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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 9, 2015 15:15:19 GMT
Exciting topic, right? Do you have one you particularly love or hate?
I need a new litter box for the boys - they are getting litter EVERYWHERE. With my previous cats, I had one with a high lid that lifted off for cleaning. When I got the kittens (who are now full-sized cat size while still acting like kittens), I just got box with lower sides since they were so tiny, but they have outgrown it now. The one they have is a sifting box with two pans, but I find sifting to be more work than scooping. I even have one of those mats outside the box, but it constantly needs cleaning, too.
The boys are fine with sharing, for the record - I've heard the advise of number of cats plus one, but I don't really have the space for that.
Every time I browse at the pet store, I start debating - self cleaning (will that scare the cats?), extra stuff you have to continuously buy (what happens when they switch models/go out of business), etc. So, what do you like?
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Post by compwalla on Nov 9, 2015 15:17:49 GMT
I have one cat who pees over the edge of every regular litter box. We use a Rubbermaid container with high sides. She can't pee over the side of that plus it cuts way down on how much litter they kick out of the box during the turd burial ritual.
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Deleted
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May 2, 2024 2:35:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2015 15:20:29 GMT
We use a big Rubbermaid container, too. Just cut an entry hole at the end. It doesn't keep ALL litter off the floor, but it does help quite a bit.
L
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Post by SnowWhite on Nov 9, 2015 15:21:16 GMT
Honestly what stopped the tracking of litter for me was switching litter. I switched to crystal litter and the tracking has become almost zero. I buy the cheapest litter box they sell at Petsmart.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 9, 2015 15:29:21 GMT
Honestly what stopped the tracking of litter for me was switching litter. I switched to crystal litter and the tracking has become almost zero. I buy the cheapest litter box they sell at Petsmart. I've thought about that, too, but DD and I have allergies to a lot of scents and trying new litters is always risky. How is the scent on the crystals? I was also wondering about the pellet style.
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Nov 9, 2015 15:32:41 GMT
We use a big busboy tub - you know like the table clearers at restaurants use? It's heavy duty so doesn't collapse when it's time to dump the litter, and the sides are high enough to keep the sloppy pee-ers contained.
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Post by SnowWhite on Nov 9, 2015 15:33:28 GMT
Honestly what stopped the tracking of litter for me was switching litter. I switched to crystal litter and the tracking has become almost zero. I buy the cheapest litter box they sell at Petsmart. I've thought about that, too, but DD and I have allergies to a lot of scents and trying new litters is always risky. How is the scent on the crystals? I was also wondering about the pellet style. I have a terrible sense of smell, so I'm probably not the best person to answer this, but I don't think it has any scent. At least not compared to the scents of all the different kinds of clumping litter I tried! I've tried pellet too and I don't like that either. The pellets still get out of the box and when I step on them, they grind down to sawdust, which is a bitch to get out of the carpet.
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Post by AN on Nov 9, 2015 15:38:30 GMT
Get the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. CHANGED MY LIFE (seriously). I told my husband it is in the top 5 best purchases I've made in the last year. You can read the reviews on Amazon, and Petsmart and Walmart sell it. Lots of good tips on Amazon and if you do a quick google. My cat didn't transition until I took the old one away. I've been using it about 6 months now and would never go back.
I have tried every type of litter tracking pad, I had a covered cat box (the Omega Paw rolling self-cleaning), etc etc. Nothing beats the Breeze. A few pellets get kicked out a day (and my cat is a kicker), I just pick them up and toss them back in.
The smell is almost non-existent (and it definitely existed with regular litter), and it is so easy to stay on top of. I scoop once a day and the pad gets replaced once a week (twice a week with 2 cats). I flip the pad with the tray around once a week since my cat pees in the same spot every time. It is maybe $4 - $5 more a month than I was spending on litter and worth every dang penny. Pellets are changed out once a month, and I wash the box out completely (not gross at all, it is so clean) - at first I was skeptical that small bag was enough for a month but it totally is. Bonus, no more heavy litter.
As far as if they change the box and stop making it, there are knock-off brands of the pads that are widely available and the pellets are made of something that you can get elsewhere in a little different format. I forget what I found in my research, but lots of people use different non-absorbent pellets with the box. I'm not worried about it, look at the following on Amazon and there are tons of loyal users. Hell, if they ever stop making it, I'll try to buy the patent and market it myself, it is that good.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 9, 2015 15:48:23 GMT
Get the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. CHANGED MY LIFE (seriously). You can read the reviews on Amazon, and Petsmart and Walmart sell it. Lots of good tips on Amazon and if you do a quick google. My cat didn't transition until I took the old one away. I've been using it about 6 months now and would never go back. I have tried every type of litter tracking pad, I had a covered cat box (the Omega Paw rolling self-cleaning), etc etc. Nothing beats the Breeze. A few pellets get kicked out a day (and my cat is a kicker), I just pick them up and toss them back in. The smell is almost non-existent (and it definitely existed with regular litter), and it is so easy to stay on top of. I scoop once a day and the pad gets replaced once a week (twice a week with 2 cats). I flip the pad with the tray around once a week since my cat pees in the same spot every time. It is maybe $4 - $5 more a month than I was spending on litter and worth every dang penny. I saw this one at PetSmart and spent a while looking at it. I was worried about the poop smell since the pellets wouldn't "attach" like tradition litter, right? I guess the same would be true for the crystals or anything with large pieces.
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Post by AN on Nov 9, 2015 15:56:26 GMT
I saw this one at PetSmart and spent a while looking at it. I was worried about the poop smell since the pellets wouldn't "attach" like tradition litter, right? I guess the same would be true for the crystals or anything with large pieces. So, for sure, there is a little more "immediate" poop smell. Not that much more though (I could always smell it from a covered box anyway, I work from home and sit about 20 feet from where the box is in a different room), and a few thoughts: 1. The pellets have a drying effect on the poo. I don't really get how they work but I guess they work kind of like silica pellets where they remove moisture. It seems like the poo is dried out and non-smelly within 30 - 45 minutes. No lingering odor - if he goes overnight, in the morning when I go in that area there is no smell. 2. If their poo is really REALLY smelly beyond that length of time, might have something to do with their food. 3. The box is so dang easy to use, I find myself cleaning it more often. I keep cheap sandwich baggies near the box and scoop any time I go by the room and there is poo. I would never do that with the old box because I found it to be such a hassle - there was litter on the floor, it was heavy, the urine clumps stuck to the box, it just felt like a PITA. With this box, I'm in and out in 10 seconds. I put the baggies in a Litter Genie next to the box, that works pretty well too (in the baggies only, didn't work well when I scooped and put the poo directly in the genie). I have always found the litter box to be a massive hassle, smell, and mess - my cat is 11 years old. With the Breeze box, it is now a total non-issue. Even on Day 7 of the pad, I never worry about if my house smells, if litter got kicked all over, etc.
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Post by SnowWhite on Nov 9, 2015 16:08:09 GMT
Get the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. CHANGED MY LIFE (seriously). I told my husband it is in the top 5 best purchases I've made in the last year. You can read the reviews on Amazon, and Petsmart and Walmart sell it. Lots of good tips on Amazon and if you do a quick google. My cat didn't transition until I took the old one away. I've been using it about 6 months now and would never go back. I'll be the lone dissenter on this box. I used it for quite a while (well, I actually had two of them) and they're a pain in the ass to clean. They're a huge, disgusting pain in the ass if any of your cats occasionally have less than solid poop. Nothing like using a little mini brush to try and clean poop out of the slats in the box. It takes forever.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Nov 9, 2015 16:17:25 GMT
we have three cats so we have two (large) litter boxes with clumping clay litter. Our cats are all female, but since we got the third cat, one of our other cats has issues with spraying / peeing right at the edge of the box or out the opening of the box... because of that, I bought LARGE covered boxes by the brand Nature's Miracle-- the plastic is non-stick and the way the hood snaps onto the base helps hold liquid (from spraying) inside the box. The litter box: Nature's Miracle hooded litter boxThe two boxes are next to each other on a HUGE litter mat to help with any spraying she might do out the doorway of the box (the mat and boxes were kinda expensive, but they've paid for themselves, as far as I'm concerned. The litter mat: litter mat (24" x 30") And, I go through a lot of Nature's Miracle and paper towels to neutralize / clean up her messes. (annoying as she is, she's ours, so we- well, I- take care of her messes). Years ago, I tried one of the litter boxes that had gravel and slats-- they pooped on the rocks and it dried, and when they peed it went thru the slats in the rocks and soaked into a pee pad underneath, which you then threw away. It worked great-- till the first time I cleaned the rocks. They didn't like the soap / cleaner I used, and didn't want to use it any more after that. So, I switched back to a covered box with clumping litter. ETA: I also had cats who have 'litter brand issues' so I would never try switching litter brands any more; that's why I got the largest boxes I could find. That Breeze box?? I can tell just by looking at it that the sides aren't tall enough for our litter thrower-- she'd have those pellets all over the floor in no time. With our cats, we need boxes with a lid over the entire thing. My previous vet told me she used a large tall-sided Rubbermaid container, too-- with a shower curtain around it, to contain any spraying. I only wish we had the space for something like that in our laundry room! But I really like the non-stick plastic the Nature's Miracle box is made from.
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Post by compwalla on Nov 9, 2015 16:18:05 GMT
Get the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. CHANGED MY LIFE (seriously). You can read the reviews on Amazon, and Petsmart and Walmart sell it. Lots of good tips on Amazon and if you do a quick google. My cat didn't transition until I took the old one away. I've been using it about 6 months now and would never go back. I have tried every type of litter tracking pad, I had a covered cat box (the Omega Paw rolling self-cleaning), etc etc. Nothing beats the Breeze. A few pellets get kicked out a day (and my cat is a kicker), I just pick them up and toss them back in. The smell is almost non-existent (and it definitely existed with regular litter), and it is so easy to stay on top of. I scoop once a day and the pad gets replaced once a week (twice a week with 2 cats). I flip the pad with the tray around once a week since my cat pees in the same spot every time. It is maybe $4 - $5 more a month than I was spending on litter and worth every dang penny. I saw this one at PetSmart and spent a while looking at it. I was worried about the poop smell since the pellets wouldn't "attach" like tradition litter, right? I guess the same would be true for the crystals or anything with large pieces. We keep the litter box in the bathroom and our rule is "scoop when you pee." We use the crystal cat litter (which doesn't have a scent, btw) and the fact that the crystals don't stick to the poops at all means you can sift out the turds and flush them down the toilet. This cuts way down on smell and makes it much easier to keep the box clean because you aren't mucking about with baggies of feces and whatnot.
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Post by AN on Nov 9, 2015 16:19:38 GMT
Get the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. CHANGED MY LIFE (seriously). I told my husband it is in the top 5 best purchases I've made in the last year. You can read the reviews on Amazon, and Petsmart and Walmart sell it. Lots of good tips on Amazon and if you do a quick google. My cat didn't transition until I took the old one away. I've been using it about 6 months now and would never go back. I'll be the lone dissenter on this box. I used it for quite a while (well, I actually had two of them) and they're a pain in the ass to clean. They're a huge, disgusting pain in the ass if any of your cats occasionally have less than solid poop. Nothing like using a little mini brush to try and clean poop out of the slats in the box. It takes forever. Ewww, true - if you have a cat with potty issues, might not be the right choice. Luckily I haven't had to deal with that... actually, ever. Man, knock on wood, huh? That sucks, sounds like it wasn't the right box for you with the pieces! I find it incredibly easy to clean once a month, the hardest part for me is poking the 4 - 5 broken pellet pieces out of the grid - need something pointy. Everything comes across and I'm able to completely wash it down in about 8 - 10 minutes. It is 3 parts - the "guard" around the edge, the main piece, and the tray. I have a cheap scrub brush I use only on that, and otherwise just water/multi-purpose cleaner/natures miracle. I wipe down the tray once a week when I change the pad but it really doesn't need it, it is just to be extra careful. I did have one time I think I let the pad go 10 days (can't remember why - traveling maybe?), and that was too long. Oh, other bonus - I had to collect a urine sample when my cat was having some testing done, and I just took the pad out and the tray collected the sample - easily poured it out of a corner into a jar. A little gross, but when is collecting a urine sample not gross?
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Post by Ryann on Nov 9, 2015 16:43:14 GMT
We have two cats and use two of the large rubbermaid containers with tall sides. We don't keep the lids on them, but have in the past (just cut out a hole in the lid big enough for cat to access box). I do a quick sweep of the surrounding floor (hard wood) each time I clean the cat boxes. Takes like 5 minutes for me to do everything (sweep, scoop, refill).
We keep them in my craft room closet, one in each corner (it's a long width, shallow depth closet). We also keep a tall roll-y container (i think its a dog food container) with fresh cat litter and a big plastic cup in it that I used to scoop in a bit of fresh litter after each time I clean it. The roll-y cart sits in between the two cat boxes, so there is some space between the litter boxes in case they need to be used at the same time.
I have a sensitive nose and use Precious Cat clumping cat litter, which contains no perfumes or deodorants. It's also low dust and hypo-allergenic. We switched to this brand a couple years ago and would never go back to what we were using (Tidy Cat - that stuff got stinky after little use).
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on Nov 9, 2015 16:44:12 GMT
I had a cat who was very large. Not fat, just a big guy and even the largest litter boxes he'd hang out of. I bought a rubbermaid tub, cut a hole in the end of it and put the lid back on. It works great. Make sure you put the hole up pretty high. My husband didn't do that at first and he let himself hang out the end too much. We use wood burning pellets (they are just like feline pine but much cheaper). I pay $5 for a 40 pound bag that lasts about 6 weeks for 2 cats. I change it about ever 5 days. If you go that route, be sure to get hardwood pellets.
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Post by smokeynspike on Nov 9, 2015 16:52:37 GMT
I have four indoor cats, two kittens and two adults, all female. We have three litter boxes. I switched about six months ago to the Rubbermaid containers too. You cut a hole using snips for whatever size you need/want and then we use clumping scoopable litter. There are tons of examples on Pinterest.
Melissa
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Nov 9, 2015 17:32:06 GMT
We bought the cat genie. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely, and I even managed to get our then 17 yo male cat to make the switch using their recommendations. Plus they have *outstanding* customer service and warranty service. Love it. Will never go back. My dh was not on board at first, but when it clogged up and was not running properly (due to my improper cleaning method, not the fault of the box), he said "If they can't or won't fix it, just order a new one". No one ever knows we have a cat, including our real estate agent and his photographer. They are trained to know that and they were both totally shocked. It's the best thing ever. Cat Genie
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Post by bostonmama on Nov 9, 2015 17:52:57 GMT
We have two cats, and I finally gave up with traditional litter boxes. Instead, I went to Walmart and purchased a giant, lidded Rubbermaid-type container. I found another plastic container that was large enough to give my cats plenty of space but also fit inside the larger container. For reference, the large container is probably 15" by 40" by 18" tall -- it's very large but is in my basement and looks like any other piece of storage equipment. Anyway, I cut a hole in the end of the large container for them to enter and covered it with duct tape to protect them from any sharp edges. I fill the smaller box, put it inside the larger one and lid the box. There is literally NO odor and since there is room for them to step out of the smaller container before they exit the larger container, there is virtually no litter that makes it way onto the floor. My husband was skeptical at first, but he is elated by how well it works!!
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Deleted
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May 2, 2024 2:35:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2015 18:56:02 GMT
We use a big Rubbermaid container, too. Just cut an entry hole at the end. It doesn't keep ALL litter off the floor, but it does help quite a bit. L I have four cats, so five litter boxes, like the one above. Not only does it help to keep the litter in the box, but it also cuts down on the odor a bit, and I don't have to see the mess until I take the lid off to clean. I do put a regular litter box in the bottom of the container since they are usually molded plastic with furrows or ridges. Having the separate litter box inside makes clean-up easier.
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Post by blondiec47 on Nov 9, 2015 19:11:44 GMT
What Rubbermaid container are you all using. My BIL is disabled and his hands are not good so the Tidy Breeze is out(I love the one I have for my cat) he is constantly sweeping up the litter mess and this sounds like it may help with that.
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Post by teri on Nov 9, 2015 19:15:58 GMT
Get the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. CHANGED MY LIFE (seriously). I told my husband it is in the top 5 best purchases I've made in the last year. You can read the reviews on Amazon, and Petsmart and Walmart sell it. Lots of good tips on Amazon and if you do a quick google. My cat didn't transition until I took the old one away. I've been using it about 6 months now and would never go back. I have tried every type of litter tracking pad, I had a covered cat box (the Omega Paw rolling self-cleaning), etc etc. Nothing beats the Breeze. A few pellets get kicked out a day (and my cat is a kicker), I just pick them up and toss them back in. The smell is almost non-existent (and it definitely existed with regular litter), and it is so easy to stay on top of. I scoop once a day and the pad gets replaced once a week (twice a week with 2 cats). I flip the pad with the tray around once a week since my cat pees in the same spot every time. this.... I can't say enough good things about this system. NO CAT PEE smell..... ZERO I also flip the pads since kitty pees at front of box.
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Post by bostonmama on Nov 9, 2015 19:30:32 GMT
What Rubbermaid container are you all using. My BIL is disabled and his hands are not good so the Tidy Breeze is out(I love the one I have for my cat) he is constantly sweeping up the litter mess and this sounds like it may help with that. This is similar to the larger container we use, but ours has a flat lid 50 Gallon
Using a jigsaw proved the easiest way to cut the hole out of the side. Cutting it out of the lid could also work!
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Post by blondiec47 on Nov 9, 2015 19:34:05 GMT
What Rubbermaid container are you all using. My BIL is disabled and his hands are not good so the Tidy Breeze is out(I love the one I have for my cat) he is constantly sweeping up the litter mess and this sounds like it may help with that. This is similar to the larger container we use, but ours has a flat lid 50 Gallon
Using a jigsaw proved the easiest way to cut the hole out of the side. Cutting it out of the lid could also work! Thanks--I am going to mention this to him (his cats are older so I am not sure they will adjust) it could save him a lot of work
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phyllis
Junior Member
Posts: 56
Sept 22, 2015 20:55:33 GMT
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Post by phyllis on Nov 9, 2015 20:25:03 GMT
I LOVE the Tidy Cat Breeze as well!! I honestly don't know how I would adjust my 2 boys to anything else if they stop making the pellets & pads!! No smell at all, except when they immediately poop, before it dries. Easy to scoop & I also flip the pad tray every other day, and change 2x weekly. Whoever uses that bathroom picks up any pellets and throws them in the litter box, but due to the weight of the pellets, there are only a couple on the floor. I love the system!!
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Post by tallgirl on Nov 9, 2015 21:00:47 GMT
Does anyone know if the Breeze system is available in Canada? After following this thread I checked on the Petsmart.ca website and don't see it there. Y'all had me convinced to try it, but I will be bummed if it's not on the market here.
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Post by catseatcheese on Nov 9, 2015 21:10:41 GMT
I will throw in another vote for purchasing a large rubbermaid (or whatever brand you choose) container and using that as your littler box. My poor boy is very large (he is also sort of portly but the vet actually said he was "big boned"--made me feel much better and he was standing in his little box like a good boy and he proceeded to pee all over the wall! I figured out it was because he was so tall. So I tried to get him one of those very large covered litter boxes from the pet store and he was scared to death of it and refused to go in there. I gave up and bought the rubbermaid and he has been happy as a clam. Now, he does make a bit of a mess because when he jumps out there are some litter pieces stuck to his feet. We put out one of those little rubber mats meant to collect litter and it seems to help. We run rommba a couple of times per week in the room and it collects the litter. I am interested in all of these other ideas that people are mentioning! Thanks for the post.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Nov 10, 2015 12:59:32 GMT
another one who cut a hole in a big rubbermaid storage container(well I bought the cheaper brand instead of rubbermaid , sterelite or something like that).. works great. no way was I paying $20 for a covered cat box when the *rubbermaid* box was $5
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Post by peasapie on Nov 10, 2015 14:13:43 GMT
I have a giant cat (a Ragdoll) and I use the biggest lidded litter box I could find at PetSmart. It has a charcoal filter in the top and a fold up top to make cleaning easy.
I prefer the clumping litter to the non-clumping and I clean it out 2-3 times a week. Once a week I remove a few cups of the remaining litter and replace it with fresh, along with a sprinkling of Arm and Hammer deodorized litter powder.
We keep the litter box in the bathroom. My husband built a wooden platform on top of the bathtub (we have several bathrooms in our house) and the litter box sits on that. Also, there is a little plastic "rug" outside the litter box which catches any stray litter attached to paws.
I'm very smell sensitive, and I can say that this method works very well for me. Interesting to read what other folks do!
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Deleted
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May 2, 2024 2:35:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2015 15:30:05 GMT
We have one of the litter boxes with the top on it. I love it. yes, they make a mess, but I just sweep it up somewhat regularly. I also switched from the clumping litter back to the regular clay litter. I buy the cheap store brand litter. I scoop the poo every day and change it once a week. I have no more cat litter smell in my house. It's just so much easier for me to dump it rather than scoop and add more litter.
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