litterbox

Attention kitty owners! Are you willing to forgo that shovel of years past, and invest in a SmartScoop Scoop-N-Sift ($3.99)? To use, simply scoop clumps using the solid half and then rotate to the slotted side to shake, shake, shake that litter out . . . kinda like a litter maraca! That way when you swiftly sift the clumps, you reduce the amount of litter wasted – thinking way back to my days with Precious, I remember that it can be tricky to get rid of excess clean litter without losing the clump using the slotted shovel. This price isn't that much more than a traditional scooper so, tell me, which would you use?

Q: My cat creates a big stink. His poop is the stinkiest of any poops I have ever sniffed! I don't want to be too TMI here, but it's so bad that it often wakes me up . . . all the way in my bedroom. Am I stuck with smelly cat here – please help?!

A: Well, I have to admit this was one stinker of a problem for me to figure out. First off, sometimes smelly waste could be a sign of a health problem (like a parasite) so it's worth mentioning on your cat's next vet visit. Try reading the label of your kitty's food. The amounts of byproducts and grain fillers (corn, cornmeal, etc.) can lead to stinkier poo as pets can have trouble digesting too many carbs – there is often some reason for that higher priced food! You should see turkey, chicken, or other meat as the first ingredient. It's possible your cat is having trouble digesting some part of his food – undigested meat protein (rich in sulfides) putrefy and undigested fats turn rancid, too. Your vet can give you the best dining recommendation – my informed friends said to try Evo or Artemis – but anyone else who has experienced (and solved) this problem, please share in your comments below!

Source

One of our readers needs your help! Kiki tee has a little kitty with a big problem with the litterbox. Read his story, and share suggestions with us in your comments below!

We adopted Milo when he was about three months old, after he just had one of his back legs amputated. He always knew how and when to use his litter tray, but doesn't seem to know how to position himself when going to the toilet. He doesn't arch his back but instead crouches down close to the litter and, as a result, he keeps coming out of his box with an awful lot of what is supposed to stay in the box. . . stuck to him. And I'm talking both kinds of stuff that you want in the box (and not on your floor, your sofa, your windowsill, or any other place he makes it to before I have a chance to tackle him with a packet of baby wipes) on his tail, his leg, and sometimes his belly.

At first we thought it was a balance issue, but as this problem continues, it seems that isn't the case. . . and Milo doesn't seem at all bothered about it. He makes no attempt to clean himself off, which strikes me as odd because I thought cats were supposed to be so clean! We want him to be an indoor cat because of his missing leg, but I swear if I have to spend one more evening on my hands and knees sniffing my way around the house with a sponge and antibacterial spray, I will scream!

I love my kitty dearly, but I'd also love to keep him (and my home) clean – does anyone have any advice for me?

Hey everyone. BellaSugar here. I love my cats Milo and Minou to pieces. What I don't love about them is their frequent, fetid fecal droppings. They do this thing I call the Circle of Poo: One poops, then the other has to check it out. And then that kitty has to poop in solidarity. Then the other has to have a look, raising the ante by squeezing out another little pooplet. And so on. (Too much information? Yeah, well, there's too much cat poop in my life.)

About six weeks ago, I remembered reading about people who toilet train their cats. I think you know where this is going. The traditional method, as described by jazz musician Charles Mingus, involves keeping a litter box over the toilet. That seemed like too much work, so instead, I decided to try CitiKitty ($29), a feline toilet training kit. The website was filled with photos of happy kitties neatly depositing their mess into a toilet, which gave me great hope. Surely, Milo and Minou would be able to use the loo in a similar way, right? Right?

To find out how the first few weeks have been going, read more