From zero to crazy cat lady in 13 short weeks.
May 12, 2009 10:59 AM Subscribe
3 cats, one small apartment. I'm looking for as much advice, strategies and product recommendations that I can get. The goal is happy healthy kitties, with my sanity intact.
Long story short (background here, here and here if you're really bored) -- I fostered an abandoned pregnant mommy kitty. 13 weeks later, after considerable doses of both heartbreak and happiness, mommy cat and her surviving kittens are doing well. One's been adopted out to a great home, and the two remaining kittens are still with me. One is the runt who has already had her share of problems, but right now is doing well. The other is pretty much a clone of her mommy. I've made the decision to keep all three -- now the trick is making this work.
(Yes, I realize I'm now the crazy cat lady. Somewhere, somehow, I've made all the rookie fostering mistakes, have gotten too attached to my babies, and can't give them up. 3 cats is a lot, especially given the small space -- I will concede that. But I can't choose just one or two -- they all have awesome yet unique personalities, they get along great, they make me happy, and this fostering experience has made me realize that I can provide them a good home. I feel good about saving these otherwise abandoned cats. Plus, all three are all black, so at least they only shed one color.)
So, with all that out of the way -- what do I need to know?
Any suggestions on handling the multi cat litter box situation? So far they're all sharing well, but who knows how long that will last. I barely have a good place for one litter box, so multiple boxes are going to be a challenge. Recommendations for a good covered litter box? I've read those fancy auto-cleaning boxes don't work in multi-cat households, because they tend to freak out / interupt the cat second in line at the loo. Anyone have experience with that?
How can I best keep my apartment from smelling like "cat"? I'm not talking cat urine, specifically -- i just want to keep the place from smelling like a vet's office. Difficulty: kitten proof solutions. Right now everything is a potential toy.
Do cat trees really work? With limited horizontal space, I know I need to go vertical, and have been looking at those giant 6 feet+ cat trees. But I don't want to spend all that money on ugly furniture if it's not going to be used.
Any other random bits of information you wish you'd known earlier?
Thanks in advance!
Long story short (background here, here and here if you're really bored) -- I fostered an abandoned pregnant mommy kitty. 13 weeks later, after considerable doses of both heartbreak and happiness, mommy cat and her surviving kittens are doing well. One's been adopted out to a great home, and the two remaining kittens are still with me. One is the runt who has already had her share of problems, but right now is doing well. The other is pretty much a clone of her mommy. I've made the decision to keep all three -- now the trick is making this work.
(Yes, I realize I'm now the crazy cat lady. Somewhere, somehow, I've made all the rookie fostering mistakes, have gotten too attached to my babies, and can't give them up. 3 cats is a lot, especially given the small space -- I will concede that. But I can't choose just one or two -- they all have awesome yet unique personalities, they get along great, they make me happy, and this fostering experience has made me realize that I can provide them a good home. I feel good about saving these otherwise abandoned cats. Plus, all three are all black, so at least they only shed one color.)
So, with all that out of the way -- what do I need to know?
Any suggestions on handling the multi cat litter box situation? So far they're all sharing well, but who knows how long that will last. I barely have a good place for one litter box, so multiple boxes are going to be a challenge. Recommendations for a good covered litter box? I've read those fancy auto-cleaning boxes don't work in multi-cat households, because they tend to freak out / interupt the cat second in line at the loo. Anyone have experience with that?
How can I best keep my apartment from smelling like "cat"? I'm not talking cat urine, specifically -- i just want to keep the place from smelling like a vet's office. Difficulty: kitten proof solutions. Right now everything is a potential toy.
Do cat trees really work? With limited horizontal space, I know I need to go vertical, and have been looking at those giant 6 feet+ cat trees. But I don't want to spend all that money on ugly furniture if it's not going to be used.
Any other random bits of information you wish you'd known earlier?
Thanks in advance!
My beloved great aunt is a crazy cat lady. She has worked in animal shelters for years and firmly believes there is a limit on how many cats you can have without the place stinking like urine. She has six cats in a medium/small Chicago apartment. If she can do it, you can!
posted by Juliet Banana at 11:12 AM on May 12, 2009
posted by Juliet Banana at 11:12 AM on May 12, 2009
If there is room, have two litter boxes. And yes, scoop at least once a day for your own sanity.
Talk to your vet about food recommendations, but it's my understanding that "indoor" cat food keeps their waste from being quite so smelly. I'm also glad I stopped cheaping out on food and litter costs. Buy the best thing that works for your cats, even if it's a few more dollars out of your pocket.
Have a financial plan for unexpected vet costs.
Cat trees are a crapshoot, but this might work in your favor. They can be expensive so I suggest checking out craigslist (or a good equivalent for your area) to buy one from a cat owner whose kitty didn't take to it. I've never bought a new one - it's always been hand-me-downs and good street-finds for my cat. Get the tallest one you can fit/stand. In my experience, cats are going to want to stretch way, way up to get the most out of it.
Are they indoor, outdoor, or both? If they are indoor, don't ever let them outside unless you want them to become indoor/outdoor cats. You have to be consistent because sometimes, with some cats, once they get out, they won't be content staying in.
Set aside time to play, especially with the kittens. It wears them out so they sleep at night and might teach them which toys are appropriate to play with (if you're really, really lucky).
A gentle spritz with a water mister is a good deterrent for lots of cats for are scratching or playing with something they shouldn't.
If they get along already, then I think you're set personality-wise. Congratulations!
posted by juliplease at 11:17 AM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
Talk to your vet about food recommendations, but it's my understanding that "indoor" cat food keeps their waste from being quite so smelly. I'm also glad I stopped cheaping out on food and litter costs. Buy the best thing that works for your cats, even if it's a few more dollars out of your pocket.
Have a financial plan for unexpected vet costs.
Cat trees are a crapshoot, but this might work in your favor. They can be expensive so I suggest checking out craigslist (or a good equivalent for your area) to buy one from a cat owner whose kitty didn't take to it. I've never bought a new one - it's always been hand-me-downs and good street-finds for my cat. Get the tallest one you can fit/stand. In my experience, cats are going to want to stretch way, way up to get the most out of it.
Are they indoor, outdoor, or both? If they are indoor, don't ever let them outside unless you want them to become indoor/outdoor cats. You have to be consistent because sometimes, with some cats, once they get out, they won't be content staying in.
Set aside time to play, especially with the kittens. It wears them out so they sleep at night and might teach them which toys are appropriate to play with (if you're really, really lucky).
A gentle spritz with a water mister is a good deterrent for lots of cats for are scratching or playing with something they shouldn't.
If they get along already, then I think you're set personality-wise. Congratulations!
posted by juliplease at 11:17 AM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
Clumping, multi-cat litter that is cleaned twice a day is going to be the key to keeping down the smell. I've had three cats for about ten years & have always kept two litter boxes. They figured out they should use one for #1 & the other for #2 years ago on their own. Get into the habit of cleaning the box when you feed them (or at least twice a day if you only feed once) & all should be good in kittytown.
posted by torquemaniac at 11:19 AM on May 12, 2009
posted by torquemaniac at 11:19 AM on May 12, 2009
Yes, cat trees are awesome...... never met a cat that didn't at least sleep in/on it, if not played on it... You can sort of test if your cats will probably use a kitty tree by stacking a few open boxes on their sides and placing some carpeting in them before you put out the dough....
And yes, scoop EVERY day, if not more often.... the auto-cleaning boxed aren't really worth the money, IMO... just scoop a lot and change as needed (I change mine on garbage night with three cats and it seems to be just right, time-wise, YBMV)... Yes, get a covered box.... biggest one you can afford.......
Brushing them often will help with the shedding...
Obviously, get them fixed when the time comes.....
White Vinegar works great for removing kitty puke/hairball/pee smell.... Mix it in a spray bottle about 1:1)
Catnip and toys, of course, are required........
Good Luck! (I have three of my own in a small apartment)
posted by peewinkle at 11:20 AM on May 12, 2009
And yes, scoop EVERY day, if not more often.... the auto-cleaning boxed aren't really worth the money, IMO... just scoop a lot and change as needed (I change mine on garbage night with three cats and it seems to be just right, time-wise, YBMV)... Yes, get a covered box.... biggest one you can afford.......
Brushing them often will help with the shedding...
Obviously, get them fixed when the time comes.....
White Vinegar works great for removing kitty puke/hairball/pee smell.... Mix it in a spray bottle about 1:1)
Catnip and toys, of course, are required........
Good Luck! (I have three of my own in a small apartment)
posted by peewinkle at 11:20 AM on May 12, 2009
We have three cats and two litter boxes, one upstairs and one downstairs. I've read that you should have one box per cat per level of your house, which is insane - I think you can get by just fine with one box if they're all using it and you clean it regularly. I also recommend putting something under/around the box (I have a rubber-backed throw rug) that you can clean seperately in case of accidents, and also to catch the litter they're going to track out of the box with them.
Vacuum all the time. Not just the carpet, do the furniture and anyplace else they like to sit. If you don't have carpet, you're a step ahead, because it totally absorbs smells. If there's someplace they like to sit that's hard to keep clean, you can just keep a blanket or something over it that you can periodically wash.
Keep your cats groomed. Not that you have to take them to a groomer, but if they're sitting on your lap give them a few passes with a brush. This will reduce the shedding they do. (If they're especially sheddy, check out The Furminator or a similar brush - truly one of the best investments I've made for my cats, you can almost see them get thinner after using it.)
I always thought that if you had one of those giant cat trees, it meant the cats had truly taken over the home, but we just got one a few months ago and the kitties love it. The active kitten (well, he's 3 now) especially enjoys climbing and perching up high (he liked climbing on things he shouldn't have been on, which is why I got it in the first place), but the bigger, older cats have also surprised me by turning up 5 feet in the air from time to time. Check out eBay if you feel like getting one, because I ended up paying less than $1 for a brand new one (plus shipping - still less than retail).
On preview: Seconding disciplining via squirt bottle (my bottle doesn't even spray anymore, but just picking it up is enough to get the cat to stop whatever he's doing). Also, I think just about every cat I know loves playing with a laser pointer. The best part is you can just sit in one place and flick your wrist while the cats chase the red dot along the length of your house.
posted by LolaGeek at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2009
Vacuum all the time. Not just the carpet, do the furniture and anyplace else they like to sit. If you don't have carpet, you're a step ahead, because it totally absorbs smells. If there's someplace they like to sit that's hard to keep clean, you can just keep a blanket or something over it that you can periodically wash.
Keep your cats groomed. Not that you have to take them to a groomer, but if they're sitting on your lap give them a few passes with a brush. This will reduce the shedding they do. (If they're especially sheddy, check out The Furminator or a similar brush - truly one of the best investments I've made for my cats, you can almost see them get thinner after using it.)
I always thought that if you had one of those giant cat trees, it meant the cats had truly taken over the home, but we just got one a few months ago and the kitties love it. The active kitten (well, he's 3 now) especially enjoys climbing and perching up high (he liked climbing on things he shouldn't have been on, which is why I got it in the first place), but the bigger, older cats have also surprised me by turning up 5 feet in the air from time to time. Check out eBay if you feel like getting one, because I ended up paying less than $1 for a brand new one (plus shipping - still less than retail).
On preview: Seconding disciplining via squirt bottle (my bottle doesn't even spray anymore, but just picking it up is enough to get the cat to stop whatever he's doing). Also, I think just about every cat I know loves playing with a laser pointer. The best part is you can just sit in one place and flick your wrist while the cats chase the red dot along the length of your house.
posted by LolaGeek at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2009
Recommendations for a good covered litter box?
The Omega Paw roll-away litter box is amazingly easy to clean. I can't recommend it highly enough when paired with a good clumping litter. It's around 30 bucks most places, and worth every penny.
How can I best keep my apartment from smelling like "cat"?
Clean frequently and promote air circulation with open windows (get screens!) whenever possible. And for litter-related smell emergencies, find an air freshener or incense that you don't hate. Some people swear by Febreze, though I'm not a huge fan.
Do cat trees really work?
It completely 100% depends on the cats. Some cats love them, others are indifferent. If yours seem to be the type that enjoy climbing up on things, then they might like them. If you're handy (or no someone who is) you could make your own, using non-ugly carpet samples to make the tree as non-ugly as possible.
posted by dersins at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
The Omega Paw roll-away litter box is amazingly easy to clean. I can't recommend it highly enough when paired with a good clumping litter. It's around 30 bucks most places, and worth every penny.
How can I best keep my apartment from smelling like "cat"?
Clean frequently and promote air circulation with open windows (get screens!) whenever possible. And for litter-related smell emergencies, find an air freshener or incense that you don't hate. Some people swear by Febreze, though I'm not a huge fan.
Do cat trees really work?
It completely 100% depends on the cats. Some cats love them, others are indifferent. If yours seem to be the type that enjoy climbing up on things, then they might like them. If you're handy (or no someone who is) you could make your own, using non-ugly carpet samples to make the tree as non-ugly as possible.
posted by dersins at 11:22 AM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
Get some catnip (either the green stuff or the spray) and rub it all over the cat tree when you get it - they should definitely take to it then. They'll also probably need a variety of toys to keep them occupied - if they get sick of one put it away for a while and bring it back out a few months later. They'll probably love a cat tunnel/hide type thing that they can get into and then spring out of when another cat/person walks by. These are fairly large items but most can be folded away when not in use.
posted by hazyjane at 11:25 AM on May 12, 2009
posted by hazyjane at 11:25 AM on May 12, 2009
Litterbox suggestions - I used a Booda Dome for many years with good results. I recently switched to the TidyCats Breeze system and like it a lot for my 2 cats, and they like it, too, but it's not covered.
"Cat" Smell - Is your apartment carpeted? I recommend vacuuming with baking soda. Keep the litterboxes impeccable, vacuum up stray food bits, keep the cats brushed, and have air fresheners in your house. Sprinkle the cat litter with baking soda after you scoop the clumps, too.
Cat Trees - Our cat tree is used, but not nearly so much as every other surface. You'll have the best luck if you get some liquid catnip (at the pet store) and spritz it. You might want to hold off and try some other alternatives, like an extended windowsill for them to perch on.
Other things I wish I had known earlier....
- Make sure you feed them wet food! I didn't learn until it was too late that wet food is far better for cats than dry. When he was 2, one of my cats developed crystals in his urine that caused a urinary tract blockage. I can't get him to eat wet food now (he would rather starve) and so he's on a prescription dry food for the rest of his life.
- Baby-proofing supplies are really good for kitty-proofing. We used cabinet-locks (one of my cats opened the cabinets and would hide amongst the clean dishes), and the things that wrangle the cords from our miniblinds to prevent kitty-strangulation.
- Plastic food & water dishes can cause feline cat acne on their chins...ceramic & stainless steel are better.
- Give your cats bottled or filtered water to prevent urinary problems.
- Put collars with tags on your cats ... even if they are indoors-only. My sister's indoor only cat escaped via a broken screen in a window and was missing for a few days ... it's a lot easier on your mind if you keep them tagged in case they do escape and are brought to a vet or shelter. Plus the tags will jingle so this will prevent ninja cat attacks.
posted by tastybrains at 11:26 AM on May 12, 2009
"Cat" Smell - Is your apartment carpeted? I recommend vacuuming with baking soda. Keep the litterboxes impeccable, vacuum up stray food bits, keep the cats brushed, and have air fresheners in your house. Sprinkle the cat litter with baking soda after you scoop the clumps, too.
Cat Trees - Our cat tree is used, but not nearly so much as every other surface. You'll have the best luck if you get some liquid catnip (at the pet store) and spritz it. You might want to hold off and try some other alternatives, like an extended windowsill for them to perch on.
Other things I wish I had known earlier....
- Make sure you feed them wet food! I didn't learn until it was too late that wet food is far better for cats than dry. When he was 2, one of my cats developed crystals in his urine that caused a urinary tract blockage. I can't get him to eat wet food now (he would rather starve) and so he's on a prescription dry food for the rest of his life.
- Baby-proofing supplies are really good for kitty-proofing. We used cabinet-locks (one of my cats opened the cabinets and would hide amongst the clean dishes), and the things that wrangle the cords from our miniblinds to prevent kitty-strangulation.
- Plastic food & water dishes can cause feline cat acne on their chins...ceramic & stainless steel are better.
- Give your cats bottled or filtered water to prevent urinary problems.
- Put collars with tags on your cats ... even if they are indoors-only. My sister's indoor only cat escaped via a broken screen in a window and was missing for a few days ... it's a lot easier on your mind if you keep them tagged in case they do escape and are brought to a vet or shelter. Plus the tags will jingle so this will prevent ninja cat attacks.
posted by tastybrains at 11:26 AM on May 12, 2009
I lived in a 300 sq/ft studio with two cats and a dog. No I am not nuts. You need to keep the litter box very clean. Cats usually have no problem sharing a clean litter box. If you can, keep the box iin the bathroom, so you can scoop and flush a lot (get flushable litter). You also need to keep the apartment very clean. I kept my furniture covered with some nice throws and washed them once a week. If you can, leave a window open all the time. The fresh air is nice and it keeps the place from smelling stale. Get a lot of cat toys and a nice looking cat tree with platforms. Most people said they didn't know I had cats when they first came in, since there was no smell.
posted by fifilaru at 11:31 AM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by fifilaru at 11:31 AM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
If you have the money, a litter robot might be invaluable. It'll help cut down on the smell, and since it's always being cleaned the cats won't mind the single box.
posted by barc0001 at 11:51 AM on May 12, 2009
posted by barc0001 at 11:51 AM on May 12, 2009
High-quality wet food, the highest quality possible, is best, with a little high-quality dry thrown in just in case you're away for a weekend. My cats are on the very pricey Prescription r/d for weight loss. It makes their poop smell worse for a brief interval, BUT shedding is **greatly** reduced and coat and skin quality are immensely improved. Start them on toothbrushing early!
posted by jgirl at 11:56 AM on May 12, 2009
posted by jgirl at 11:56 AM on May 12, 2009
We have two cats in a small house. Not as tight quarters as you, but still -- it takes a little bit of kitty management. Here are a couple of thoughts.
Keep them exercised -- "da bird" is a brand of feather toy that, as far as I can tell, makes all cats insane. They loooove it. The feather replacements are expensive -- like $7! -- but no other brand seems to have the right zip. Also the little mousies that come in 6packs are great.
Litter box: nthing "scoop a lot". Get multi-cat litter. Get a plug in air freshener for the room, and keep a bottle of "odor-neutralizing" air freshener around. I never looked at the stuff in the air freshener aisle before having cats.... Some of the odor-neutralizing sprays are designed for pet smells and/or cigarette smoke, and don't have cloying odors of their own.
fifilaru's idea about throws is a good idea. If you put towels, blankets, etc on the furniture the tend to use a lot, you can just throw them in the washer -- less hair ground into the couch.
Also, start disciplining them now. Don't let them run around on your kitchen counters/scratch your couch/pounce on you at 5 AM/etc for a while and THEN try to break them of the habit. The squirt bottle is good. Also, loud noises. I seem to be pretty good at faking an angry-momma-cat-hiss.... also a loud "HEY!" and a hand clap works awesomely.
I hear that mileage varies with the cat trees. We got one for our kitties, and felt like idiots for spending the money, but they love it. We call it Cat Tower.
Finally -- get them microchipped. Last summer -- before taking in the two cats we have now -- I agreed to take a friend's cat for a year while he and his family went abroad. The very first night, the cat ripped through a window screen and vamoosed. Fast forward through newspaper ads, craigslist, signs, etc etc. Fast forward almost a YEAR. The cat was found last week, because someone took the stray she had been feeding to the vet, where the chip was scanned. Amazing!!
posted by kestrel251 at 12:01 PM on May 12, 2009
Keep them exercised -- "da bird" is a brand of feather toy that, as far as I can tell, makes all cats insane. They loooove it. The feather replacements are expensive -- like $7! -- but no other brand seems to have the right zip. Also the little mousies that come in 6packs are great.
Litter box: nthing "scoop a lot". Get multi-cat litter. Get a plug in air freshener for the room, and keep a bottle of "odor-neutralizing" air freshener around. I never looked at the stuff in the air freshener aisle before having cats.... Some of the odor-neutralizing sprays are designed for pet smells and/or cigarette smoke, and don't have cloying odors of their own.
fifilaru's idea about throws is a good idea. If you put towels, blankets, etc on the furniture the tend to use a lot, you can just throw them in the washer -- less hair ground into the couch.
Also, start disciplining them now. Don't let them run around on your kitchen counters/scratch your couch/pounce on you at 5 AM/etc for a while and THEN try to break them of the habit. The squirt bottle is good. Also, loud noises. I seem to be pretty good at faking an angry-momma-cat-hiss.... also a loud "HEY!" and a hand clap works awesomely.
I hear that mileage varies with the cat trees. We got one for our kitties, and felt like idiots for spending the money, but they love it. We call it Cat Tower.
Finally -- get them microchipped. Last summer -- before taking in the two cats we have now -- I agreed to take a friend's cat for a year while he and his family went abroad. The very first night, the cat ripped through a window screen and vamoosed. Fast forward through newspaper ads, craigslist, signs, etc etc. Fast forward almost a YEAR. The cat was found last week, because someone took the stray she had been feeding to the vet, where the chip was scanned. Amazing!!
posted by kestrel251 at 12:01 PM on May 12, 2009
Some experts recommend avoiding enclosed boxes on the theory that cats, who are super-sensitive to smell, may avoid them, and will suffer in any case. Our three cats have two open-air litter boxes, one upstairs and one downstairs. I dislike the odor of perfumed litter as much as I do cat-waste smells, so I use Feline Pine, a product made from compressed wood shavings that I like very much. I buy it at my natural foods store. The special Feline Pine litter box that they sell on the manufacturer's site makes disposal convenient. I scoop after every scoopable event as soon as I detect it, and I dispose of spent litter once a day. Odor is never a problem. Enjoy your three wonderful little beings!
posted by markcmyers at 12:06 PM on May 12, 2009
posted by markcmyers at 12:06 PM on May 12, 2009
A good air filter can help somewhat with the loose fur.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:07 PM on May 12, 2009
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:07 PM on May 12, 2009
I'm in the same scenario, one older cat and two young ones in a tiny apartment. Ditto the one solution that will work: keep clean.
Get in the habit of cleaning the box two or three or more times a day. Both you and the cats will be much happier and you'll reduce the likelihood of future litterbox issues.
It is just as easy to do many small cleanings as it is to do one big nasty one. Actually, it's easier.
Also it helps to use something like the extra strength World's Best litter. It's expensive but it lasts a lot longer and the neutral smell isn't as unpleasant as clay litter.
posted by quarterframer at 12:29 PM on May 12, 2009
Get in the habit of cleaning the box two or three or more times a day. Both you and the cats will be much happier and you'll reduce the likelihood of future litterbox issues.
It is just as easy to do many small cleanings as it is to do one big nasty one. Actually, it's easier.
Also it helps to use something like the extra strength World's Best litter. It's expensive but it lasts a lot longer and the neutral smell isn't as unpleasant as clay litter.
posted by quarterframer at 12:29 PM on May 12, 2009
I have the largest litter box known to man, because I also have three kitties, one of whom is a Main Coon. I strongly recommend this box!
Also, don't get the self-cleaning litter box. We tried it, and the motor that makes it rake the box is very weak and you end up spending a lot of time fiddling with it and then just cleaning it yourself again.
Use the Fresh Step clumping (but NOT clay) cat litter, multi-cat version with carbon. You get points with each purchase and you can get free litter and cat products with the points. I also use a natural citrus deodorizer that you sprinkle in the box whenever you add litter. It's not necessary, but I find it helps cut down on the odor.
Cat climbing trees are ridiculously expensive--we're talking a coupla hundred dollars sometimes for some boards with carpets. I found this at my Walmart for under $40 and the cats love it! The middle part has a springy end that goes against the ceiling of your place. We put a rubber doorstop on top of that to keep it from scratching the ceiling.
posted by misha at 12:37 PM on May 12, 2009
Also, don't get the self-cleaning litter box. We tried it, and the motor that makes it rake the box is very weak and you end up spending a lot of time fiddling with it and then just cleaning it yourself again.
Use the Fresh Step clumping (but NOT clay) cat litter, multi-cat version with carbon. You get points with each purchase and you can get free litter and cat products with the points. I also use a natural citrus deodorizer that you sprinkle in the box whenever you add litter. It's not necessary, but I find it helps cut down on the odor.
Cat climbing trees are ridiculously expensive--we're talking a coupla hundred dollars sometimes for some boards with carpets. I found this at my Walmart for under $40 and the cats love it! The middle part has a springy end that goes against the ceiling of your place. We put a rubber doorstop on top of that to keep it from scratching the ceiling.
posted by misha at 12:37 PM on May 12, 2009
Congratulations on embracing your inner crazy cat person.
I (and my cats) have been very happy with this crazy large cat tree. Not cheap, but incredibly better than lame cat trees I've seen priced at $100. Lots of places to sleep, lots of ways to jump around it, lots of sisal scratching posts.
posted by Zed at 1:02 PM on May 12, 2009
I (and my cats) have been very happy with this crazy large cat tree. Not cheap, but incredibly better than lame cat trees I've seen priced at $100. Lots of places to sleep, lots of ways to jump around it, lots of sisal scratching posts.
posted by Zed at 1:02 PM on May 12, 2009
The hanging sisal cat climber. It is crazy expensive for a cat toy, but I think giving cats something to climb is one of the best things you can do to keep them less crazy.
We have an actual pole, in the basement, which we wrapped in sisal, and I cannot tell you how useful it is in keeping the wildness under control.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:03 PM on May 12, 2009
We have an actual pole, in the basement, which we wrapped in sisal, and I cannot tell you how useful it is in keeping the wildness under control.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:03 PM on May 12, 2009
We have two cats (it was three but Ed passed away in 2007) in a less than 500 square-foot apartment, so I will tell you what works for us:
1. One litter box, covered, like this one. I would prefer two, and in our last, slightly bigger apartment we had two, but in this situation, we could barely find a place for one. We RELIGIOUSLY clean the box twice a day. My husband has poo duty in the morning, and I have it at night. We use Tidy Cat (I think, something regularly available at the grocery store) unscented (because the only thing worse than the smell of cat shit, is the smell of cat shit and perfume) clumping litter for a multi-cat household, and we swap out all of the litter once a month or so (YMMV on that one; I have read that you should do it every week, but we tend to forget). We have two litter mats - the box rests on one, and then there is another one that acts as a bridge between the litter mat and the floor - because tracking becomes a huge issue in a small apartment. There's not as much "neutral space" for the litter to fall off their paws and seriously, you only need to find litter in your bed once to make anti-tracking strategies a high priority. We ditch the entire box and buy a new one once a year. Giving it a good cleaning would probably be a better solution, but the only place we have to perform such a task is our bathtub and that's gross.
2. Rug-on-the-wall. There's really no room in our place for a cat tree, so we nailed a door mat around a fairly centrally located door frame. The cats freaking LOVE this because it's really stable and they can run all the way up the rug, and we love it because it's hilarious to watch the cats run all the way up the rug. To deter the cats from scratching up our couch, I basically went the totally high tech route of making slip covers for the back and arms of the couch. We used to cover the particularly appealing parts of the couch with double sided sticky tape, but seriously, they don't scratch it that much any more.
3. Combing the cats. Our cats LOVE to be combed. Love. It. We use something like this, which is actually a dog comb. I will comb one cat, and the other will come over and fuss until I let her in on the action. The amount of hair I get off these short-haired cats is astounding. The other anti-shedding weapon in our arsenal is regular vacuuming of rugs and furniture. Also when we bought our couch, I literally took a wad of cat hair and picked a fabric swatch that was the closest match.
4. Toys and entertainment. I worry that our cats get bored in our small apartment, but they seem really happy. I set up a couple of cushions on a cedar chest in front of our living room windows, and the cats loooooooooove to nap there in the sun. Here is a gratuitous pic of our youngest enjoying that benefit. We keep all their toys in a basket on the floor, and they will actually select random toys that they want to play with, which is kind of interesting. They LOVE tennis balls because they can grab them with their claws and then wing them across the room and chase them.
Generally, we don't spend a lot of money on toys (like, I just can't bring myself to buy a cat tree because 1) UGLY and 2) there's an even chance the cats will hate it) because the cats are super fickle. They seem just as happy slinging a tennis ball around or playing in a paper bag as they do playing with fancy stuff, like the three foot long, questionably named "fun tunnel" that my parents bought us that the cats roundly ignore unless I throw a tennis ball in it.
I think cat shelves would be awesome but I didn't find out they existed until after we arranged our furniture and hung people shelves on the walls and now I don't know where we'd put them. When we move, though, I'm going to seriously look into it. Modern Cat is an excellent source of space-conscious, interesting cat junk - it's where I discovered the whole cat shelf phenomneon.
Mostly, what the cats seem to want from us is food and affection (probably in that order). Food is plentiful and my affection for the little harblz is bottomless. They are weird, but happy, even in our small space.
Good luck, and yay kitties!
posted by jennyb at 1:21 PM on May 12, 2009
1. One litter box, covered, like this one. I would prefer two, and in our last, slightly bigger apartment we had two, but in this situation, we could barely find a place for one. We RELIGIOUSLY clean the box twice a day. My husband has poo duty in the morning, and I have it at night. We use Tidy Cat (I think, something regularly available at the grocery store) unscented (because the only thing worse than the smell of cat shit, is the smell of cat shit and perfume) clumping litter for a multi-cat household, and we swap out all of the litter once a month or so (YMMV on that one; I have read that you should do it every week, but we tend to forget). We have two litter mats - the box rests on one, and then there is another one that acts as a bridge between the litter mat and the floor - because tracking becomes a huge issue in a small apartment. There's not as much "neutral space" for the litter to fall off their paws and seriously, you only need to find litter in your bed once to make anti-tracking strategies a high priority. We ditch the entire box and buy a new one once a year. Giving it a good cleaning would probably be a better solution, but the only place we have to perform such a task is our bathtub and that's gross.
2. Rug-on-the-wall. There's really no room in our place for a cat tree, so we nailed a door mat around a fairly centrally located door frame. The cats freaking LOVE this because it's really stable and they can run all the way up the rug, and we love it because it's hilarious to watch the cats run all the way up the rug. To deter the cats from scratching up our couch, I basically went the totally high tech route of making slip covers for the back and arms of the couch. We used to cover the particularly appealing parts of the couch with double sided sticky tape, but seriously, they don't scratch it that much any more.
3. Combing the cats. Our cats LOVE to be combed. Love. It. We use something like this, which is actually a dog comb. I will comb one cat, and the other will come over and fuss until I let her in on the action. The amount of hair I get off these short-haired cats is astounding. The other anti-shedding weapon in our arsenal is regular vacuuming of rugs and furniture. Also when we bought our couch, I literally took a wad of cat hair and picked a fabric swatch that was the closest match.
4. Toys and entertainment. I worry that our cats get bored in our small apartment, but they seem really happy. I set up a couple of cushions on a cedar chest in front of our living room windows, and the cats loooooooooove to nap there in the sun. Here is a gratuitous pic of our youngest enjoying that benefit. We keep all their toys in a basket on the floor, and they will actually select random toys that they want to play with, which is kind of interesting. They LOVE tennis balls because they can grab them with their claws and then wing them across the room and chase them.
Generally, we don't spend a lot of money on toys (like, I just can't bring myself to buy a cat tree because 1) UGLY and 2) there's an even chance the cats will hate it) because the cats are super fickle. They seem just as happy slinging a tennis ball around or playing in a paper bag as they do playing with fancy stuff, like the three foot long, questionably named "fun tunnel" that my parents bought us that the cats roundly ignore unless I throw a tennis ball in it.
I think cat shelves would be awesome but I didn't find out they existed until after we arranged our furniture and hung people shelves on the walls and now I don't know where we'd put them. When we move, though, I'm going to seriously look into it. Modern Cat is an excellent source of space-conscious, interesting cat junk - it's where I discovered the whole cat shelf phenomneon.
Mostly, what the cats seem to want from us is food and affection (probably in that order). Food is plentiful and my affection for the little harblz is bottomless. They are weird, but happy, even in our small space.
Good luck, and yay kitties!
posted by jennyb at 1:21 PM on May 12, 2009
Nthing having two litterboxes if possible, and scooping daily. (My Dad was such a dedicated scooper that one cat, Sparky, developed the habit of finding Dad wherever he was in the house and poking him with one paw while giving a special, gutteral "meaow." This was his signal that he'd used the box and it needed cleaning.) Also, despite the cat trees we bought, our cats loved nothing more than stretching out on the coffee table in front of the picture window to soak up the sun. When we had three cats, Dad placed a footstool on top of that coffee table, and Sparky took that top spot, while the others lolled underneath. We heard comments from many neighbors about "those people that have the footstool in the window." When they were kittens, they played with their catnip toys and the feathers-on-a-stick, but as they got older, they mainly played with each other (in short bursts) and spent the rest of the day either napping, requesting petting/brushing from us humans, and eating.
posted by Oriole Adams at 2:05 PM on May 12, 2009
posted by Oriole Adams at 2:05 PM on May 12, 2009
I had three kitties in a studio apartment in Sf. They'd all been with me for years (lived their entire long lives with me 15-18 years).
I scooped in the morning and in the afternoon. I had a catbox in the closet and one in the bathroom, but the place was so small I ended up with the one in the bathroom and scooped it every morning and every night. EVERY DAY.
A cat tree. And I washed my futon cover/blankets every couple of months. And I vacuumed as often as I could. I was lucky to have a window facing onto the yard (that I couldn't use) so I opened that window to air out the place. I never got any complaints and one kitty was 20 lbs (and not fat, the vet verified. I do have a fat 20 lb cat now though, haven't figured out why when he eats the *same* amount as our three not fat cats).
Good luck and good for you. Crazy cat ladies unite!
posted by pywacket at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2009
I scooped in the morning and in the afternoon. I had a catbox in the closet and one in the bathroom, but the place was so small I ended up with the one in the bathroom and scooped it every morning and every night. EVERY DAY.
A cat tree. And I washed my futon cover/blankets every couple of months. And I vacuumed as often as I could. I was lucky to have a window facing onto the yard (that I couldn't use) so I opened that window to air out the place. I never got any complaints and one kitty was 20 lbs (and not fat, the vet verified. I do have a fat 20 lb cat now though, haven't figured out why when he eats the *same* amount as our three not fat cats).
Good luck and good for you. Crazy cat ladies unite!
posted by pywacket at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2009
Everyone seems to have it covered.
A covered litterbox, with the multiple-cat litter, a little rubber mat in front of it, and a dustpan and whisk broom kept by the litterbox.
Those new Pledge pet-hair remover things work pretty well on couches.
And if you have wood floors, Swiffers work great for picking up the furballs.
The climbing tree might be hit or miss. The kitty I have now loves it, my old cat sort of didn't care.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 4:42 PM on May 12, 2009
A covered litterbox, with the multiple-cat litter, a little rubber mat in front of it, and a dustpan and whisk broom kept by the litterbox.
Those new Pledge pet-hair remover things work pretty well on couches.
And if you have wood floors, Swiffers work great for picking up the furballs.
The climbing tree might be hit or miss. The kitty I have now loves it, my old cat sort of didn't care.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 4:42 PM on May 12, 2009
I'm not a cat owner, but my sister is. I'm a hobbyist cat/dog nutritionist after finding out that food makes a huge difference in my dogs' lives.
In your cats case, the difference isn't necessarily wet food, but it is if the cats allow themselves to get dehydrated. Cats will get dehydrated easily as most don't like drinking water for whatever reason, although one of those gadgets that constantly recycles the water so that it's always moving will help greatly. What is a big difference is food that is made for carnivores vs. not. The food your vet is most likely to recommend, Science Diet, helped pay for your vet's education. ;)
What I'd recommend is Evo, which is made by Natura (not Nutra) Brands. California Natural is made by the same company but costs a bit less. Wellness is a similar company (owned by Old Mother Hubbard).
Bonus points: Feeding better food makes their poop stink less (ok, well, it'll upset their little tummies at first because they're not used to getting the good stuff, but after a few REALLY stinky days, their systems get cleaned out.) and makes for smaller bowel movements and less-stinky pee, because their bodies have to filter out and/or discard less.
The other important thing to remember is that cats (unlike canis lupus familiaris) are carnivores. They are not supposed to eat a lot of carbohydrates. Their systems will turn carbohydrates straight into sugar, which they then burp up a little bit, which is what makes their little pointy teeth rot and gives them renal (kidney) failure and/or diabetes in old age. This is akin to the way that a human body will make something like a saltine cracker sweet as you chew it. If you pick up a bag of food at the store and see an ingredients list that looks like, "Chicken Byproducts, Corn Meal...", put it down immediately. Incidentally, that's the first two ingredients in Science Diet t/d, which is supposed to be a prescription diet to HELP cats' teeth.
posted by SpecialK at 4:55 PM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
In your cats case, the difference isn't necessarily wet food, but it is if the cats allow themselves to get dehydrated. Cats will get dehydrated easily as most don't like drinking water for whatever reason, although one of those gadgets that constantly recycles the water so that it's always moving will help greatly. What is a big difference is food that is made for carnivores vs. not. The food your vet is most likely to recommend, Science Diet, helped pay for your vet's education. ;)
What I'd recommend is Evo, which is made by Natura (not Nutra) Brands. California Natural is made by the same company but costs a bit less. Wellness is a similar company (owned by Old Mother Hubbard).
Bonus points: Feeding better food makes their poop stink less (ok, well, it'll upset their little tummies at first because they're not used to getting the good stuff, but after a few REALLY stinky days, their systems get cleaned out.) and makes for smaller bowel movements and less-stinky pee, because their bodies have to filter out and/or discard less.
The other important thing to remember is that cats (unlike canis lupus familiaris) are carnivores. They are not supposed to eat a lot of carbohydrates. Their systems will turn carbohydrates straight into sugar, which they then burp up a little bit, which is what makes their little pointy teeth rot and gives them renal (kidney) failure and/or diabetes in old age. This is akin to the way that a human body will make something like a saltine cracker sweet as you chew it. If you pick up a bag of food at the store and see an ingredients list that looks like, "Chicken Byproducts, Corn Meal...", put it down immediately. Incidentally, that's the first two ingredients in Science Diet t/d, which is supposed to be a prescription diet to HELP cats' teeth.
posted by SpecialK at 4:55 PM on May 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
I have two cats in a studio apt with one covered litterbox (nothing fancy). They grew up together and they're fine with sharing. I use Fresh Step clumping (unscented when I can find it) and it works well. If your cats are ok using the same box, you might not need two boxes. See how it goes.
I know what you mean about the cat smell. There's no substitute for fresh air. I keep the windows open as much as possible. In the summer when I run the AC, it can get stale so I open the windows when it's not so hot and run fans to move the air around.
For fur control, brushing is key. I brush them every day for a few minutes and then on the weekends for longer sessions. They love it. I use a shedding blade on their backs/sides/tails and a ZoomGroom on their heads/faces/throats/bellies. (They don't like the Furminator -- too rough even when using soft strokes.) Bonus with the ZoomGroom: I can flip it over and use the other side to remove fur from my sofa and bed. Damp rubber gloves and damp sponges work, too. I go through a lot of lint brushes as well.
I have a studio apt, so my cats have access to the whole place including my bed. I keep a cover sheet on it which I fold down a bit at the top when I go to bed. I wash this sheet once a week. It's a total pain but worth it to have a nice clean bed. Having hard wood floors helps a lot. I do a little bit of floor cleaning almost every day. (Check out flylady.net for cleaning strategies.) For other surfaces, smooth and wipeable is better than cloth. The seats on my kitchen chairs are covered with woven cloth and it's a fur magnet. My project over the summer is to remove the seats and replace the cloth with vinyl.
posted by Majorita at 1:55 AM on May 13, 2009
I know what you mean about the cat smell. There's no substitute for fresh air. I keep the windows open as much as possible. In the summer when I run the AC, it can get stale so I open the windows when it's not so hot and run fans to move the air around.
For fur control, brushing is key. I brush them every day for a few minutes and then on the weekends for longer sessions. They love it. I use a shedding blade on their backs/sides/tails and a ZoomGroom on their heads/faces/throats/bellies. (They don't like the Furminator -- too rough even when using soft strokes.) Bonus with the ZoomGroom: I can flip it over and use the other side to remove fur from my sofa and bed. Damp rubber gloves and damp sponges work, too. I go through a lot of lint brushes as well.
I have a studio apt, so my cats have access to the whole place including my bed. I keep a cover sheet on it which I fold down a bit at the top when I go to bed. I wash this sheet once a week. It's a total pain but worth it to have a nice clean bed. Having hard wood floors helps a lot. I do a little bit of floor cleaning almost every day. (Check out flylady.net for cleaning strategies.) For other surfaces, smooth and wipeable is better than cloth. The seats on my kitchen chairs are covered with woven cloth and it's a fur magnet. My project over the summer is to remove the seats and replace the cloth with vinyl.
posted by Majorita at 1:55 AM on May 13, 2009
My fostering time is drawing to a close (took in a pregnant stray who had SIX kittens (!!) in addition to our three other cats plus my sister-in-law's cat that we watched for a year while she was abroad, giving us a grand total of ELEVEN CATS for the last eight weeks, which is definitely ridiculous) & all I can say is it's really important to have multiple boxes for multiple cats. I scoop every day (sometimes twice a day) & I really don't think we've had much of a problem with smell, but we're lucky enough to live in an apartment where we have a good out-of-the-way area for our catboxes. We have mostly hooded boxes (just get ones that are big enough for adult cats to turn around in) & a couple of smaller trays for the babies.
As far as shedding, I grew up with cats so it's something I'm used to. I vacuum once a week & try to pick up dust bunnies as I encounter them, but I've come to terms with the fact that basically everything I own will be covered in a thin layer of cat fur at all times.
Finally, I never would've believed it but the cat tree actually has really cut down on bad kitty behavior -- I felt like the craziest cat lady ever bringing home one that was almost as tall as I am, but our most obnoxious trouble-maker almost entirely stopped feeling the need to scale the dining room chairs as soon as I showed him the cat tree.
posted by oh really at 7:55 AM on May 13, 2009
As far as shedding, I grew up with cats so it's something I'm used to. I vacuum once a week & try to pick up dust bunnies as I encounter them, but I've come to terms with the fact that basically everything I own will be covered in a thin layer of cat fur at all times.
Finally, I never would've believed it but the cat tree actually has really cut down on bad kitty behavior -- I felt like the craziest cat lady ever bringing home one that was almost as tall as I am, but our most obnoxious trouble-maker almost entirely stopped feeling the need to scale the dining room chairs as soon as I showed him the cat tree.
posted by oh really at 7:55 AM on May 13, 2009
The higher the better. Consider the top of the fridge, closet or bookcase prime realestate...
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 9:33 AM on May 13, 2009
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 9:33 AM on May 13, 2009
This litter has totally changed my life. We were using the flushable corn-based stuff, but the whole place reeked of urine constantly. Now that we use the carbon stuff, you'd never know we have 2 cats in a small apt.
Even though I love the litter, I'm tempted to try toilet training. The Litter Kwitter seems to be the most popular & reliable (and expensive) of the available kits. If you're ambitious and don't like stepping on kitty-crumbs every morning in the bathroom, you might give it a shot.
Good luck!
posted by wowbobwow at 1:04 PM on May 13, 2009
Even though I love the litter, I'm tempted to try toilet training. The Litter Kwitter seems to be the most popular & reliable (and expensive) of the available kits. If you're ambitious and don't like stepping on kitty-crumbs every morning in the bathroom, you might give it a shot.
Good luck!
posted by wowbobwow at 1:04 PM on May 13, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jgirl at 11:02 AM on May 12, 2009