Discussion
Good Evening,
My partner and I are looking to adopt some four-legged friends. We initially considered a dog, though have concluded that a cat would be more suited to our lifestyles as they're generally a bit more independent and will be better equipped to cope when we're out of the house
We are looking to get two cats (litter mates) so that they can keep each other company when we're out for the day, and also reduce the trauma they experience when being separated from their mother. We've found a good breeder with some beautiful friendly kittens.
I work from home most of the time (this has been the case for many years), so I'll be able to keep any eye on them most of the time.
My parents owned Siamese cats when I was growing up. The cats were lovely, though I don't think that my family was proactive enough when it came to changing cat litter. One of my enduring memories is that the litter tray absolutely stank.
Assuming that I was proactive with regard to removing solids, and changed the litter every other day, would there still be a pervasive odour in the room where the cat tray was located? I would look to get an enclosed cat tray, with an integrated cat flap.
Lastly, while I appreciate that a cat isn't going to be as trainable as a dog, can anyone recommend any books, blogs or vlogs concerning cat training and behaviour management?
Thanks in advance for any advice received.
My partner and I are looking to adopt some four-legged friends. We initially considered a dog, though have concluded that a cat would be more suited to our lifestyles as they're generally a bit more independent and will be better equipped to cope when we're out of the house
We are looking to get two cats (litter mates) so that they can keep each other company when we're out for the day, and also reduce the trauma they experience when being separated from their mother. We've found a good breeder with some beautiful friendly kittens.
I work from home most of the time (this has been the case for many years), so I'll be able to keep any eye on them most of the time.
My parents owned Siamese cats when I was growing up. The cats were lovely, though I don't think that my family was proactive enough when it came to changing cat litter. One of my enduring memories is that the litter tray absolutely stank.
Assuming that I was proactive with regard to removing solids, and changed the litter every other day, would there still be a pervasive odour in the room where the cat tray was located? I would look to get an enclosed cat tray, with an integrated cat flap.
Lastly, while I appreciate that a cat isn't going to be as trainable as a dog, can anyone recommend any books, blogs or vlogs concerning cat training and behaviour management?
Thanks in advance for any advice received.
Tends to be the urine that stinks unless one of them gets the scutters in which case its hard to tell which is worse, though they are definitely different smells. Took us four years to figure out one of the cats is alergic (but loves) cat treats.
We have two large enclosed litter boxes and luckily a largely unused conservatory to house the litter boxes, so its ventilated. They used to be in the house but i found the smell too intrusive once they got near a full change (I do it weekly). Since covid i can't smell cat pee though, oddly. Either way, i'd find somewhere out of the way (and ventilated) to locate them if possible.
Edit cats generally need a litter tray each as i understood it. Ours use both each though, one mostly for pee the other for everything else.
We have two large enclosed litter boxes and luckily a largely unused conservatory to house the litter boxes, so its ventilated. They used to be in the house but i found the smell too intrusive once they got near a full change (I do it weekly). Since covid i can't smell cat pee though, oddly. Either way, i'd find somewhere out of the way (and ventilated) to locate them if possible.
Edit cats generally need a litter tray each as i understood it. Ours use both each though, one mostly for pee the other for everything else.
Edited by bmwmike on Tuesday 16th February 23:18
Edited by bmwmike on Tuesday 16th February 23:18
I’ve had numerous cats over the years and never had a litter tray in the house. Well, not beyond kitten stage or the first 2 weeks after moving house.
If you have a cat flap fitted then, once they’ve got used to going outside you just don’t need a litter tray.
You’ll have enough fun clearing up unfortunate dismembered rodents so you don’t want to be dealing with cat s
t too!
(Please don’t keep them shut in BTW. Cats need outside roaming space. It’s massively unnatural to keep them inside as house cats).
If you have a cat flap fitted then, once they’ve got used to going outside you just don’t need a litter tray.
You’ll have enough fun clearing up unfortunate dismembered rodents so you don’t want to be dealing with cat s
t too!(Please don’t keep them shut in BTW. Cats need outside roaming space. It’s massively unnatural to keep them inside as house cats).
jimbobs said:
I’ve had numerous cats over the years and never had a litter tray in the house. Well, not beyond kitten stage or the first 2 weeks after moving house.
If you have a cat flap fitted then, once they’ve got used to going outside you just don’t need a litter tray.
You’ll have enough fun clearing up unfortunate dismembered rodents so you don’t want to be dealing with cat st too!
(Please don’t keep them shut in BTW. Cats need outside roaming space. It’s massively unnatural to keep them inside as house cats).
Agree on roaming space, we let ours out each day after theyve been fed but bring them in at night, mostly for the sake of the local wildlife population.If you have a cat flap fitted then, once they’ve got used to going outside you just don’t need a litter tray.
You’ll have enough fun clearing up unfortunate dismembered rodents so you don’t want to be dealing with cat s
t too!(Please don’t keep them shut in BTW. Cats need outside roaming space. It’s massively unnatural to keep them inside as house cats).
We have just adopted a 3rd adult cat and have kept him locked in a room for a couple of weeks to introduce him slowly, and he has taken to using a litter tray no problem, surprising as he never used one at his prior owner.
Our two existing cats are around 5 years old and still use their trays - they come in from outdoors to use the litter boxes then go back out lol. Litter works out fairly expensive, so maybe ill try weaning them.
We adopted two old ladies 6 years ago, estimated 10 years old, supposedly they got on with eachother.
In reality, they tolerated eachother at best. For most that time they litered outside. One did have a habit of spraying, unusual for a female, but we think it was political due to being surrounded by quite a few Tom cats on the street.
Both lovely cats as individuals, not kitten playful but one would chase foil around the kitchen in a sort of game of fetch. She's passed away now, heartbreaking.
The remaining cat is more relaxed and affectionate (and needy) than ever before. We've always had a litter tray and for the most part it was unused m however she's using it to pee again, perhaps age, perhaps weather. It's clumping so it's really easy to scoop the soiled litter, bag and bin it.
Definitely would suggest rescue cats. Perhaps just suggest one unless you're certain they enjoy eachother's company!
In reality, they tolerated eachother at best. For most that time they litered outside. One did have a habit of spraying, unusual for a female, but we think it was political due to being surrounded by quite a few Tom cats on the street.
Both lovely cats as individuals, not kitten playful but one would chase foil around the kitchen in a sort of game of fetch. She's passed away now, heartbreaking.
The remaining cat is more relaxed and affectionate (and needy) than ever before. We've always had a litter tray and for the most part it was unused m however she's using it to pee again, perhaps age, perhaps weather. It's clumping so it's really easy to scoop the soiled litter, bag and bin it.
Definitely would suggest rescue cats. Perhaps just suggest one unless you're certain they enjoy eachother's company!
+1 for rescue cats too. Ours took an age to settle in but now they are incredibly affectionate. Super nervous though, literally to the point one of them had a dingleberry drop off its ass hair onto a wooden floor and the noise sent the two of them rocketing off in different directions 
We have two rescue cats that came here at 12 weeks old, they add so much value to our lives it can’t be quantified. We have litter trays in the house still, just in case. One never uses it as he’s more outdoorsy, the other prefers to be inside so won’t do his business anywhere else! If you get proper cat litter rather than the cheap stuff, it does a very good job of masking odours. We use Catsan, which isn’t cheap but entirely worthwhile.
Always outdoors for our two. Any misdemeanours in the house and they get a good talking too and their head stuck under the tap followed by a locked cat flap for a couple of hours. Same punishment for scratching anything other than their post or coughing up various things.
One of ours has just turned 18 and doesn't like going out much now he's lost his territory to the young guns on the block but needs must and he still gets the water treatment. Feel guilty as he's a very old man but rules are rules and he knows darn well it's coming, so he's usually fast enough to get to the cat flap before I can catch him. He sulks for a couple of hours afterwards but then gives in as the lure of that nice warm comfy lap becomes too great.
One of ours has just turned 18 and doesn't like going out much now he's lost his territory to the young guns on the block but needs must and he still gets the water treatment. Feel guilty as he's a very old man but rules are rules and he knows darn well it's coming, so he's usually fast enough to get to the cat flap before I can catch him. He sulks for a couple of hours afterwards but then gives in as the lure of that nice warm comfy lap becomes too great.
Harry H said:
Always outdoors for our two. Any misdemeanours in the house and they get a good talking too and their head stuck under the tap followed by a locked cat flap for a couple of hours. Same punishment for scratching anything other than their post or coughing up various things.
Your house, your rules, but that sounds crazy to me. Surely rather than running their heads under a tap, they could just have a litter tray indoors for when it’s cold, windy and wet outside. robsco said:
Your house, your rules, but that sounds crazy to me. Surely rather than running their heads under a tap, they could just have a litter tray indoors for when it’s cold, windy and wet outside.
They're cats. We do provide them with lovely fur coats to venture outside with. Let's face it, life's pretty cool for a domestic cat, get to sleep most of the day by a nice warm radiator, food on demand, no worries. Only down side is you have to go outside for your morning constitutional. They're also free to leave home anytime they don't like the rules. I'd miss em mind but not enough to warrant clearing up after them :-)
Edited by Harry H on Thursday 18th February 16:50
I have had a number of cats, both growing up and as an adult - currently have 2. Of all the litter I have used (and I have tried most) the best odour control by far is Silica based such as https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-silica-diamond-g... Combine this with an enclosed litter tray and as long as you keep on top of the poo, all should be good!
Harry H said:
robsco said:
Your house, your rules, but that sounds crazy to me. Surely rather than running their heads under a tap, they could just have a litter tray indoors for when it’s cold, windy and wet outside.
They're cats. We do provide them with lovely fur coats to venture outside with. Let's face it, life's pretty cool for a domestic cat, get to sleep most of the day by a nice warm radiator, food on demand, no worries. Only down side is you have to go outside for your morning constitutional. They're also free to leave home anytime they don't like the rules. I'd miss em mind but not enough to warrant clearing up after them :-)
Edited by Harry H on Thursday 18th February 16:50
I am certainly the softer of the two of us at home. My two run rings around me, and I am not ashamed to admit it. We don’t have a cat flap per se, they have a mobile, organic one who spends most of his life to’ing and fro’ing to the door.
We have a rescue cat. I can honestly say that adopting him is one of the best things I’ve ever done.
My litter tray tip is to get a sifting litter tray, and use wood pellets in it. I do this daily: remove the poo with a scoop first, then pour the rest of the tray contents into the sieve. Shake it. The pee soaked litter falls through leaving fresh (ish) litter behind to be put back in the tray. It really has no smell at all if this routine is kept up.
My litter tray tip is to get a sifting litter tray, and use wood pellets in it. I do this daily: remove the poo with a scoop first, then pour the rest of the tray contents into the sieve. Shake it. The pee soaked litter falls through leaving fresh (ish) litter behind to be put back in the tray. It really has no smell at all if this routine is kept up.
Ours is indoors only, one tray in the kitchen - the enclosed type with a lid and flap. Using silica litter. Don’t find any significant issues with smells tbh - occasionally a poop smell immediately after he’s gone and if a particularly smelly one - just scoop it out and put in the bin. If left then the litter tends to mask the smell well anyway. The tray we have has a removable tray underneath that catches the pee - wet put silica litter in this too, stops the smells, clean it out every few days.
Here’s the poop/pee provider:
Here’s the poop/pee provider:
If you want a trainable cat there are some cat breeds that do better at this than others but even your normal moggy can be trained. My 16 year old tuxedo cat boy does sit lay down and paw when he wants his treats. He sleeps most of the time now with getting on in age but when treats come out he's like a little kitten again. He still top cat in the street though can certainly put younger cats in their place though when needed. He has a group of about 4-5 other cats that during the summer you usually see them all out together pretty funny to watch them interact.
Do a bit of research some breeds are very talkative like bengals and follow you around everywhere they also do well with walks can be taught to go on harness and lead. other just want to be left alone and snooze all day.
Do a bit of research some breeds are very talkative like bengals and follow you around everywhere they also do well with walks can be taught to go on harness and lead. other just want to be left alone and snooze all day.
We foster rescue cats (about 55 in total last year). Because they're straight in off the street and often ill they are all indoor cats while with us.
We use mostly wood pellet litter which is amazing at masking pee smells, also some catsan which is good until it gets a bit old then gets stinky. As long as you keep on top of cleaning it's fine. I think a lot of the memories of old cat litter being si bad was because it used to just be crap clay stuff which is one step above soil so doesn't prevent smells at all.
Wood litter is the cheapest stuff also, about £6-7 for a big sack in pets at home.
We use mostly wood pellet litter which is amazing at masking pee smells, also some catsan which is good until it gets a bit old then gets stinky. As long as you keep on top of cleaning it's fine. I think a lot of the memories of old cat litter being si bad was because it used to just be crap clay stuff which is one step above soil so doesn't prevent smells at all.
Wood litter is the cheapest stuff also, about £6-7 for a big sack in pets at home.
Consider whether you want a male or female. We live quite a distance from a road, but all our male cats bar 1 have ended up killed by a car. They stray a long way away. One was killed over a mile away.
The two females we have now show very little interest in the outside world. One goes out once a day and doesn’t make it beyond halfway down the drive. She confirms that the outside does indeed still exists, then heads back in. Put them out especially at this time of year and they are back through the cat flap in minutes!
The two females we have now show very little interest in the outside world. One goes out once a day and doesn’t make it beyond halfway down the drive. She confirms that the outside does indeed still exists, then heads back in. Put them out especially at this time of year and they are back through the cat flap in minutes!
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