(Part 2) Best standard cat litter boxes according to redditors
We found 480 Reddit comments discussing the best standard cat litter boxes. We ranked the 56 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Your questions aren't silly! It's great that you're thinking about how you can make you both comfortable before you dive into a new situation. Always set yourself up for success! :)
> do I buy a litter box/food/scratch-post before I plan to bring a cat home?
That's generally a good idea, yes. Means less stress for both of you as you're scrambling to get everything ready for him. You might ask the shelter what food the cat has been eating, as cats can get an upset tummy when switching brands/types. Not a big deal, but he will have poops that are a bit stinkier/liquidier than normal poops. That should alleviate within the week. You can lessen the tummy troubles by doing a more gradual change, mixing the food he is currently on with the food he will be on more and more, until he is eating what you want him on. But you can honestly just do the change, too, and just deal with the sadpoops for a little while.
I suggest a couple of different scratching posts, if you have the space! Cats like having options, like a horizontal post and a vertical one. Cats also like being high up, so if you can swing a tall post with platforms, he will probably like that.
Get two litter boxes! A lot of people don't realize it, but the rule of thumb for number of litters you should have is NumberOfCats + 1. So, 1 cat + 1 = 2 boxes. Clean them often. Cats are very clean creatures (especially compared to dogs) and are MUCH more likely to have accidents when they feel they do not have a better option than peeing in your bed. That's not their fault. You wouldn't want to step on your own pee/poop either! If you have problems with litter getting kicked out of the box, a litter mat can be helpful.
> Do I need to buy a carrier for the cat?
Yep. You'll eventually need to take him to a vet in all likelihood, and a carrier will make that so much easier, as most cats despise the car. I recommend a hard carrier. The softer ones seem nicer in general, but the hard carriers are easier to clean out, and you never know how a cat will be in the car until... well. They're in it. One of our cats poops and pees every. single. time. So he always gets the hard carrier.
> Should I contact a vet before I get the cat?
The shelter might require you to have a vet already, so I'd probably at least pick one out from google search. They might require you to go get a checkup, but probably not. That's more of a rescue thing, I think. Most shelters have their own in-house vet, so it's not really necessary. Don't be afraid to contact the shelter if he seems to be coughing and wheezing. Upper respiratory infections are very common in shelter environments due to the crowded nature of them, but they are also very treatable, and the shelter will be able to give you medication for him.
> How do I train a cat?
Someone mentioned Jackson Galaxy, who I generally agree is pretty good for training if you have some problems. But most of the time, cats are pretty out-of-the-box ready pets. That is to say, if you have an environment that is good for cats (where you let them have some space, where you don't make a huge amount of loud noise, where they aren't prodded and poked at constantly), they generally don't need training. We've fostered tiny kittens that automatically knew how to use the litter box. We also have boy cats who were not fixed until well into adulthood and have never had problems spraying.
It's instinct to go in the box, especially once they're fixed and don't need to mark territory really.
> For those of you who own a cat/cats, any advice for this first-timer?
Give both of you time to get to know each other. Don't force it. He will come to you, given time and space, and you'll be able to cultivate a better relationship built on trust and mutual respect if he knows that you won't force him to do things that he doesn't want to do (especially at first--think about it like building a friendship with a person; you would trust your friends to do things that you would never trust a stranger to do, and it's the same for him).
Cooing and gentle words are generally pretty good for coaxing, as is letting him smell your hand/something that smells like you before you approach for pets. Think about it like introducing yourself. You wouldn't go up to someone you didn't know well and just touch them without at least saying hi.
Every cat I have ever known, male or female, fixed or not, will pee in a pile of anything if it is left long enough. They see it as 'trash,' and I think it just registers as litter. So, if you are the type to leave clothes on the floor... I would try to stop that.
Keep nails trimmed. Scratching posts are for sharpening nails, which is an instinct that they have to fulfill, and you're giving them an outlet for. Some people think it's for 'filing' the nails down, but it's not. It's for keeping them sharp enough to get prey. You'll have to trim them.
And this is just my own personal opinion, but... young--but not kitten--boy cats are best for first timers. I have one girl, and I absolutely adore her, but she is very high maintenance/prissy/touchy, whereas my three boys are all pretty chill. Each cat is different though, so obviously your mileage may vary! It's just something I've noticed in general in my time of owning and fostering cats, that boys are more laid back/forgiving than girls (and thus I think a little easier for a first timer). Young adults are also great for first timers because you have less accidents (though that's generally not a big concern anyway) and they're more able to be on their own for longer periods of time. Older adults/seniors are great too if you want a really, really chill, more stand-offish cat, or if you want a cat that you'll have for <10 years, but if you want a little more energy and time, a cat that's about 1-2 years old is a GREAT way to go.
Some toys that are great for cats include the classic laser pointer, the feather toy, catnip toys, and crinkle balls.
Cats prefer to drink away from where they eat, so place his food bowl and his water bowl apart from one another! Some cats also prefer running water to still water, so if you notice your cat likes drinking out of the faucet (or if you just want to spoil your cat like I spoil mine...) you can get a water fountain for him!
Finally, if it's not working out for some reason, like your personalities just don't mesh well... take him back. I know it sounds hard, but it's best for him if he is in an environment where he is understood and his needs are met. There's no sense in forcing both of you to be miserable. Some shelters let you do a foster-to-adopt sort of thing, where you sort of try each other out for a bit. I like this option, because you hope for the best, but it feels a little bit easier to tap out if you need to. Either way, there's no shame in tapping out. Sometimes things just don't work the way you thought they would.
Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could. My parents recently got their first cat, and it's been... an ordeal for them, getting used to it.
It's great that you have some experience with cats though, so I think you'll be fine! Seriously, cats are sort of the next level up from a goldfish as far as easiness. Should be fine.
I hope you and your new furbaby are super, super happy together! :)
Ah ok ok. I got you.
Well if you need a box, this one looks better IMO. https://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Litter-Blue-Mouse-Small/dp/B00L369CXQ
>The shelter and all the pet stores in town only have the small triangular litter boxes which no one likes. How come stores are not stocking the larger square litter boxes anymore??
FTFY: Which
no one likesI don't like.&nbsp;
"Small" is pretty vague, so I'm not sure which litter box you are referring to as they come in various sizes. In fact I think there is an even larger triangle style box above the size I normally buy in the stores.
&nbsp;
I have these Triangle Litter Boxes, which I wouldn't say are small. It is 10" x 10" x 14" which in my opinion is just fine and doesn't take up too much real estate in their cage. They are also great for your corners as my girls seem to use the ones I have around the room more than the one in their cage. I even used one in this Hard-Sided Travel Carrier after I put Velcro tape on the bottom of it to attach it to the carrier. I was able to put their favorite bed and the litter box in there. I also hung a hammock from the top and hung their food and water bowls off the door. It was only a 5 hour drive, but just another reason I love these litter boxes.
So I had a problem with my cat kicking an absurd amount of litter out of the box, so I new getting a standard covered litter box wasnt gonna solve the problem. I invested in 2 top-entry litter boxes from Petco and THEY HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE. My cats figured them out so fast and there are so easy to clean! And your cat would have no choice but to actually pee inside the box. This is the exact one I have, I like them for their size and how the top libld opens: So Phresh Top-Entry Litter Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077L2VQZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DyHkDbG4XQVZ4
Mine won't use the triangle corner pans... I recommend buying a full square box. You can use newspaper pellet litter, or a corn based litter. I prefer the corn based litter because it is easier to scoop.
When you can afford food, mix 1/4th with 3/4ths marshall for a week or so, then do 1/2 and 1/2... and then keep it that way. It's good to mix 2-3 dry foods, just in case one stops being produced. I personally mix Evo ferret food and Marshall senior diet for my babies.
Also, look for a good exotic vet right now, one who is familiar with ferrets! Your ferrets need a rabies vaccination by law, and canine distemper is the second vaccination they should get.
I'd start saving money for emergency medical costs, I don't know where you are, but a check up for both my ferrets is about $100. I've spent a few thousand dollars on their health bills in the past 3 years that I've had them (one has adrenal disease, the other had to get her gallbladder removed).
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. :)
Are you using a normal litter pan or are you using a corner pan? If you are using a normal littler box, a corner pan might fit better in your ferret's new chosen poopy spot. If neither of those is working you could try custom making your own with a cardboard box and some plastic wrap.
I've had a few ferrets over the years and I wish I could tell you that I managed to train them to only go back to their cage to poop... I had one with perfect bathroom habits for about 6 months until we got him a little sister. Then he decided to follow her lead and poop wherever he got the inspiration to. I think they both knew what they should have been doing but they liked watching me play musical corner pans and scrub the carpet when they switched corners without warning. In other words, when it comes to ferret bathroom habits, I think they train you more than you train them.
As for scrubbing the carpet, white vinegar with a few squirts of dish soap in it will get the carpet clean and get rid of all traces of the smell. I keep a spray bottle with the mixture in it; it is also great for cleaning bathrooms. It won't exactly deter them but, by not having any trace of the smell left, it will keep them from continuing to poop in the same spot just because they smell traces from the last time. Maybe saving some of his poop and putting it in the litter pan in a more appropriate area, along with scrubbing the lingering smell out of his old spot, will give him the right idea?
You can keep them restricted to a smaller area to help curb bad litter habits. Give them more freedom again as they improve.
These litter boxes with high sides will help prevent litter from being kicked out.
This may be a seasonal change and will likely subside in a few weeks with you encouraging better behavior.
Other things you can do to keep them entertained include using treat dispensing balls to make them work for their pellets. Add more boxes, tunnels, and hidey holes to their enclosure. Cheap fleece blankets can give your buns something to dig into without making a big mess.
so i have two cats that we got as kittens, and we bought them a [big ole cat tree](https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QHMFLW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=10 (bought several years ago, so your results may vary), a little dinky scratching post, and then a little cardboard one that's like a combo scratching post/ lounge. more importantly, we played with their paws all the time, and cut their nails regularly.
obviously as kittens they used their claws to climb up the couch, but they never used it as a scratching post, and they're only slightly dramatic when it's nail cutting time.
i have no advice on the litter box with dogs/ children, but maybe getting one with a lid (like this) would help!
If you're only looking for a monthly delivery system this won't help, but I have been using this litter for months and only 1 or 2 pellets end up on the floor after my cat uses it, if that. It just seemed somewhat similar in the sense you only have scoop the poop and replace the pads weekly.
This is the first I am hearing about the monthly delivery options and to be honest I am tempted to try one. Please let me know what you find with Prettylitter vs. Kitty poo club.
litter box solution- top entry
neutral shower curtain
clean white towels
rugs - that are easily bleach able
Plus any plants you can fit!
Sure thing! Theres a LOT of different types on Amazon, theres some that are actually really pretty, dont even look like litter boxes honestly, and some that have like, liner things? Like a liner pan that makes cleaning easier, theres a bunch of types if you type in top loading litter boxes, if you're wanting to spend a little more to get a nicer one. I was perfectly content for a litterbox-looking litterbox, and I'm not worried about liner pans and self cleaning etc...but this (from what I found) was the best and most cost effective one :) and it SERIOUSLY works awesome so far!
IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Cat Litter Scoop, Gray & White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0768H1181/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uuG6CbVKPEPQC
You've given me an idea.
I'm going to aquire a R emblem off of ebay and paint my cat's litter box.
https://www.amazon.com/So-Phresh-Jumbo-Enclosed-Litter/dp/B06W5J61QD
I had some good luck with this one
Yep it's from Amazon, we have one too for one of the kitties that likes to poop off the side of the box. linky
link to uk Amazon
Maybe get a bigger ferret litter box so if the cats use it it'll work? There are higher walled boxes with low entrances like these: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Or if the ferret's smaller than the cats maybe enclose it so the entrance is big enough for a ferret but not a cat.
Our kittens are quite messy so the high back litter boxes (particularly model) has been key and we're using Swheat Scoop which works well but it quite messy.
The cat tower(s) are also a great thing to have; they get bored with it for a while but they always go back. We bought a lot of toys to give them stimulation and it has pretty much broken down to this:
We keep all their other toys in a basket which they will tip over when they want a new one. That doesn't happen often though.
My fuzzies enjoy nibbling on anything rubbery, but I've never actually had them be diligent enough to chew through it. If you're worried, use this. It tastes awful, so she will eventually learn to avoid the nasty tasting cord. If you do use this, don't just spray it, the particles will go everywhere and you'll end up tasting it. Daub some onto a paper towel and wipe down the cord.
As for the zip ties, look at them. Is she tearing pieces off? If so, she could swallow them and you obviously don't want that. If they're sturdy enough that she can't do any damage, I think you'll be fine.
I petsat someone's ferret who enjoyed scratching and biting at the carpet immensely, but my two fuzzies show no interest in that. So you'll just have to watch and see what she does.
Other tips:
I believe it's pretty commonly accepted that ferrets prefer water bowls to water bottles. Would you want to drink water by flicking up a little ball and getting one drop at a time?
Look at this if the zip ties are a problem, then you won't need them.
As the wiki will tell you it's pretty straight forward. I just observed where my buddy liked to urinate and put a litter box in that corner. Get a relatively good sized box for him. Something like This will do. Next step is to understand they typically urinate and poop when they are eating. So put his food and water right in reach of the box itself. Next fill it up with litter, protip use something like this. Crazy cheap from TS and they absorb everything. Then grab a handful of hay and put it in the box itself. They will nibble on that while they use the restroom. Replenish daily. Soon enough you should see a vast improvement. 4 weeks later my bun is exclusively peeing in his and nearly perfectly pooping in it as well. Best of luck!
Well this is frustrating....$2.74 and $3.00. (From the kitty and Under $6 wishlists, respectively.)
Also, this is more than $3 so I'm not entering it, but it's my favorite add-on item on my wishlist. It cracks me up so much! Of course my cat needs a snuggie!
I had the Breeze for a few weeks, but I didn't like the idea of the expense of pads. I quickly went with the Smart Cat Box for a while, seemed pretty cost-efficient.
Are your cats declawed? It might hurt them a bit to walk on pellets; they might feel like lego bricks do to human feet. I suggest trying a clumping litter for a week or two; add some catnip to draw them to it. A sand-like texture might be what they'd prefer. And they can be automated too; I started with a LitterMaid, later had a Litter-Robot II, but I gave the indoor litter up when my gf insisted on housing the cats outdoors. Currently just using conventional clumping litter with manual scoop.
I have the Smart Cat Box and used Breeze pellets with it. Not all cats like pellets, but it made my old cat much happier, and was less messy than normal litter. The sifter it came with did not work for me with the Breeze pellets, so I kept the one that came with the Breeze system when I got rid of the box.
https://www.amazon.com/SMART-CAT-BOX-Starter-Kit/dp/B005ZKMMWE
Keeps things pretty tidy in a very small space.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DBNGU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_N06JAbRM9VRY8
I'd suggest investing in a heavy duty box (there's a very heavy duty corner-shaped box that's both space-saving and sturdy from SmartCat ), and near it, put an inexpensive horizontal or vertical scratcher, liberally dosed with catnip. Once the scratching kitty uses the scratcher and not the box, move it away from the litter box a few inches every day until it's where you ultimately would like it to be. If at any point, the cat stops scratching it, move it back a little, wait until he's used it again for a few days, and then begin moving it again.
I found this one litterbox on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Enclosed-Covered-Litter-Drawer/dp/B015PL289Y/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Not sure if this one is better than the Breeze... It's more expensive for sure.
I don’t know I waited so long to buy an enclosed litter box. I got the blue and love it! Tracking almost gone and no wandering poop.
Light Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G1QRGIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mIW.BbGH6PQ9R
Are you using clumping litter?
You can buy something like those : https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Stainless-Steel-Cat-Litter/dp/B075WX7BPD
And you can also try scented litter if the kitty are ok with it (mine dont care).
Cool contest. I have went through my wishlist and prioritized a bunch of things. As far as things to improve my life, this would improve my heath, this would improve my car, this could improve my home, as could this.
We did get him as a kitten, and I thought about the size of the box. I suppose it's possible. I'm not sure if we have the largest size, but this looks to be the same ones we use:
http://www.amazon.com/Van-Ness-CP6-Enclosed-Litter/dp/B0002ASCGC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1370626416&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=covered+litter+box
Looks like that's a large already.
He's not hanging out of the edge though, I've seen him as he's finishing up. He's fully outside the box. He gave me a really mean look for watching him too :S