Scooping the mess out of kitty litter. How Often?

[TechBoyJK]

Alright, my roommate, who is an awesome guy, seems to think it's ok to let the kitty litter get nearly overflowing with poo. They're his cats, and part of the terms of him living here was that the cats were his responsibility. So I just let it go. However, he's letting it get so bad I'm worried these animals are going to start avoiding the kitty litter and going potty elsewhere. Not to mention, it stinks.

My idea is that he should scoop it before he goes to bed and before he leaves for work. That's how I did it when another roommate of mine had a cat in the past and I DID agree to help take care of the cat.

here's a pic

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/techboyjk/IMG00427.jpg

In his defense, he doesn't normally let it get THIS bad, but close.

 

[Scouzer]

I love the irony of "Tidy Cats"

 

[Rubycon]

That must smell nice.
Get a dog they will clean it for you.

 

[Newbian]

Depends on how many cats and how many litter boxes there are.

Under the 1 for 1 rule I would say once every 3-4 days would work.

Doing it twice a day would be overkill.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Ok, fair enough. Did you look at the pic? Am I wrong for feeling a little agitated he lets it get that bad?

 

[Newbian]

I saw the picture and that looked bad.

Next time it gets that bad leave it in his room and see how he reacts.

 

[olds]

Once a day.
I'd call cat abuse based on that pic alone.

 

[rudeguy]

I usually do it 3x a week but I have a large covered litter box with a door and a filter.

I also keep an odor killer thing right by the litter box.

 

[x-alki]

Scoop once a day and change the litter once every 2 weeks. As Newbian said, 1 for 1 rule. Your roommate is asking for trouble by letting the kitty crapper get so full. The cats might start looking for a new place to go to the bathroom.

 

[Azraele]

Once a day.
I'd call cat abuse based on that pic alone.

Agreed. I feel bad for the kitties.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

My dog shits outside. Dogs ftw!

 

[Newbian]

My dog shits outside. Dogs ftw!

That is until it can't hold it anymore and shits on your bed or it wakes you up in the middle of the night to let it out.

This is why you train the cats to use the toilet.

 

[Drako]

At least once a day, but my wife does it . It's pretty much a must with our cat. If there are more than 2 lumps of poo in the box, she will start pooping just outside the box.

 

[rudeguy]

Scoop once a day and change the litter once every 2 weeks. As Newbian said, 1 for 1 rule. Your roommate is asking for trouble by letting the kitty crapper get so full. The cats might start looking for a new place to go to the bathroom.

Yep. If the litter box gets too full, my older cat will come out in the living room, look at me, then squat against the wall and pee.

BTW, Tidy Cats multiple cats instant action litter is the best stuff.

 

[TechBoyJK]

At least once a day, but my wife does it . It's pretty much a must with our cat. If there are more than 2 lumps of poo in the box, she will start pooping just outside the box.

Ok, well he has 2 cats.

 

[sjwaste]

I remember our family's one cat that we had growing up, actually he just recently died, lived to a pretty old age. He wouldn't use the litter box if it wasn't cleaned once a day. Instead, he'd try to find some sawdust on the shop floor.

So once a day if your cat dictates it.

 

[DrPizza]

If I can smell it, I take the litter box for a walk up the road & dump it near the side of the road. Then I return home, hose it off, and refill it with fresh litter. I didn't know you could keep reusing the same litter for 2 weeks.

 

[Spoooon]

I scoop once a day and spray some Arm and Hammer deodorant spray stuff in there.

 

[akshatp]

Scoop once a day and change the litter once every 2 weeks. As Newbian said, 1 for 1 rule. Your roommate is asking for trouble by letting the kitty crapper get so full. The cats might start looking for a new place to go to the bathroom.

We have one cat, one litter box. She has never even once crapped or peed outside the litter box, thank god. I usually clean out the poo/pee clumps every other day, sometimes if I let it slip one day the third day it seems really full, but luckily she still goes in it.

Question though... What do you mean "change the litter" every two weeks. I never change it, per se. Besides emptying the poo/pee, I just add fresh litter every week or so to keep it topped off and smelling nice. Is this not correct? Im thinking my litter costs would skyrocket if I threw it away and changed it every two weeks.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

We have 1 cat - once a day usually but since she goes outside oftern we can go 2-3 days without the box needing it.


Looking at that pic - I would pissed. Thats easily a 5-day build up.

 

[rudeguy]

We have one cat, one litter box. She has never even once crapped or peed outside the litter box, thank god. I usually clean out the poo/pee clumps every other day, sometimes if I let it slip one day the third day it seems really full, but luckily she still goes in it.

Question though... What do you mean "change the litter" every two weeks. I never change it, per se. Besides emptying the poo/pee, I just add fresh litter every week or so to keep it topped off and smelling nice. Is this not correct? Im thinking my litter costs would skyrocket if I threw it away and changed it every two weeks.

I go through 10 pounds of kitty litter every 2 weeks with 2 cats. Its $5/week.

I have to empty it out. I can't stand the ammonia smell.

 

[x-alki]

We have one cat, one litter box. She has never even once crapped or peed outside the litter box, thank god. I usually clean out the poo/pee clumps every other day, sometimes if I let it slip one day the third day it seems really full, but luckily she still goes in it.

Question though... What do you mean "change the litter" every two weeks. I never change it, per se. Besides emptying the poo/pee, I just add fresh litter every week or so to keep it topped off and smelling nice. Is this not correct? Im thinking my litter costs would skyrocket if I threw it away and changed it every two weeks.

I have 3 cats, 3 litter boxes and scoop them out every day. Once a week I dump the old litter and refill with new litter. Once a month I scrub them out with bleach. Adding fresh litter is a good idea.

Some cats dont like a dirty box and will find a clean place to go.

OP, does your roommate realize that with a full litter box the cat is going to track more residue around the house?

 

[akshatp]

I go through 10 pounds of kitty litter every 2 weeks with 2 cats. Its $5/week.

I have to empty it out. I can't stand the ammonia smell.

1) You are paying too much for litter. 40 lb. bucket of Scoop Away at Costco is $11.99.

2) I dont notice a smell. If anything, all I smell is the scent of the kitty litter.

Is the smell the only reason you change it, or are there health related reasons also?

 

[waffleironhead]

I have 4 cats and using the X+1 rule of thumb have 5 litter boxes in the basement. they get cleaned and added to about twice a week. No real problem, but if they were upstairs they probably would be cleaned more often due to smell.

Op, that pic is nasty. Make sure he cleans it right away and have him set up another box as well.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

That's pretty bad, your roomate's a douche for not taking care of the cats properly, even basically.