Kitty advice

[Aint Doody]

Another way to deter unwanted behavior is to keep a spray bottle with water handy. A quick spritz in the face works wonders. Then all you have to do is show the spray bottle, and they get it.

[badger]

one more thing to add about litter: After basically trying everything, I've found that using pine pellets (also used in horse stalls) are the best. They're also the cheapest when compared to everything else (about $5-$7 per 40lb bag). They puff up when they come into contact with liquid, so they can even be composted if you have the capability.

I find that if you clean it on a daily basis, the litter box doesn't smell at all. I found the clumping kind to be the worst in odor control and keeping it clean, and I also had my male cat get a slight urinary tract irritation from what I believe was the clay dust. And they're so bad for the environment.

[Eden]

I use Swheat Scoop its made of wheat, does clump, but is not dusty like clay and does really well at odor control. Most importantly the cats like it. I also provide them with a big box - not a litter box at all, but one of those under the bed boxes. (I have a basement fortunately, so I have space to do this)

My cats are entirely indoors. Outdoor cats around here disappear way too regularly. I would be absolutely heart broken if either of them was eaten by a coyote, killed by a raccoon or run over by a car - these things all happen here even though I live in the middle of the city!

[Biciclista]

I am surprised that so many of you do not use clay. Since 80% of the earth's crust is clay, why is using clay bad for the environment? I know it's bad for kittens and do no use it with Kittens, but why is it bad otherwise?

[Eden]

I don't like the dust, the perfumes that most clay litters have (though I'm guessing you can probably find brands that don't have this) nor do I like the tendency that it has to get a bit muddy when in contact with liquids... I had a cat who had a tendency to step in it, then track muddy clay prints around the house - icky.. Plus the wheat litter cleans out of the box better and is a better odor controller - without any added scents.

The shelter I volunteer at uses clay. Some of the shelter kitties sit in their litter boxes - they end up with clay all through their fur. It is nasty and I'm betting that it sure doesn't make them more adoptable...

[spokewench]

I used to use clay with my cats when they were younger, but with a 23 year old cat; it does not work. It gets stuck in his feet and creates a health hazard and causes him pain. I have used the pine litter and newspaper litter; both work well; and I'm glad they do not have perfumes in them.

[tctrek]

To train cats to use a scratching post, rub some catnip on the post ... they really love the kind that is sisal rope wrapped around a post. You can make one yourself pretty easily. I don't use carpet scratching posts, 'cause that gives them the idea it's ok to scratch carpet.

I have nine indoor cats, all with claws and none of them scratch my furniture.

[Biciclista]

oh yes, SISAL! if you can find a cheap source of sisal, get some elmer's glue and make sisal spirals on a board. instant kitty scratch post!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

... they really love the kind that is sisal rope wrapped around a post.

Yes, the sisal rope one can be popular!

[tctrek]

Oh yeah, wrap/glue the sisal around the board and then staple a big loop of sisal at one end. Hang the loop on a door knob, rub a little catnip and stand back and watch happy kitty go to town.

[smilingcat]

Litter:

+1 with Eden. We use Wheat Scoop. Kittens may accidently injest the litter and with wheat scoop, it passes through their system. Clay litter does not. It can potentially become life threatening if they injest too much. For this reason alone, our rescue group recomment the Wheat scoop for kittens and wheatscoop or pine litter for adult cats.

Small amount of Wheat scoop does go down the drain when I wash and disinfect the litter box. The wheat litter decomposes and does not clog the pipe. Clay litter just turns into solid "brick" and clogs the pipe.

Also tried the pine litter but we prefer if the stuff would clump, not turn into dust.

We also do not like the smell of the clay litter with its perfume nor the clay dust it generates. And the clay dust is not good for the cat in the long run. Thinking of Silicosis (similar to black lung disease).

Water bottle:

my cats see that bottle coming out and they are gone under my bed in a nano-second. No need to squirt them anymore.

[Tuckervill]

I keep an old wooden stool around, unpainted, that sat around out on the porch for a long time and got weathered, just so the one cat can scratch it. He grew up scratching that stool and I don't want to take a chance on him scratching something else. I guess I could glue some sisal to the legs and he would love it that much more, but maybe not.

Karen

[badger]

spokewench: you have a 23 year old cat?!?! wow!! I thought I was doing pretty good with my 16 year old that still jumps around like a kitten.

The SPCA I volunteer at uses the pine pellets exclusively. For the price you really can't beat it.

Have any of you tried the Cat Dancer? It's just a stiff piece of wire with a couple of rolled up pieces of cardboard. My older one goes insane when I pull it out.

[Aggie_Ama]

We went to the shelter yesterday and home came a manx cat. She is a year old, vocal and sweet as pie! She is medium hair, white and brown tabby markings with a stumpy tail and seems like she will be huge. Oh and DH, she loves him and he spent all night petting "your cat". He likes her a lot, in spite of himself. The previous owner declawed her so I guess that settles the debate on indoor/outdoor and tearing up furniture. We are trying the pine all natural litter, hopefully with routine cleaning DH won't notice the box.

They called her "Telly" but she doesn't answer to it so we are letting her name herself. I had a manx growing up but was looking at kittens but this little girl said "look at me, I am your perfect friend". We tested her with some shelter dogs and she gets along. Heidi is smitten and kitty is tolerant of her new hyper friend. Pics to come.

[tulip]

Awesome! That sounds like the best solution to having an indoor cat-getting a cat that has already been declawed by someone else. Manx cats are neat.