Cat Litter

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hello,

I have two gorgeous kitties who are driving me insane with their litter pawprints and little pieces of gravel being tracked through the house.

Does anyone have any sage advice on how to prevent this?

I am using Everclean cat litter, the multi-cat pack as it seems to track less than the 'no-track' option the same brand offers. The litter itself is good in that it clumps well and there is no odour, its just the tracking.

I bought a litter mat today, so far not seeing any difference.

My cats refuse to use the garden *sigh*

2
Put the litter outside under cover somewhere?

3
if you've got 800chf or so to spare you could try one of these

4
I'd love to do that, but we are renting so cant install a cat flap. That would be an ideal solution.

I wonder if it would vacuum all the litter off their feet too

Its a great idea, thank you.

5
There's always this option

6

Hello there, take a look at EF user Jennaasis' blog She has done a great tutorial on her homemade system using wood pellets.

I buy the pellets at either Landi or Coop Bau und hobby, approx 6.-chf for 15kg, they last ages.

I can attest to it's effectiveness as after reading it I thought it sounded perfect for what I wanted, so I cobbled my own one together using a grey heavy plastic container from Coop Bau und Hobby with a washing basket from Jumbos. Drilled the holes in the washing basket and hey presto!!

Cheap, effective, no smell apart from a pleasant wood aroma and no tracking. I need the high walls as one of my cats pees like a horse, standing up with copious amounts.

I hope Jennaasis doesn't mind me referring to her blog and hope too that she sees this and replies to this thread, so I may give credit where credit is due.

7
Don't think that just because you are renting you cant install a cat flap. I asked the owner of my flat if I could install one in the window (gas-filled double glazing). She not only said yes, she had it done and paid for it too !

I am a good lodger - they're worth keeping

8
Of course you can install a flap - as long as you put the original door/window and glass back in when you move out.

To do this,

a) check with your liability and household insurances if they cover damages in case of something happening to your flat due to your replaced/built-in balcony door/window flap being used for the damage to happen.

b) find out from carpenter/glazier (Schreiner/Glaser) if they can remove the glass from your door/window and replace it with glass containing a cat flap, so that you can store the glass somewhere until you move out and put it back in, or if they can replace the entire balcony door/window with one containing a flap without putting you at risk for damages/liability issues with the landlord.

9
Thank you everyone for your advice. I thought that as we are renting there is no way I could put in a cat flap, so am definitely going to see if the landlord is okay with it. Alternatively check with insurance.

10
Use silicon litter.

You'll still get a few granules out of the bin, but it shouldn't travel very far - and better and easier to clean up, if it does.

One example here: http://www.landi.ch/laden/deu/sortim...cat-18941?c=10

11
Do you LIVE in Landi, TiMow?

Looks like you know every single product they sell.

12
Heard a few stories of windows breaking when a cat flap was being installed, I would be cautious

13
Hence the advice to call one's insurer before starting, and not to use the landlord's door/window to install the flap.

14
When you live in a village, it's much easier to shop locally then go to the city.

Most products I recommend, I use or have used or have just seen them, in store.

If you live in a town or city, you probably wont shop at Landi.

As Landi was originally set up and is run as a co-operative, primarily for the benefit of farmers, it offers fair quality at non-rip-off prices.

In this particular case I avoid specialist pet stores, as the prices have just too much mark-up.

I have also bought silicon cat litter in Aldi and I'm sure it'll be found over-priced in pet shops.

15
We've used the wood pellets for several years and they're brilliant. We initially got them from the pet store until we realised that they were just the same from the DIY places and only a fraction of the cost.

We usually get them from Landi because like Timow we have one just around the corner.

16
Thanks everyone.

I will chat to our landlord and our insurers. We have a friend who does double glazed window fitting, see what he says.

If the cat flap is not to be, I will try the silicon litter.

Otherwise, I will just have to walk behind the little buggers with my trusty handivac *sigh*

17
I'll bet that makes them tricky and smelly to burn afterwards.

18
I expect it would but it's great in the compost.

Having said that since our cat goes outside to do his 'business' most if the time the litter box is only used a few times a year.

19
Thank you, Twinklestar for the mention. I'm so happy the litter box and litter is working for you. It really is a great solution.

Clean, eco-friendly and very cheap. It really is the same thing as the pine litter sold in pet stores for 5 times the price. :-)