The best multi kitty litter box, bar none
July 3, 2021 10:54 PM Subscribe
Many people ask about kitty litter here, with specific needs. I have different specific needs. I want to know the overall best kitty litter solution for two beautifully house-trained, altered, 12-week old kittens.
We found a litter of kittens by the side of the road about 6 weeks ago. We scooped up the three we could get, and brought them home, planning to adopt them all out. We adopted out one, and kept two. Because we never planned for cats, we just went out and bought a plain old litter box and put it in our small laundry room, which has a door, and the advantage of not being in main living spaces.
During the day, we leave the laundry room open. At night, we put the kittens in the laundry room with the door closed. They are great with the litter box, but they do kick litter everywhere, and the smell can be atrocious.
Considering putting the litter box in the connected garage with a cat door. Downside: we want the cats to be indoor cats, and they could escape during the day, when the garage is often open.
Considering a magical kitty litter box in the laundry. Want: low profile (tiny room), no kitty litter spilled over the sides, reduced smell. If the most magical of no-smell options, I guess it could live in another room in the house, but I can't think where.
Amazon and Petco have various options, but I've had so many disappointments with cheaply made junk.
We found a litter of kittens by the side of the road about 6 weeks ago. We scooped up the three we could get, and brought them home, planning to adopt them all out. We adopted out one, and kept two. Because we never planned for cats, we just went out and bought a plain old litter box and put it in our small laundry room, which has a door, and the advantage of not being in main living spaces.
During the day, we leave the laundry room open. At night, we put the kittens in the laundry room with the door closed. They are great with the litter box, but they do kick litter everywhere, and the smell can be atrocious.
Considering putting the litter box in the connected garage with a cat door. Downside: we want the cats to be indoor cats, and they could escape during the day, when the garage is often open.
Considering a magical kitty litter box in the laundry. Want: low profile (tiny room), no kitty litter spilled over the sides, reduced smell. If the most magical of no-smell options, I guess it could live in another room in the house, but I can't think where.
Amazon and Petco have various options, but I've had so many disappointments with cheaply made junk.
I absolutely love these top-entry boxes.
The good:
* Cats cannot kick litter out. Mine do still manage to track some litter out, but it's a much more manageable amount.
* When you open the top to scoop, any litter that was tracked on top will be dumped back in.
The neutral:
* They're not tiny as litter boxes go, but they're not as big as others I've seen.
* In my experience, smell seems to depend far more on litter than on the box itself. I'm having good luck with Tidy Cats Free & Clean. I think that plastic boxes do absorb some smells over time -- I just threw out a few several-year-old boxes, but at $25/each, I don't mine occasionally replacing them.
The (possibly) bad:
* I'm not positive that a 12 week old kitten would be ready for a top-entry box
* Some cats never accept them: a friend's cats don't jump, for any reason whatsoever, so they can't use one of these.
posted by Metasyntactic at 11:34 PM on July 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
The good:
* Cats cannot kick litter out. Mine do still manage to track some litter out, but it's a much more manageable amount.
* When you open the top to scoop, any litter that was tracked on top will be dumped back in.
The neutral:
* They're not tiny as litter boxes go, but they're not as big as others I've seen.
* In my experience, smell seems to depend far more on litter than on the box itself. I'm having good luck with Tidy Cats Free & Clean. I think that plastic boxes do absorb some smells over time -- I just threw out a few several-year-old boxes, but at $25/each, I don't mine occasionally replacing them.
The (possibly) bad:
* I'm not positive that a 12 week old kitten would be ready for a top-entry box
* Some cats never accept them: a friend's cats don't jump, for any reason whatsoever, so they can't use one of these.
posted by Metasyntactic at 11:34 PM on July 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
I’m not sure if your “low-profile” requirement precludes the idea of a high-sided litter box, but I’ve got two 14 week old kittens myself and have been using these boxes and have barely any litter kicked out, like, at all.
posted by fancyoats at 3:01 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by fancyoats at 3:01 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
Me & my kittens really like the Purina Breeze system. I bought one & then I bought another. It's different because it's designed so that the pee falls onto an absorbent pad that sits in a little drawer below the litter. So there are no more stinky, dusty pee balls to wrestle with. The litter consists of large mineral-based pebbles that are much cleaner than regular litter. They still manage to kick it out of the box but it's easier to vacuum up & there's less turnover so less to buy. It takes about a minute to scoop the solids into the Litter Genie (essential) then I roll up the used pad & stick that in there too.
It has really helped with all the bad smells & the kitties prefer it too judging from the giant reduction in "accidents" since I switched.
posted by bleep at 5:04 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
It has really helped with all the bad smells & the kitties prefer it too judging from the giant reduction in "accidents" since I switched.
posted by bleep at 5:04 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
The Litter Robot is pricey but worth every cent. Works like a charm, easy on the litter, and they have fantastic customer service. Keep an eye on Craigslist for a used one.
posted by Ferrari328 at 5:38 AM on July 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Ferrari328 at 5:38 AM on July 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
I have a litter robot and like it, but it is huge huge huge and my cats still kick litter out of it some. Does make changing litter way easier though, and works for two cats as a single box fine.
posted by ch1x0r at 5:50 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by ch1x0r at 5:50 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
The litter box is always going to smell, but sometimes a really bad smell indicates parasites. I'm assuming you've already tested for all of them but you might consider a round of treatment for coccidia. The life cycle means it doesn't always show up in parasite screens. The organization I used to work with often ran found kittens through treatment by default (when we had the money for it).
posted by Anonymous at 6:07 AM on July 4, 2021
posted by Anonymous at 6:07 AM on July 4, 2021
Pioneer Pet litter is not cheap, but it does quite a number on smell. Worth a try.
I like the PurplePet stainless steel boxes -- they can't retain smell -- but I don't know if the small one will be small enough for you?
posted by humbug at 8:09 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I like the PurplePet stainless steel boxes -- they can't retain smell -- but I don't know if the small one will be small enough for you?
posted by humbug at 8:09 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
Kitten poop frequently smells awful, as they're young and their tummies are still maturing. As they age, it might be the food making it smell, with some brands making hideous poops no matter the age of the cat.
I use pellet litter, usually the newspaper kind but the wood kind might be easier to find where you live. It's nearly impossible to track due to its size.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:58 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I use pellet litter, usually the newspaper kind but the wood kind might be easier to find where you live. It's nearly impossible to track due to its size.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:58 AM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I've been a cat owner for many years and have tried lots of different litterbox solutions.
My favorite so far is to keep the litterbox in the bathroom and use World's Best Cat Litter, which is made from corn and completely flushable. Every day it's a quick process to scoop and flush, and with a weekly top-off to make up for lost volume, I only od a complete change once a month. A few times a week I need to sweep the floor.
Second favorite solution, when the litterbox is too far from the toilet to dispose of the clumps, is to use a Litter Genie for the daily scoopings.
posted by Sublimity at 12:35 PM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
My favorite so far is to keep the litterbox in the bathroom and use World's Best Cat Litter, which is made from corn and completely flushable. Every day it's a quick process to scoop and flush, and with a weekly top-off to make up for lost volume, I only od a complete change once a month. A few times a week I need to sweep the floor.
Second favorite solution, when the litterbox is too far from the toilet to dispose of the clumps, is to use a Litter Genie for the daily scoopings.
posted by Sublimity at 12:35 PM on July 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I would definitely second the concept that kitten poop is especially stinky. When they're little, their farts can clear a room. It wouldn't hurt to try different litters if they aren't being picky though. Someone mentioned the Tidy Cats unscented (Free and Clean) up top and that's what I use. I have a limited budget and it's the best I've found so far as price point to stink/dust ratio. We use these Nature's Miracle litterboxes but the kittens are adults now -- not sure if it would work for babies.
They get less messy and less stinky as they age so you'll get there. At least they're probably past the age where they'll step in it trying to bury, that was an unfortunate time.
posted by possibilityleft at 6:35 AM on July 6, 2021
They get less messy and less stinky as they age so you'll get there. At least they're probably past the age where they'll step in it trying to bury, that was an unfortunate time.
posted by possibilityleft at 6:35 AM on July 6, 2021
I believe my ModKat Flip Litterbox is about to hit its 10th birthday. I have never had a litter box I liked more. They also make a top-entry version, but I haven't tried that one -- I would assume it's also great. Both of these boxes are going to be better when they are more-cat sized though.
One of my favorite fosters likes the Breeze Litter System.
As for the smell, kittens are just stinky monsters. Not that cat mess ever smells great but it will improve over time.
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:31 AM on July 6, 2021
One of my favorite fosters likes the Breeze Litter System.
As for the smell, kittens are just stinky monsters. Not that cat mess ever smells great but it will improve over time.
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:31 AM on July 6, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nukacherry at 11:32 PM on July 3, 2021 [1 favorite]