/06/2017 07:08

Rule of thumb is always for all facilities trays, water and food one for each cat plus a spare.
If the litter is soaking you definitely need more trays. Personally I prefer wood chip, we always use wood chip in the clinic.