Preventing kitty litter mess

Question

Over the years it seems that the kitty litter is messier. We sweep several times a day around the boxes and cover things b/c the older cats still manage to have litter on their paws wherever they go. Any suggestions?

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

the clumping litter gets in their paws and so I would think about using a rug so the rug can catch the kitty litter. I always (before my cats were housebroken) I had turned a base cabinet into a kitty bathroom where I had a rug on the outside of the cut out where they entered/exited. I would think about an outside rug that catches dirt. 
If you clean out the litter more often, you could use the old fashioned litter which is bigger and does not catch in their feet so much. hope this helps

Taf · Answer

Arm & hammer has a new 100% dust free litter on the market. It's very fine, I have several boxes with this and I find it doesn't track as much as the typical clumping litters.

Funnygirl · Answer

Another option,put a large doormat under the litter box.When your cats jump out the the litter box,the litter should be picked off their feet when they make contact.

Annette Bestwick · Answer

I use big plastic under the bed boxes lined with newspaper, it works better than litter, plus I can roll it up and throw away after the cats use the litter trays. I have 4 cats and have been doing the newspaper idea for years. They still scrunch up the paper after they have done what they need to do. And no mess is flicked out of the boxes.

Liliana Wells · Answer

I put a rug tucked under their box, but sticking out, like a runway. They used to come out of their bathroom, scratch the rug and go on. Now they are inside and out and prefer the outdoors. But I have always been very scrupulous about removing the clumps ever day.

Theresaloren · Answer

the rug is a good idea. My cat prefers to go out but uses her box at night when I keep her in

Sheri Ketarkus · Answer

We use large totes as litter boxes (tall sides) and a rug underneath. Keeps it down to a manageable level

Beth Barnett · Answer

I found the Clever Kitty litter box at petco, which works wonders for one of my cats, but my other cat won't use it because she's a snot. Basically it's a tub with a lid that has a portal or manhole (cathole?) the cat enters to use the litter. When your cat is finished doing their business, they hop out and the grid pattern on the lid catches any litter. It works wonders. That is, if your cat will and is able to use it. I had tried everything prior to this and nothing worked. Good luck!

Audrey Hasson · Answer

For under 10 minutes and $0, we took a cardboard box which fits snug around litter (so excess isn't let in container box, and cut a hole for cats to enter/exit.  All the litter that's usually kicked out is caught and bounces back into litter box.  Kitchen mat placed outside for catching litter that remains on paws.  Works great for us!

Pjakin61 · Answer

don't laugh----I had the same issue with my 3 cats.....finally got fed up (I spent mucho dollars on every contraption ever made) and took one of those large storage tubs, cut a hole in top lid (needs to be big enough for them to jump out) and put it back on, cats entered from top. Had one cat that would sit on top and use like a toilet when he peed.

Cynthia Watanabe · Answer

Thanks everyone for your ideas. We have puppy pads underneath the 3 boxes plus a trainer frame for a puppy pad b/c one of the older cats will only go on that. And a rug outside the other box. Your ideas confirm that it is difficult to try to get the right combination. With 3 older cats, one 16, I may just keep sweeping--often.

Cynthia Watanabe · Answer

Great to hear other strategies for preventing cat litter mess. We are using the rugs already & may try a different cat litter.

Heartbeat · Answer

Thanks, I'll have to look for it. Since out elderly (20) lb cat passed, the other 2 have smaller paws and don't spread it thru the house

Jill · Answer

I don't know if anyone posted about this earlier, but this is a good idea. It was originally posted here. I like that it seems to solve the mess. I could not find the page here, but saved her page as a bookmark to try it myself. http://www.posedperfection.com/2014/02/cleaver-litter-box-knock-off.html

Eileen_walsh · Answer

I have tried the finer litter and the no-dust litter, I just found it in more places rather than less. Have two cat litter rugs to catch litter, one out of the box, and one on the runner both ways the cat can go. Still find litter all over the house.

Preventing kitty litter mess

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Preventing kitty litter mess

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