Posted on 07/09/2011 6:42:22 AM PDT by incredulous joe
Sorry dude, you just have to resign yourself to the fact that cats don’t have owners; they have servants!
What I did to help with the litterbox problem....I had constructed a pen with fine small-animal screening (stronger than window screen) with a cat door from the basement, and a homemade screen door to the outdoors, about eight by eight total footprint. Litter boxes are outdoors, essentially, in a "cat porch." This was surprisingly inexpensive, less than the cats cost. Fortuitously, (didn't plan this) the litterboxes themselves get hours of sunlight on sunny days. Great for odor control and drying out the urine. I use the cheapest clumping litter. I ended up putting a trash can with bags, etc., broom and hand sanitizer in the kitty outhouse. Has made taking care of the cats as easy as dogs. Since you have a rural-sounding property, you might consider this.
I put a cat tower in the pen, too (it's protected from any but blowing rain) and I've gotten a little fun made of how I've spoiled the cats. But people build dog pens all the time.
Our cats used to be indoor cats until 2005 when they both decided they prefer it outside. They have been happy outdoors now full-time for 6 years..
When I had cats (wife took them when she left), I had a motorized litterbox that sat on top of a cabinet. When it scooped, instead of going into the small container, it went into a continuous plastic bag. Could go about 2-3 weeks w/2 cats without emptying. It was great. Bought the setup on eBay.
I do miss the cats.
Outdoor cats are severely endangered here, from some of the things I mentioned and diseases that they catch from other cats.
WE had a lot of house cats, 7 at one count. Our big neutered male Maine Coon, Junior, insisted on becoming an outdoor cat so we gave up and let him. 6 months later I found him dead in the flower bed, not sure what happened, probably hit by a car and tried to get back to the house. I still miss him.
Luckily, I have a screened in porch and that satiates alot of their hunting desires, but all 3 go to the front door and want OUT!
My wife and I let them out, but only if we escort them. We take 30 mins a day for one cat at a time to go out and sniff, chase chipmunks, etc. Its actually quite calming as either of us get to walk around our yard with a glass of wine watching cats do what they do.
Within a week, we all find time for each cat to get about an hour outside, and they seem happy and thankful for it. Unfortunately, they are declawed and will NEVER go outside unless escorted. Find some time with your wife/family to take a string/stick and just follow behind your cat 30 or so feet and reassure them when they look back at you.
I agree that you shouldnt let them out unsupervised, or if they are mostly indoor cats. Just let them out to have some fun and get them back in. Both you and your cats will be happier for it.
We have a cat now that is inside only. Our last two cats were inside/outside cats that we had for years, but months apart- each of them went out one night and never returned (we pretend some nice family took them)- they were probably eaten by coyotes, and owl or whatever....we didn’t want that to happen to this one too (the nice family taking cats fantasy was wearing thin) so we keep her strictly inside.
If it’s a litter box factor- maybe look into those electronic cleaner ones that sweep the litter after use. I’ve never bought one of those but it could work.
The problem I had was the poop kept getting all over everything with my scooper.
The Omega Paws have no mechanics. They are sort of built as a giant circle. You roll them over, and when they come back, all the poop is in a pull out drawer. You never bend and scoop. It just seemed to work cleaner.
But if you got the mechanized ones to work well, more power to you.
Usually, cats prefer outdoors. Have done rescues and strays my whole life, and refused to deal with a litter box as a permanent arrangement. But when you lose one special pet, you change your mind.
I use for my indoor cat “Feline Pine”.....It smells like cedar, you never ever smell the urine and it last for weeks.....
Damn! You guys can’t keep politics out of ANYTHING!!!
Seriesly that has got to be the best comment on a thread I’ve ever seen; kudos!!
And kudos to the TPK!
We have had cats for 30 years. We live on a cul-de-sac in a rural area. We started out with indoor outdoor cats, cat doors and their discretion. Over the years we always bought two from a breeder at the same time, I echo the stories of others who talked about the short lives of outdoor cats. Its like playing Russian roulette. We had several long term survivors: one chartreuse who chose not to go out, an alley cat who was out as much as in and a siamese cross (snowshoe) who went out to hunt and was the fastest tree climber I have ever seen. Those three died about a year ago at 18, 20 and 21 years old. None were declawed. However in that time we had many more cats that disappeared. When our last cats died last year we got kittens (the first in about 12 years), 2 Bengals and 2 Abyssinians. No way am I ever letting them outside, once you have an indoor outdoor cat you have no choice when you add a new kitten but now that I have the chance I am keeping these babies safe! Folks that visit my house have asked for my system because they can’t smell any cat smell.
Litter box wise I have a system that I am very happy with and I have 4 boxes for 4 cats scooped 3 times a week:
All these products can be seen/bought at Amazon
1.Fresh Wave Odor Neutralizing Gel 16oz + 8oz Free
(there is also a 64oz refill which is cheaper) I leave one of these either open or in a pot pourri jar out of site by the litter. The only time I smell litterbox is when I’m scooping or when the crystals need to be refilled.
2.Precious Cat Kitten Attract Kitten Training Litter (adult formula and separate kitten formula)
3.Lucky Champ Litter Pan used with a disposable liner (liner changed once a month)
Lucky Champ Designer Canopy (this is an add on to the litter box and looks good)
4.Booda Scoop’N Hide Litter Scoop (this works like a toilet bowel brush, it hides in its holder)
5.Kitty’s WonderBox, 3-Pack (the disposable liners)
Those were some very special cats, esepcially considering that you had TWO that did it at the same time. I’ve had 16 indoor cats and about twice as many outdoor cats over the past 44 years and not a single one of the indoor cats has ever “decided” he wanted to become an outdoor cat. Cats are inherently lazy, interrupted bursts of intense activity, followed by plenty of sleep. They enjoy comfort and safety and a plentiful food supply. Being indoors allows them to have the lifestyle that any cat would desire and after a couple years indoors, they develop a fear of open places.
Now, an outdoor cat cannot see this because it has a strong distrust of enclosures and your home is an enclosure and their worries about an escape route overrides their natural laziness because he knows that he can still be lazy outside, but once he realizes that your house is a trap, he get’s very uncomfortable.
An indoor/outdoor cat may decide he’d rather live outdoors, but that decision is based on being an indoor/outdoor cat (i.e. he thinks he can get back in and take a safe nap whenever he wants it) and is usually influenced by some factors such as a new child, pet, or changes in “his” people’s behavior.
My sons cat was formerly a “warehouse cat” he adopted when his client closed that facility. Huge cat who was accustomed to mice for food as well as cat food A real hunter.
When they brought him home they kept him inside for several months in order to adapt to the family etc. and not run off. Then they slowly let him out. Right from the begining he hung out on the property...which is large...and that was five years ago and still hangs out on the property.
I am not a cat person but my sister in law is. Will tell you what she came up with.
They took a large dog pen and put platforms in it for the cats to lay. A cat door was put thru the bathroom wall into the pen which was outside. A self cleaning litter box went into the pen. They even devised a roof of sorts so the cats could go out in any weather.
They used some kind of attachment to the wall from the outside. The pen could be unattached, pulled out, and cleaned easily.
That's right IMO. and I tried it all when I had my cat. By far this was excellent and worth the bit of extra in cost. Amazed how long it lasts too, for the clumping. I cleaned it out before work and then if necessary again at night.
Dogs have masters, cats have staff.
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