Is This Litterbox Too Small??

FeebysOwner

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Posting this question again without the story lead-in I posted before - might have been too much for anyone to really want to read it all.

Bottom line: Feeby has used this litterbox since we got her 12+ years ago. But, just wondering if it really might be a tad bit too small?? Sorry for the blurry pic. Thanks.
20181013_085057[1].jpg
 
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FeebysOwner

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Thanks. Well, I do know that I need to stay at no more than 8" high because I am worried about her arthritis. She always enters in the front (away from the wall), but then jumps out the side, so I feel like it pretty much should be the same height all the way around. And to make matters worse, I can't go any lower than 8" because she might pee over the top, since she stands up to pee. The one I have (in the pic I shared) is 19 1/2" x 16" x 8".

She is nearly 18 lbs (for years and years now), and it seems to me she is pretty long, but I've never measured her.
 

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I bought a decent size tub rather than a specific litter box. Maybe looking at those will help you find the size you need.
 
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FeebysOwner

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Oh wow! Never saw anything like it before! It says 36 x 19 x 19 - If the 19 is the circumference, then it is not that much bigger than what I have.

As I stated in an earlier post (Feeby Update - And a new issue/question), she has also begun to pee on her back paw - which she never did until recently. So, I am going to have to get something pretty big to see if the smallness of this litterbox in combination with her age/arthritis is causing this new issue.

Since she also steps in on the one corner of her current litterbox and just stands there and pees - I wonder what she would do with a round box - lol!!
 
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tabbytom

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FeebysOwner FeebysOwner , Feeby's litter box is way to small. Get her the biggest box you can find.

Currently my boy is using one that I bought from Ikea. It's a big box with low sides.
I have another two box just as big as this one but it's slightly higher (not from Ikea). Total, my boy has 4 litter boxes :p, which is switched around when I change his litter.

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Feeby should be able to walk right in with this box without climbing due to her arthritis. Also, fill up the litter with at least 3 in of litter so that her legs don't get soaked by the urine.

Only thing with the Ikea box is that it is not strong and if it's weighted down with litter, you can't pull the box by the sides. You have to push the whole box by the bottom else the sides will crack and break off
 
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maggie101

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I want to get a 29x18" storage bin at the container store. Would it be hard to take outside to clean it ?
 

maggie101

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Posting this question again without the story lead-in I posted before - might have been too much for anyone to really want to read it all.

Bottom line: Feeby has used this litterbox since we got her 12+ years ago. But, just wondering if it really might be a tad bit too small?? Sorry for the blurry pic. Thanks. View attachment 257349
I would get a bigger box especially for a senior cat. She needs to easily maneuver around
 

Purr-fect

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Yes its way too small.

For our cats I use a plastic container that was made for under the bed storage.

You should upsize the litter box....you don't want to cause ANY situation where it is unpleasant for a cat to use a litter box. And thank your cat for putting up with such a small box currently. Imagine if your only toilet was the size of a toilet in an airplane.

20180303_104807.jpg
 
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FeebysOwner

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Feeby should be able to walk right in with this box without climbing due to her arthritis. Also, fill up the litter with at least 3 in of litter so that her legs don't get soaked by the urine.
Thanks. I have to balance between her arthritis/age and the fact that she pees standing up. So, unfortunately sides have to be at least 8" high based on me watching her in the current box. And, she doesn't make it any easier due to the fact that she pees right inside the entry point but jumps out one of the sides.
 
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FeebysOwner

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You should upsize the litter box....you don't want to cause ANY situation where it is unpleasant for a cat to use a litter box. And thank your cat for putting up with such a small box currently. Imagine if your only toilet was the size of a toilet in an airplane.
Lol! Good point, though. I guess I am lucky because she is so tolerant and the fact she doesn't know that all "toilets" aren't airplane size!! Haha
 
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FeebysOwner

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PetFusion BetterBox Non-Stick Cat Litter Box
I got this when my cat had arthritis. It feels different so when I first got it she would put her paws on the edge. Felt too weird. Smooth bottom. She got used to it after testing it
I like the fact that is doesn't have a lot of grooves/etc. to collect litter clump debris like so many do, and it is 8" high. However, the opening is lower, and the way Feeby pees, I can see her peeing right over the top of the entry. She is a goofball cat to be sure!
 

maggie101

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Josie did not go over. Went on the corners. She squats. My cat Peaches stands so I had to buy a storage bin for her.
 

Notacrazycatlady

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My vet told me (when I was complaining about Angus throwing litter around everywhere) that the general rule was that a cat should at least be able to turn around in the box comfortably as a size guideline--so longer/wider than the cat by a couple of inches in every direction. She also recommended a plastic storage tote since he was/is a 'digger' and the more pleasant and fun the litter box is for him, the less likely he is to develop an aversion to it.
 
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