[Louse76]

We have only had Zero for a couple of months, and it's been a while since I've had a cat, also the ones before went to the bathroom outside.

With Zero, we originally wanted to toilet train him (which we gave up on for now), so we picked up a clumping litter that was supposed to be fine to flush down the toilet. That stuff didn't do anything to absorb the smell at all. We have two bathrooms and he goes in the second one. I would go accross the house to use our bathroom in the bedroom because of the smell. By this time, we decided that regardless of what the bag said, we didn't want to put it into our new septic system anyhow.

So we went to buy something that did the job much better. We bought a 40lb bag of Tidy Cat (multiple cat formula), realizing on our way out of the store that it is not the clumping type. We decided to keep it and try it out for now. It seems to be about half of the price per pound than the clumping type... will post what I think about it later.

What have you tried? What do you use? Impressions? Advice?

PS: Anyone toilet trained their cat or know anyone who has?

 

[BlueAnimal]

I really have no idea what I've used. I started off with a 20lb bag of Johnny cat simply because it was on sale for $2 or $3. It worked fine but I didn't really care for all the dust thta came out of the bag. :? So when that was all gone I tried a non clumping, sort of sand like cat litter. It was pretty good except when Kali's paws got wet from her attempts to burry her potty, it would stick in between her paws. Needless to say, I didn't use that one too long because it tracked all over also. All in all, the last several weeks I just get scoopable cat litter, and I'm working on seeing which I like best. Another thing you can do to lessen the odor is sprinkle some baking soda into the cat litter, it helps absorb the smell I believe. There is a cat litter that has it in it that I've heard several people around this forum use and like.

As far as toilet training goes, I've never tried it. I've heard people who have talked about it but I've always been a little skeptical. There's probably other people on this forum who know people or have tried it and could probably better assist you with information you might want. Good luck with everything and have a good day.

- Randy

 

[Rayona]

I will be toilet training my cats, starting in a couple of weeks. There is no way I will live with 15+ years of catbox smell in an apartment. I have seen a few websites that give really great instructions, and a few kits too. I'll look around and post some links for you. I am lucky, since my cats already are comfortable with the toilets and are really great box users.

For litter I use SWheat. It is a biodegradeable clumping litter that is 100% flushable. I think it works great on odors and is a little less dusty than the clay litters. No matter how much the package said it was ok, I wouldn't flush clay litter into a septic system either.

 

[Veda]

So far the best I've tried is Feline Pine. It still gets stinky and is nasty to clean, but I haven't found any kind that's better.

 

[faile]

i live in an apartment, and i've been using swheat. it works great for me, i scoop at least once a day and just flush it. it's a little dusty on his paws, but i think that will be fixed once i get a rug or something for under his litter box.

 

[Ioana]

I have started using Arm&Hammer about a week ago. I have read previous threads on this subject. When I was ready to make the change (I had started Frosty with a Food Lion one - I was happy he was doing the job and it wasn't that smelly anyways it is just that I realized clumping litter would work better for us!) went to the store and after browsing for a while I decided on the Arm and Hammer litter (remembering Jeanie said she was happy with it). I have to say that I am more than satisfied. It has been a week and I don't believe I will need to change it nor wash the box (like I was doing before). Occasionally I get a funky odor from the box (it but it happens only if he hadn't covered up well - bc in a hurry )it is very rare. It has a clean smell to it and it clumps really good.
I have a question - when you guys are talking about toilet training - do you mean for the kitty to actually go potty on the comode? It is very new to me and I would like to know if it is possible and safe for the kitty at the same time.

 

[Rayona]

 

[Ioana]

That is amazing. I appreciate that, Rayona. I will be looking into it myself!

 

[Jeanie]

I have heard of that before, but never saw the directions. Smart kitty. I had one who preferred to go down the bathtub drain. She had a good idea, if only the drain had been wider!

 

[cmaijer]

I use Tidy Cat-Multiple Cat. I tried the clumping, but it's messy (it tends to stick to their feet more). I tried flushing it down the toilet, but it clumped it such big clumps that it stopped up the toilet. I didn't like the idea of putting it in the trashcan outside everyday when we only have our trash picked up twice a week.

 

[Ioana]

I don't flush the litter. I use grocery bags and roll them and tie them up ...there is nothing funky smelling coming out of them till the trash gets gone ! I wouldn't have it any other way.
I used to use Tidy Cat, cmaijer ..I guess we all have to try and see what works best for our kitties. Since it was the first time I used Arm&Hammer I bought a small quantity - taking into consideration Frosty might not like it+ it was the first time I was using something the had some sort of scent to it..very light but still

 

[maymariya]

Stinky Kitty Litter

I mix clumping Fresh Step, with non-clumping Fresh Step. Also, i sometimes mix the non-clumping Fresh Step with Clumping tidy cats. It seems to work for the most part, and the fresh step kills more odor than the tidy cats.try it, it might work for you!!! <<))

 

[Louse76]

I didn't like the idea of putting it in the trashcan outside everyday when we only have our trash picked up twice a week.

Lucky! They only come once a week where I'm at. Once again for yard clippings or whatever. Seems crazy to me.

 

[kristi]

My friend toilet-trained a cat but the cat didn't learn it completely and will often go on anything porcelain, usually the sink. So I would consider those possibilities too...

We use one regular box and a littermaid (getting another soon) and clumping litter. I've used Tidy Cat and Fresh Step; they're ok. We have the litter boxes in the laundry room; the door is closed; there is a swinging cat door--so any odor is pretty much contained in their room. I keep a trash can with a lid in there to put the clumps in.

Littermaid is ok as long as your cats don't get diarreah. Then icky blicky. The thing gets all stuck to the bottom (b/c you can't fill it very full) and it's much harder to clean than a regular box b/c of all the parts. But I was using one with 4 cats, so no wonder it kept messing up. I think if you have no more than one box per 2 cats you would be fine.

 

[AngelZoo]

I have not yet toliet trained my cats, we only have one bathroom in our home, and a small child going through potty training. With some of the techniques requiring you to place the litter box ON the toliet for a while, a contamination risk is much to high for me to want to risk.

For me, I personally will not flush any litter, I don't care if it says it's safe, my family has had to already replace one septic tank, and let me tell you IT'S EXPENSIVE and a god awefull mess for years.

The things which I look for are.

1.) HARD clumping
2.) No/Low Dust
3.) SUPERIOR odor control, lasting weeks
4.) A cheap price is always nice
5.) Something NOT made of clay, (aka not harmful to the animal if injested)

The ones I have had the best results with (and this is different for every persons cat).

OdorZout (sold at Petsmart), Papurr, Scoop Away + Crystals, Arm n' Hammer + Crystals.

Everything else wont cut it for my gang, LEAST of all Tidy Cats, I hate that brand lol.

 

[Audrey]

This is what i use and it's the best i've ever had! Don't know if they sell it in the states, though?
No smells, no chunks staying attached to the paws, only 1 negative thing..u can't flush it 'cause it's extra clumping...
I save it in a little garbage can and once a week they pick it up!
The cats love it too! :wink:

 

[AngelZoo]

Audrey: Yes we do have that here, I see it all over

It's actually one of the more popular and availble brands I have not tried because it's EXPENSIVE.

And it's made of clay.

 

[Pepper]

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