Kittens are now 5 weeks.. can we get rid of them now?

[Guest]

Thank you to EVERYBODY who has replied on this thread. My wife and I are learning A LOT. We really appreciate it.

We realized last night that Patches as diarrhea so we're going to call the vet on Monday. We've cleaned the kitten's area, replaced the litter box, kept some more windows open (don't worry, the kittens have space heater in the room, high up on the washer where they can't reach it) and that has helped, too.

Again, thanks everyone. We welcome any more advice on raising kittens that anybody else would like to share. - Jeff

[Phoebe's human]

I have a challenging situation when it comes to litter box odors because I'm in a small apartment with one cat and a small unventilated bathroom that is the only place I can put her litterbox. I absolutely have to make sure there is no odor because I have neighbors who dislike cats and a building manager who is always on the lookout for odor problems.

In the 22 years I've lived here I've never had an odor complaint. Yes, you have to scoop the litter whenever you pass by, and it also helps to stir it around whenever you can. Wet patches of litter develop an odor, but you can spread the wet stuff around throughout the box so it gets dispersed by the stirring.

Before I change the litter, I add about a cup of baking soda over the entire bottom of the box. This helps to cut the odor. Some cat litters seem to come with baking soda added. I haven't tried these because I find it's cheaper to buy my own baking soda and add it.

I change the litter once a week. During the week if I notice an odor, I sprinkle some fresh litter on top of the "used" litter. That also helps to cut down on the odor problem.

[Guest]

Small world! Thanks for the tip. This is certainly getting overwhelming. Does the smell make any difference with the type of litter we use? The more expensive the less the smell - sort of a thing?

it's not the brand you use or the money you spend - its the type of litter
i use tidy cats multiple cats and other scent control litter. clumping is best and you may want to try moisture reducing granules.
another helper in the litter box is arm and hammer litter box odor reducer.
it looks like a box of baking soda and does the same as odor eaters. just sprinkle a little on top of the litter when you scoop and the cats' digging will release the odor eater as it goes.

[Tambrey]

clumping is best and you may want to try moisture reducing granules.

Just remember that with kittens less than six months old should NOT use clumping litter...the grains are too fine and they are too close to the litter box and can breathe the particles in or some tend to eat them, and they can clump in the tummy, causing MAJOR issues!

Stick with plain clay litter until they are at least six months of age...if Patches has a separate box she can go to...AWAY from the kittens, where they have NO access, then the clumping is okay there...

In the bathroom I use the Arm & Hammer flushable litter and that works great...every time one of us goes to the bathroom, we scoop through and get just a clump or two (all that you can flush at one time) and flush it down the toilet...

We have ten cats, and I only have two huge (underbed storage boxes 16x24 or so in size) that we use, one upstairs in the bathroom and the other down near the storage area in the kitchen, away from food areas...

The one downstairs gets scooped through whenever we go throw something away, and I keep a Litter Locker with that one to scoop the waste into...

Ten cats...two litter boxes...NO smells... gotta love it!! The standard practice is one more box than cats, but I just cannot have 11boxes scattered throughout my house!!

I also use the litter box deoderizor sprinkles...