We have three cats, and two large litter boxes (yes, I realize we should have additional boxes -- I'm about to give in and put out a third).
To put it mildly, I am obsessive about cleaning the litter. I clean it three times a day AT A MINIMUM (usually it's more like four to five). I have seemingly tried it all. Many different boxes, many different types of litters. I looked through this thread and have already tried a lot of the things recommended. I've tried the paper boxes, and I also tried that "Breeze" system that various stores sell (both the paper box experiment as well as the Breeze experiment were epic failures).
The crux of the problem is that we have one cat who uses the "back up and spray" technique when she pees. Due to this, we can't use a box that isn't covered, and as far as those paper boxes are concerned, even when we would put them inside a plastic box, it makes a huge smelly mess (pee getting sprayed in between the paper and plastic boxes, resulting in me having to clean up around it several times a week). She makes a big mess that gets trapped in the back and/or in the corners of the box, and it's really hard to get out.
The "best" (using that term loosely) system I've found so far is a combination of:
And as far as the litter getting tracked everywhere, don't even get me started...NOTHING has worked. I've tried every mat on the planet. They get it all over the room, all down the stairs; I find it in the craziest places. I spend as much time vacuuming each day as most people probably do in a month.
What have others in my situation done? If it weren't for the "back up and spray" cat, I would even consider going without liners but, due to her it just seems like it would be a rather disgusting option right now. I really just don't get it. I know other people with cats and their lives don't revolve around cleaning up after them. It's gotten to the point where it makes me afraid to leave the house, anxious when I'm doing things like taking a vacation because all I can think about is, "what does that room look like since it's not being cleaned five times a day, and what are they tracking all over the house while I'm away?"
What am I doing wrong and what can I do better???
To put it mildly, I am obsessive about cleaning the litter. I clean it three times a day AT A MINIMUM (usually it's more like four to five). I have seemingly tried it all. Many different boxes, many different types of litters. I looked through this thread and have already tried a lot of the things recommended. I've tried the paper boxes, and I also tried that "Breeze" system that various stores sell (both the paper box experiment as well as the Breeze experiment were epic failures).
The crux of the problem is that we have one cat who uses the "back up and spray" technique when she pees. Due to this, we can't use a box that isn't covered, and as far as those paper boxes are concerned, even when we would put them inside a plastic box, it makes a huge smelly mess (pee getting sprayed in between the paper and plastic boxes, resulting in me having to clean up around it several times a week). She makes a big mess that gets trapped in the back and/or in the corners of the box, and it's really hard to get out.
The "best" (using that term loosely) system I've found so far is a combination of:
- Catit Hooded Cat box
- 2 MIL (thick) litter liners from PetSmart
- Precious Cat Ultra Litter (the only cat litter I've found that clumps worth a damn and seals odor without any of that perfumey awfulness)
And as far as the litter getting tracked everywhere, don't even get me started...NOTHING has worked. I've tried every mat on the planet. They get it all over the room, all down the stairs; I find it in the craziest places. I spend as much time vacuuming each day as most people probably do in a month.
What have others in my situation done? If it weren't for the "back up and spray" cat, I would even consider going without liners but, due to her it just seems like it would be a rather disgusting option right now. I really just don't get it. I know other people with cats and their lives don't revolve around cleaning up after them. It's gotten to the point where it makes me afraid to leave the house, anxious when I'm doing things like taking a vacation because all I can think about is, "what does that room look like since it's not being cleaned five times a day, and what are they tracking all over the house while I'm away?"
What am I doing wrong and what can I do better???