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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: litter boxes (and odor control)
Message-ID: <1067@opus.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Jan-85 02:07:24 EST
Article-I.D.: opus.1067
Posted: Wed Jan 30 02:07:24 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Feb-85 01:55:12 EST
References: <136@magic.ARPA>
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Xref: seismo net.pets:706

> I'd like to hear about any suggestions people have for making litter
> boxes unobtrusive...Does anything work better than baking soda in
> keeping down odor?...

There's a variant on the standard litterbox that's particularly used by
breeders.  It uses chopped-up corncobs (technically, "small animal bedding"
or some such) rather than granules of clay.  This gets rid of one of the
obtrusive characteristics of ordinary litterboxes, namely getting dust from
the clay all over the area around the litterbox.  (That's actually why it's
used around show cats--it keeps dust out of the cat's coat, which protects the
fur a little and allows it to retain a normal level of oil.)  The box is a
two-level affair.  The main, upper part has a screen on the bottom to hold
the litter and let urine drain thru to a tray below.  To clean it, you
shovel the upper part and rinse out the lower part.  It's more trouble than
a normal litterbox.  (Cleaning three or four early in the morning when
you've got a hangover will make you swear off booze for weeks...:-)

An essential part of this type of litterbox is the deodorant.  There is a
spray which is sold for use with it.  After cleaning the litterbox, you
spray a little deodorant on the litter and a little more in the tray below.

=>There's no reason you couldn't use this deodorant in a normal litterbox<=
It's ONLY a deodorant--a substance which goes after odor-causing chemicals.
It has very little odor of its own; it's definitely not a perfume (which,
correctly noted in the parent article, would drive cats away quickly).  The
stuff works--we have had as many as 18 cats (due to an unfortunate coinci-
dence of two litters) and we DON'T have an odor problem in the house.

The litterbox and deodorant are made by "Dualle'" in Elgin, IL  60120.
Some pet shops carry them.  The product name is "Tabby Tender".

There is also a product made by Airwick Professional Products for removing
odors such as cats are wont to cause.  However, it's much more expensive.
It also has a noticeable scent--not strong or unpleasant, but not suited to
litterbox use.  Its use is for cleaning an area where a cat has sprayed--
you have to kill the odor or cats will find it and spray it again.  This
stuff is likely to be hard to find, but if anyone needs it, write; I'll try
to locate a source.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Never offend with style when you can offend with substance.