Scooping the mess out of kitty litter. How Often?

[alkemyst]

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.

Twice a day definitely.

We use feline pine and we first take a wide slot scoop to get the solids. Then we sort of tilt all the litter to one side of the box.

Using the wide slot scoop we scoop the dirty litter and sort of shake out all the sawdust on the empty side of the box.

Once you have a mix of dust and pellets we switch to a chinese noodle/dumpling ladle and sift the sawdust into a gallon baggie then pour the pellets back on the now clean side.

Makes for a new box pretty much and doesn't take much time.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I try to do it every 3-4 days, but I also fill it a lot. Basically if I can see exposed poop I know I'm overdue. If it's as bad as that pic, I just change it altogether. I sometimes forget to do it, but I really do my best to do it every couple days. Every day seems overkill, there might be one small turd, and like one clump of pee.

 

[rudeguy]

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?

3) I'm a lil OCD

I just double checked and its the 27# box I get for $10. My cats won't pee in anything but Tidy Cat. I also like it because it clumps up real good.

 

[lxskllr]

I have 2 cats for 1 box, and I clean it every 24 hours. If I let it go much longer than that, they use the floor :^D

 

[Mojoed]

I have 2 cats for 1 box, and I clean it every 24 hours. If I let it go much longer than that, they use the floor :^D

^ What he said.

I have two seven month old kittens and I clean it every 24 hours. Anything more than that and it gets excessively disgusting.

OP, your roommate is a thoughtless slob.

 

[IronWing]

We scoop twice a day and wipe down the edges of the box once a day with bleach. Litter gets completely changed and boxes bleached at least monthly, more often in Summer.

 

[lokiju]

I have a littermaid litter box that just automatically scoops it into a closed bin 15 mins after they use it.

I empty that bin out once a week.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

2-3 a week at least.

 

[dsity]

just go into the bathroom and leave about 5 shits in there. might as well throw in some TP and call it even. When he asks about it, just say "hey man, i thought you were into that stuff' while hinting at the box

 

[Matthiasa]

Orrrr you could get one of the self cleaning ones, then just dump the container when its full.

 

[CZroe]

My sister just finished complaining that I haven't scooped the cat litter yet today. I was *just* thinking that "it hasn't been 24hrs, so what? Is she expecting it twice a day or something?" Then I see this thread... VINDICATION!

It's one cat and the litter box is fully enclosed (cat throws litter, even out of the ones with shrouds). Once the door jammed and he decided to start going elsewhere. I have made sure the door swings properly at least twice a day and caught it being jammed a few more times.

 

[ahenkel]

I got rid of the litter box and now the cat asks to go outside.

 

[coloumb]

We scoop twice a day and wipe down the edges of the box once a day with bleach. Litter gets completely changed and boxes bleached at least monthly, more often in Summer.

This.

You have to treat a cat litter box the same as you treat your toilet - you're obviously not going to leave/let your crap/urine remain in the toilet for 3-4 days before you flush it - are ya?

Dirty/litter box full of crap will surely cause the cats to urinate/crap elsewhere [corners of carpets, seat cushions, underneath couches, your bed (they'll even climb inside your bed and urinate, etc].

 

[zeruty]

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.

That's the whole point of clumping litter. Just make sure you keep the level high enough. If best to keep it as high as possible... some recommend 4" or 5". If its down to 2" or so, the urine can clump to the bottom of the container and make it hard to scoop.

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

Cept that ammonia smell that leaks out. I could always smell the urine when using Tidy Cats multiple cats. Tried instant action and extended action.

Fresh step or petco store brand clumping litter worked much better, without letting out the ammonia smell.

My cats won't pee in anything but Tidy Cat. I also like it because it clumps up real good.

It clumps up, but see how the exterior of the clump is dark and wet looking?
Using Fresh Step or Petco brand, the exterior or the clump was dry litter stuck to the clump. This is why the ammonia smell leaks out from the Tidy Cat.

 

[akshatp]

I have a littermaid litter box that just automatically scoops it into a closed bin 15 mins after they use it.

I empty that bin out once a week.

How do you like that littermaid box? I was looking into an automatic litter box, but wasnt sure how the cat would take to it.

 

[edro]

We have 2 cats and clean it out every other day.
Ours is in our basement though, so it doesn't stink up the house.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Cats suck.

 

[GTaudiophile]

We clean it 1-2x per week I would say.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

At LEAST once per day. These people saying once every 3-4 days are disgusting. Even 1 cat shits once or twice a day, you're talking 8+ turds... Gross.


Check into the catgenie. I have one and like it a lot..

 

[SpatiallyAware]

BTW catgenie > littermaid and the other auto cat boxes.

It's expensive but worth it. You hook it into the toilet water supply and then a drain hose hangs over the bowl (toilet is still 100% usable but better off in guest non-main bath)

You have to pay for these cleaning cartridges but if you have 1-2 cats they aren't bad at all. There is 0 smell and it runs twice a day (or however you set it) automatically.

I used mine with two cats and the only issue I had was one time when my dumbass gf at the time didn't unclog it and the cats had no choice but to piss in the tub. From that point out ANY time they even remotely didn't like the box they'd piss in the tub.

I.E. once a cat starts peeing/pooping a place other than the litterbox then game over. It'll start using that spot any time it's unhappy.

 

[lokiju]

How do you like that littermaid box? I was looking into an automatic litter box, but wasnt sure how the cat would take to it.

I've been using them since 2001, this is my 3rd one and I'll never not have one as long as I have cats.

1st one I gave away when I gave that cat away to a new home.

2nd one just finally gave out after a number of years of use with two cats using it full time.

3rd one I've had for probably 2 years now and it's still going strong.

 

[TechBoyJK]

thanks guys

 

[Gooberlx2]

That's awful!

He should be scooping once a day...every day. (maybe a couple/few days for a long weekend if he buys and fills an extra box).

Your concerns are totally valid, and the cat may already be using other places to pee.

 

[nerp]

Cat shit is toxic. You've been willing to look the other way with that kind of disgusting filth in your house for how long? Nasty, man.

 

[PepePeru]

yeah, that's bad. i'd never make my cat crap in that.

I have a covered one, that I scoop every 2 or 3 days.