Need advice from the cat folks (again)...

[banslug]

OK, so our new kittens are doing super well and have adjusted just fine. No problems with the litter boxes, eating and sleeping PLENTY, and Valentine is taking to them just fine (unless we give him cat nip, in which case the kittens need to STEER CLEAR!).


Cocoa and Valentine

I currently have 2 litter boxes in my laundry room, which is right off my kitchen; it can and DOES get stinky at times (like first thing in the morning). I'd like to relocate both boxes to the basement, and I'd like to put in a cat door or cat flap in the basement door so they all have access to it 24/7. My question is 2-fold:

1...how do I relocate the litter boxes without causing a problem
2...any suggestions on the cat door or flap?

TIA!

Gayle

 

[Evie]

In my experience, you should have no problem relocating the box(es). Just show the kitten(s) or cat(s) where the new box is, take their little paw and swipe it in the litter a couple of times, and everything should be just fine.

However, when I put in a cat door on my basement door, it was one of the swinging kind that the cat had to push with their head to get through, and my cats were scared to death of the swinging door (I think because it made a bit of a clacking noise as it swung)! We tried to convince them it wouldn't get them, but they didn't believe us. We eventually had to remove the swinging part because they would just stand at the door and cry to go down into the basement instead of using the special little door, and that left only the frame in the basement door. After going through that, I thought how silly it was that I bought a special door - I could have just cut a hole in the basement door because that's what it essentially wound up being when we were done.

Your cats might be different, and kittens might adjust beautifully. I know that I didn't want to just have a hole in the door - that's why I bought the special swinging cat door, but it didn't work out that way for us.

 

[BAM]

They are just adorable and I'm glad things are working out with them. I'm by no means an expert here. Since my recent cat adopted me, I haven't had a cat for 15-20 years. However, my experiences with relocating cat boxes have never been a problem. I just take the cat to the new location so they can sniff and see and they just adapt immediately. I know all cats are different but if they're good to begin with about using their litter box then I don't see an issue. I'm sorry that I don't have any advice on the cat door as I've never used one but I know others will. You mentioned that the box smells in the morning. Which litter are you using?

Bam

 

[pixiesis]

Awww, the babies are soooo cute! My advice would be to wait until the kittens are almost adults to move the litterboxes. It might be hard for them to manage stairs and they may not comply with your wishes. So in the meantime, you'll have to scoop often! I scoop my boxes every day. Then I'd suggest moving only 1 box to the basement, letting them get used to that, then moving the other box. Really, I've read that you should keep a litterbox on each level of your house, and that's what I do. They all get used.

Also, it's recommended that if you have multiple cats, you get at least the number of litterboxes that you have cats, plus 1. So if you have 2 cats, you need 3 boxes, if you have 3 cats, you need 4 boxes. I have 3 cats and 5 boxes! This may be more than most people need, but I have a boy kitty who has had issues in the past so this works for me. Good luck!

 

[spyrosmom]

Can't help w/ the cat box issue, we only have 1 cat and 1 box. We do, however, have a cat flap in the basement door. We got our at Home Depot, which was waaaaaay cheaper than the pet store. Somewhere in the $15 range. They make them specifically for cats, which are smaller than even the small sized doggy doors. I think all ours required for install was a saw to cut the hole in the door - man that was a solid door, too. DH said some interesting things . Merlin didn't like it at 1st, we kinda had to push him thru a couple times, then after we wouldn't opent he big door even with all his yowling and scratching, he figured it out, and has used it ever since. Just make sure he's on the side with the box and his food, and he'll come thru for company when he's ready. Took Merlin a few hours, but like I said he uses it all the time now.

Nan

 

[dreamyjeanie]

We had a cat door in our garage and then when we moved, we put one in the door to the laundry room. If I remember right, when we got first put in the one in the garage door, we used food or treats to encourage her to come through the flap. First we would hold the flap up and show her the food. She would then jump through. Once she got used to that, we would let the flap down and pull it up just a little which would require her to push it the rest of the way in order to get through. Soon she was doing it all by herself.

My brother had one of the electronic cat doors because he wanted his cats to be able to go outside and come back in, but he didn't want the neighbor's cats or raccoons to come in. Each cat had a sensor collar. When the cat got close to the cat door it would open. One time he got a new kitten who he didn't want to go outside so he didn't give him a sensor collar. Well the kitten learned really quick that if he tailgated right behind a sensored cat, he could slip outside before the door shut.

Jean

 

[kathryn]

Awww, the babies are soooo cute! My advice would be to wait until the kittens are almost adults to move the litterboxes. It might be hard for them to manage stairs and they may not comply with your wishes. So in the meantime, you'll have to scoop often! I scoop my boxes every day. Then I'd suggest moving only 1 box to the basement, letting them get used to that, then moving the other box.

ITA!

That little cutie in the photo looks too young and small to try a cat door and to adjust to going downstairs.

You can also try different types of litter (Arm and Hammer makes a few that neutralize odors, as well as a litter spray and powder--though baking soda works alright, too).

The best thing to do would be to scoop 2x/day (as long as the pans are close to you: I keep mine in the basement, and am not always so good about scooping, but I have quite a few pans!)

 

[banslug]

Kathryn, YOU try telling that little kitten she's too little! LOL These guys are like Godzilla of the Cat World. Up my curtains, behind my entertainment system, UP and DOWN the stairs in one MAD DASH! I kid you not! I think these cats are high on Cathe Endorphins sometimes! lol Perhaps, in the picture, Cocoa looks so little simply because Valentine is HUGE (and believe me, he is).

But seriously, I appreciate everybody's input.

First, the litter smelling. I've been using the litter from PetCo (or is it PetSmart; I never remember which it is) and the only thing that really stinks is Valentine's 'deposits'. He is just showing us he's King Cat now that the kittens are around. He tends to not cover his 'goods' and MAN can it clear out a house. My kids move like LIGHTNING when he comes out of there! LOL I am scooping 2x a day, without complaining. I just LOVE these guys that it's worth it. It's in the morning that it smells the worst because it's been all night since I've scooped and everything's shut up tight (the windows, I mean).

As for the location. I'm going to take my time with this, and take pretty much EVERYbody's advice. I'm going to put a 3rd box at the bottom of the basement steps and keep the 2 upstairs as usual. Right now, the kittens aren't 'allowed' in the basement anyway, simply because I'm too afraid of all the nooks and crannies down there (it's an unfinished basement). But we usually left the basement door open for Valentine because it's one of his favorite places to hang out, but with the kittens around now we've been shutting the door. With the 3rd box downstairs, I'll let the door open and go from there.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU for your input, as usual....YOU ROCK!

Gayle

 

[kathryn]

Kathryn, YOU try telling that little kitten she's too little! LOL These guys are like Godzilla of the Cat World. Up my curtains, behind my entertainment system, UP and DOWN the stairs in one MAD DASH! I kid you not! I think these cats are high on Cathe Endorphins sometimes! lol Perhaps, in the picture, Cocoa looks so little simply because Valentine is HUGE (and believe me, he is).

Now, I didn't say Cocoa didn't have big CATTITUDE! But she does look like a petite little thing in that photo!

 

[banslug]

CUTIE PATOOTIES. I just love these cats and could sit here and watch them all day LONG!!! I never would have thought this of me, but I'm LOVING IT!!! (and so are the boys)

Gayle

 

[saia11]

Kathryn, YOU try telling that little kitten she's too little! LOL These guys are like Godzilla of the Cat World. Up my curtains, behind my entertainment system, UP and DOWN the stairs in one MAD DASH! I kid you not! I think these cats are high on Cathe Endorphins sometimes! lol Perhaps, in the picture, Cocoa looks so little simply because Valentine is HUGE (and believe me, he is).

But seriously, I appreciate everybody's input.

First, the litter smelling. I've been using the litter from PetCo (or is it PetSmart; I never remember which it is) and the only thing that really stinks is Valentine's 'deposits'. He is just showing us he's King Cat now that the kittens are around. He tends to not cover his 'goods' and MAN can it clear out a house. My kids move like LIGHTNING when he comes out of there! LOL I am scooping 2x a day, without complaining. I just LOVE these guys that it's worth it. It's in the morning that it smells the worst because it's been all night since I've scooped and everything's shut up tight (the windows, I mean).

As for the location. I'm going to take my time with this, and take pretty much EVERYbody's advice. I'm going to put a 3rd box at the bottom of the basement steps and keep the 2 upstairs as usual. Right now, the kittens aren't 'allowed' in the basement anyway, simply because I'm too afraid of all the nooks and crannies down there (it's an unfinished basement). But we usually left the basement door open for Valentine because it's one of his favorite places to hang out, but with the kittens around now we've been shutting the door. With the 3rd box downstairs, I'll let the door open and go from there.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU for your input, as usual....YOU ROCK!

Gayle

Hi Gayle,
If your little man refuses to cover his contributions to the litter box, there's not much any litter can do for the smell, but you can run over and use a scoop to cover it w/ litter yourself and this will greatly cut down on the smell.

My three cats have never had an issue when litter boxes appeared in a new place, so long as they were shown the new site. Especially if is already smells They also refuse to use a swinging kitty door (act as though death itself and really big dog to boot were waiting on the other side), but we wanted a small door that we could shut if we needed to confine them to the basement (where their food, water, and litter is all located--it's a nice basement I promise, and we have a 17 month old ) So my dad made us a door (he cut a square hole and used hinges and small hook locks to let us keep the flap or down depending. This was great, but if you don't have a free carpenter around you can purchase a cat door that has a sliding panel option, but this may be pricier, and keeping them down there might not be a concern for you. But I would recommend the "hole" only type opening instead of the swinging door.

Good luck with the adorable beasties!
Mattea

 

[meowracer]

Gayle - first of all, it seems to me that little kitties have especially stinky poops. And for one of my cats, I had to buy a special food for his tummy when he was a kitten, and I don't dare change it now. I tried once a few months ago, only to rush back to petsmart for his regular food!

No experience here on a cat door, but I bet you could just put the flap part up for now, and put a little stepbox up to the opening for now too. Good luck!