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From: monam@tekecs.UUCP (Mona McLaughlin)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: HELP!!  Cat litter question (phew!)
Message-ID: <5956@tekecs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Feb-86 18:24:59 EST
Article-I.D.: tekecs.5956
Posted: Mon Feb 17 18:24:59 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Feb-86 20:12:09 EST
References: <984@burl.UUCP> <1039@terak.UUCP>
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Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 94

> > 1) Litter box.  Both these guys are excellently trained to the box, but I
> > can change the litter in the afternoon and by the next morning the whole
> > apartment smells.  Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated --
> > if you have cats you probably know that no deodorizors will help (although
> > good incense seems to do better than anything).  Would it help if I had
> 
> Try coating the bottom of the pan with baking soda. Thoroughly
> wash the plastic (? I presume) litter box as plastic can
> retain odors. Then begin using a litter box liner. Are you
> putting enough litter in the box? You might want to change
> from an actual litterbox to a dishpan, they are deeper, which
> means they hold more litter and things can be buried deeper.
> Check with a vet about deodorizers, they can supply you with
> ones that work far better than those you can buy at the pet
> store.
> 
> > one/both of them fixed?  I've run through every brand of litter known to
> > man/beast -- nothing works; my best experience so far is with Kitty Litter
> > brand.  They are both still on Purina Kitten Chow, which I'm sure is ultra-
> > loaded with protein -- a bad thing for me since protein breaks down into
> > ammonia in the body.  Would a dietary change help?
> 
> I agree, Kitty Litter is one of the better odor reducing brands.
> Try a diet change, it could help. Fixing the female will make
> no difference in her litter odor (that's perceptable to you,
> anyway). Fixing the male will eventually make a big difference
> in the odor of the male's urine.
> 
> > 
> > 2) Spraying.  I guess this is what he is doing -- the male started a month
> > won't be the end.  I really hate to have him fixed for no reason, as he is
> > already playful but basically docile (he doesn't really use his claws and
> > teeth even when really excited while playing/fighting), and I don't want to
> > turn him into a fat, boring old man before he is one year old.
> 
> Talk to the vet about this.
> 
> > 
> > 3) Scratching post.  I bought one of these oddities (carpet-covered variety,
> > then pounce on each other.  They never once scratched it.  Now that they are
> > too big to perch on it, it sits in the middle of the living room floor while
> > they gleefully attack my $300 ottoman.  For some reason they haven't yet
> > for the appearance of my apartment at the same time.  Any scratching-post
> > suggestions?  The male discovered my speaker covers last night, and for that
> Try one of the larger scratching poles (floor to ceiling
> variety, with shelves). Whenever you catch them scratching
> something they shouldn't, firmly say the cat's name and "NO". A
> lot of people have success using a spray bottle or water
> pistol, depends on the cat. Take them to the scratching pole,
> pet them, say "good kitty" and move their paws on the pole in
> a scratching motion, you might even try to push their claws
> out while you do this, so they get a better idea of what you
> want.
> 
> > 
> > 4) The house won't solve this one, but my job requires me to go the New Jersey
> > had any experience with automatic feeders/waterers so I don't have to leave
> > tons of food and water out?  The male is in fantastic shape, but the female
> > is a butterball -- a real tubbo.  I have the feeling that if there isn't a huge
> > P.S.: Thanks in advance from Sam and Kodi, too!
> > -- 
> > 
> > The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3313 (Cornet 291)
> > alias: Curtis Jackson	...![ ihnp4 ulysses cbosgd mgnetp ]!burl!rcj
> > 			...![ ihnp4 cbosgd akgua masscomp ]!clyde!rcj
> 
> I'd leave out as much water as possible. On food, leave out
> only the amount they'll need for those 3 or 4 days. For a
> longer time than that I'd either get someone to come in and
> feed them (neighbor kids are great for this) or put them in a
> kennel. I don't have any experience with an auto feeder, so I
> can't comment on other that it seems a good idea, but, once
> they learn the hang of it, I don't think it would make any
> difference over leaving the food out, except that it won't get
> stale as quickly.
> -- 
> Suzanne Barnett-Scott
> uucp:	 ...{decvax,ihnp4,noao,savax,seismo}!terak!suze
> CalComp/Sanders Display Products Division
> 14151 N 76th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
> (602) 998-4800


By changing your cat food from whatever you are using to Iams or Science
Diet you will probably notice a great deal of difference in the amount
of odor from the litter box.  I won't go into details of why these brands
work - but you should ask your vet or pet store about them.  My cats
love the taste of Iams, even though they were hesitant at first.  Believe
me, the difference in odor is tremendous and definitely worth paying for
the more expensive food.  Good luck!