Cat Litter

[toby99]

My cat has a heart condition that is bringing on kidney failure (she is still very active and well) but because of this she drinks 'gallons' of water a day and we have now put a litter tray for her in the house as sometimes she couldn't make it outside and this was distressing her. She has very strong smelling urine and goes so often that the litter tray needs changing daily, which is proving so costly. Can anyone recommend a litter that can control very stong odours and hopefully won't need changing so often? Thanks for your help.

[crapmemory]

I use a litter tray deodoriser. This keeps it smelling sweeter for a bit longer! You can get it in most supermarkets (Bob Martins) or buy Morrrisons own.

[jules77]

my father has one of those litter trays with a hood on it, there is a charcoal filter in the top. The cat wouldnt go in it at first, and now he loves it, his own personal private loo!

lots of cats wont use the litter tray more than once though, and my father puts newspaper in the bottom with just a cup full of litter and empties it every time it is used, which is three to four times a day, but still it doesnt cost too much as he is using minimal cat liter.

[sherlockian]

Sprinkling some baking powder or bicarb of soda before you put the litter in can sometimes help absorb the smell - it's a lot cheaper than buying specialist deoderisers!

[Slo-mo]

Aldi stores sell a litter that is the same as the best known brand but half the price. Go to http://uk.aldi.com to find the nearest store

[freak_unique]

Heya, we have a hooded litter box plus there is this shake and vac stuff u can get for the litter tray u sprinkle it on top of the litter and it really makes a difference!!!

[toby99]

Thanks everyone for your great advice!

[ruthann58]

hi we have to change our tray every day as we have 5 that sleep in at night i use tescos natural clay about 1-40 a bag it clumps so that you can shake off the dry stuff into the clean tray i put a plastic bag on my hand and lay it flat on the wet litter then carefully tip the dry into the clean tray a bag of litter lasts me nearly a week i find the more litter in the tray the easier it is to do we also have a covered tray but i put a washing up bowl with the litter in inside the tray its deeper and they dont scrab it over the edge so easily

[toby99]

Thanks Ruthann for your great ideas - I have three cats, but luckily only one uses the tray!

[TIGGERLIT]

hi the best cat litter to use is pura cat litter, you can get lavendar,baby powder or jasmine. and you only need to take out the clumps, which turn to cement. i work in a pet shop and we always have reps coming round and showing us. i take interest in cat litter as i have 11 indoor maine ***** as i breed, so i am always changing trays. this litter is the best ive seen. when a cat wees on the litter the scent of which ever one you using comes out. and you can really smell it. i use it for the kittens too cos you could imagine the smell i did get when you have a litter of 6 kittens using it, but not any more since using this one. also when the cats wees on the area that gets wet it dries up within a hour and you could if you wanted (not that i do) to pick it up with your hands as its like a solid dry rock.
you can get it from pet websites like zooplus.com

[iheartruby]

hi toby, i use one called 'city cat' which i buy from wilkinsons (not sure if you have a store nearby?) and it's crystals with blue deodouriser bits in it. it lasts much longer than normal litter as the crystals absorb the urine and seal the smell in. it needs changing approx once every 4 days, but u do have to fish out the solid stuff in between.

what's the heart condition that she has? mine has a heart murmer but she's still quite young so other than occasional coughing, there are no obvious problems yet.

[toby99]

Hi iheartruby. She has a heart murmur too,but it has apparently led to high blood pressure and early stage kidney failure, but she seems ok - a little neurotic though and gets confused - hence the litter tray. She is thirteen now and I believe Siamese are more prone to renal problems. I think she will be fine for a good few years more thought and there are tablets that can help if she does get worse. Thanks for the tips

[chesnuts]

Oh Toby99 my feelings are for you, I went through something very similar but it wasnt a cat peeing in the house it was my dog, almost 5 year ago my beloved dog Levi a bullmastiff dropped down dead, he had been diagnosed with a heart murmur and put on diuretics he wud pee constantly god bless him, I never understood his condition I was young and just wanted him to be ok, apparently a heart murmur can be controlled, we were told LEVI would be dead within a few weeks, as short as it is he lasted 4 years two months and three days. If your baby is needing a tray use the wood pellets, Ive had many cats as foster for both and they last longer without the odour, I will think of you and hope your moggy gets better gud look xxxx

[toby99]

Thanks for your lovely words Chesnuts