Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
I am using Fresh Step now because it seemed to be a bit bigger then the last brand I had and I was hoping it wouldnt get stuck in his paws and on his belly but its even worse now! I have one of the kitty paw cleaning mats outside of the box but he refuses to walk on it almost like it hurts his paws. Ideas on anything else? He has kitty litter EVERYWHERE! In the bed, on the furnature, all over the floor where the box is.. HELP!
- Mike
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Maybe try a slightly bigger (taller) litterbox, and keep the depth of litter a bit lower.
Also, look for another kitty mat that that has a smoother texture.
Groom/brush him once a day or so.
Also, look for another kitty mat that that has a smoother texture.
Groom/brush him once a day or so.
..........Traci
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Well he has one of those tall kitty litter boxes with the top on it (its way higher then a normal box) and I only put very little litter in it anyway because I read that long haired cats like as little litter as possible. He also gets brushed twice a day. I guess its sticking to his paws alot. I'm not even sure but he is making a huge mess! lol I might have to find a piece of outside carpet or something to put outside of his box *dunno*
- Mike
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Are you keeping it scooped on a daily basis and cleaned and thoroughly rinsed at least once a week? You should have at least 2 inches of kitty litter for depth.
The top on the litterbox may be prohibiting him from comfortably using/entering/leaving the litterbox. Try taking the top off and see what happens.
The top on the litterbox may be prohibiting him from comfortably using/entering/leaving the litterbox. Try taking the top off and see what happens.
..........Traci
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
no no no.. he uses the litterbox fine, just the litter sticks to his paws and belly really bad because of his long hair and he tracks it all throughout the house. I was just trying to find either a "self cleaning" method to knock the stuff off of him before he wandered all over the place or another kitty litter that doesnt stick to him quite as bad.
- Mike
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
I get the $1 carpet remnant pads with the finished edge that sometimes are at WalMart...I grab a few to match the decor of the room and when they get yucky, I don't feel guilty throwing them away...
I put one on the floor outside the litterbox, lengthwise, so they walk across it when they get out...
these are usually pretty good at grbbing bits of litter from their feet...
I have wood floors and I sweep at least once a day...
I put one on the floor outside the litterbox, lengthwise, so they walk across it when they get out...
these are usually pretty good at grbbing bits of litter from their feet...
I have wood floors and I sweep at least once a day...
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Mike, still interested in this topic? I have a 17 week old kitten, medium length hair...and he hates kittly litter. When I first got him I chatted with Traci about getting him to use the litter pan. My "last resort" was to crate him after eating until he uses the litter pan. He literally walked on the edge of the litter pan to aviod getting the stuff on his feet! Then he managed to squeeze through the rungs of the dog crate (an older safari model) and escape!
There is a crystal litter that is round and is supposed to stick less. Also newspaper pellets.
My newest "last resort" will be ripped up newspaper. It won't do much for odor, but it is nonirritating to paws. Right now Fishsticks goes in our bathtub...no litter there!
Any advise for the litterless kitten? Have you resolved the tracking problem?
Dannah.
There is a crystal litter that is round and is supposed to stick less. Also newspaper pellets.
My newest "last resort" will be ripped up newspaper. It won't do much for odor, but it is nonirritating to paws. Right now Fishsticks goes in our bathtub...no litter there!
Any advise for the litterless kitten? Have you resolved the tracking problem?
Dannah.
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Banana, did you try simple folded-over paper towels in the litterbox? If he uses that or newspaper, you would have a pretty good indication he has sensitive paws.
I still suggest taking the litterbox out of the bathroom and placing it in a different area. Try keeping the bathroom door closed so he doesn't have entry to eliminate in the tub. By now, he should be comfortable enough in his new environment to be secure enough to use the litterbox in a different location. I realize you said your home set-up prevented you from having the box elsewhere, but if at all possible, it would be better to have it in a different location so he associates it with his duty. Also try providing another litterbox in the event he needs a "choice", some cats do prefer two boxes.
It's also possible, since he was the "runt" and living in a house with 7 other cats prior, he never fully learned how to use the litterbox, or perhaps there was some intimidation from the other cats and he could have learned an aversion to the box. Time, patience and comittment is the key, but try finding the reason he is not using regular litter in the box. Look for clues such as stress, health issues, fear of something or someone in another room, etc. Try relocating the box, place paper towels in it, see what happens.
I still suggest taking the litterbox out of the bathroom and placing it in a different area. Try keeping the bathroom door closed so he doesn't have entry to eliminate in the tub. By now, he should be comfortable enough in his new environment to be secure enough to use the litterbox in a different location. I realize you said your home set-up prevented you from having the box elsewhere, but if at all possible, it would be better to have it in a different location so he associates it with his duty. Also try providing another litterbox in the event he needs a "choice", some cats do prefer two boxes.
It's also possible, since he was the "runt" and living in a house with 7 other cats prior, he never fully learned how to use the litterbox, or perhaps there was some intimidation from the other cats and he could have learned an aversion to the box. Time, patience and comittment is the key, but try finding the reason he is not using regular litter in the box. Look for clues such as stress, health issues, fear of something or someone in another room, etc. Try relocating the box, place paper towels in it, see what happens.
..........Traci
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
Actually Traci, you were so right about giving Fishsticks time. It is a great healer of stress. F is so happy in our home. He still doesn't like to be picked up, but does love to come to people (any person in the house will do) if they sit ont he floor. He's even getting up on the couch wiht us and our dobe Milly. I've had to move his food to a "no dog" zone and of course he's fine with that.
Still the litter training. I've been Fishstick trained. I clean the tub twice daily. Why would the bathroom be a bad place for the litterpan if he's already using the tub? And if I locked him out of the bathroom, how would I know where he would go? Certainly not the litter pan! He hates the thing! And yes, I do have two. F hates blue as well as green.
I'm thinking that the papertowel texture is a good idea. Maybe if I put papertowles in the tub he'll get to like the feel of ptowels. Then I can line the litterpan with ptowels and he'll like it there too. Maybe, maybe.
Or will he train me to something new?
Thanks for being there
Still the litter training. I've been Fishstick trained. I clean the tub twice daily. Why would the bathroom be a bad place for the litterpan if he's already using the tub? And if I locked him out of the bathroom, how would I know where he would go? Certainly not the litter pan! He hates the thing! And yes, I do have two. F hates blue as well as green.
I'm thinking that the papertowel texture is a good idea. Maybe if I put papertowles in the tub he'll get to like the feel of ptowels. Then I can line the litterpan with ptowels and he'll like it there too. Maybe, maybe.
Or will he train me to something new?
Thanks for being there
Re: Good kitty litter that wont stick to a longhaired cat!
I have a female who will not use any type of litter, period. I finally provided her with a small litterbox, lined it with a small trash bag and put in two or three folded-over paper towels, just so that it covers the bottom of the box. She has used it faithfully ever since. It is easy to clean, I simply replace the towels, upwards of 3-4 times a day, usually directly after she does her duty. I clean the box thoroughly once a week, and replace the liner as often as needed. I'm fairly certain she has a paw sensitivity, as she does sometimes react to certain textures throughout the house. On occasion she will actually investigate the other cats' litterboxes with real litter in them, but she will not step inside them or attempt to do her duty.
Based on experience, I'd at least suggest giving it a try, see what happens.
I suggest removing the box from the bathroom because he is already associating his litterbox with the bathtub. If he doesn't have the oppportunity to use the tub, perhaps he would be more inclined to actually use his litterbox, providing that the box is placed in a private area and easily accessible. Don't place it near appliances or doors, or heavy foot traffic, or where the dog is curious. Keep both boxes far enough away from each other so that he can determine which (or both) he prefers at any time. When you relocate the box at first, "train" him that he is to go there, physically place him in the box several times a day if possible. Try placing a stool sample inside the box so he can associate it. But, remove the sample directly after so the box is kept clean.
He's only around 4 months of age, and is at the independent stage. You may need to expect more time for this to resolve. But, if you allow him access to the tub, he will never associate with the litterbox and you'll always be reserved to cleaning your tub. Be patient and forgiving. It took me months to get my Cairo calmed down enough to be comfortable with her very own litterbox (I have 9 cats, she was a very skittish girl). I never worry anymore because she is using it faithfully, no surprises, no accidents.
Based on experience, I'd at least suggest giving it a try, see what happens.
I suggest removing the box from the bathroom because he is already associating his litterbox with the bathtub. If he doesn't have the oppportunity to use the tub, perhaps he would be more inclined to actually use his litterbox, providing that the box is placed in a private area and easily accessible. Don't place it near appliances or doors, or heavy foot traffic, or where the dog is curious. Keep both boxes far enough away from each other so that he can determine which (or both) he prefers at any time. When you relocate the box at first, "train" him that he is to go there, physically place him in the box several times a day if possible. Try placing a stool sample inside the box so he can associate it. But, remove the sample directly after so the box is kept clean.
He's only around 4 months of age, and is at the independent stage. You may need to expect more time for this to resolve. But, if you allow him access to the tub, he will never associate with the litterbox and you'll always be reserved to cleaning your tub. Be patient and forgiving. It took me months to get my Cairo calmed down enough to be comfortable with her very own litterbox (I have 9 cats, she was a very skittish girl). I never worry anymore because she is using it faithfully, no surprises, no accidents.
..........Traci