Comments on: Your Cat’s Litter Box

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Sun, 03 May 2009 05:02:33 +0000

my daughter has a cat and she puts his litter box in her small bedroom, not much ventilation, can she get sick from the box being in there, even though she cleans the clumps out daily? It seems like it always has a smell to it so I am concerned about her health.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:16:02 +0000

Pine Litter may smell good – But – It’s not safe for your cats. The Pine aroma comes from the Essential Oils in the pine. Essential oils are toxic for cats – especially those from soft woods (eg. Pine, Cedar, etc). If you research this on the internet, you will find it’s true. The manufacturers of Pine Litters may claim that their product is safe because they removed the essential oils via some process of other. But – As long as you can smell the aroma of the wood – the essential oils are in there.
The essential oils can cause Liver damage, Kidney Failure, Respiratory problems, and death. The damages often take time to develop (although sometimes it’s quick in an especially sensitive cat) – and many will never make the connection of using these litters – to their pets’ illnesses – as most people are not aware of the toxicity. These soft woods can also affect people in the same manner. Please research this on the internet. Look up “Pine + Toxic” (Or Cedar + toxic or Soft wood + toxic). You will find it’s true.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:41:20 +0000

I have two cats and have used the pine litter since they were both kittens. It is easy to clean up and hides the smell of urine well although does not cover the smell of bowel movements.

By: monica

monica — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:24:51 +0000

From the comments, I see the writer didn’t make her point well enough. It’s not the mess around the box, or the smelly box itself, that’s dangerous about the catbox. It’s the clay litter that forms the silica dust cloud. If you use a non-clay litter, you don’t have to worry about much, and you won’t be supporting destructive mining practices. With any litter, though, you still shouldn’t clean the catbox if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

By: pprose

pprose — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:38:41 +0000

Don’t take the risk! Have your husband clean the cat’s litter box. I did and didn’t have to clean out the litter box until my husband died 24 years later. Not only did caution pay off but my husband was so used to changing the litter box, I didn’t need to even think about changing the litter.

By: katrina

katrina — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:58:02 +0000

I have been around cats all my life. While I was pregnant for my first child
the doctor said that if I hadn’t lived on s farm or eaten rare meat that I had nothing to worry about. Most people are not harmed by changing the liter box. I did however have my husband do the litter box.

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:21:05 +0000

All of the above comments are very good and should help. I keep the cat litter box in the bathtub. It is so easy to clean up. I follow what Lou has said also. Anyone know if store brands of cat litter are safe. I keep remembering the Cat Food Scare.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:54:53 +0000

Toxoplasmosis is no need to get rid of your cat. Have your husband change the litter box or wear sterile gloves. Don’t be a creep and get rid of your cat like someone that I knew. Don’t be responsible for another cat being Euthanized. What betrayal! I changed the litter box when I was pregnant. My son just gradauted as Co-Valedictorin of his High School Class. He has no physical defects.
Mother of unharmed baby

By: JulesNRichmond

JulesNRichmond — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:26:27 +0000

I have two cats at my apartment and my B/F bought me a Litter Robot self cleaning litterbox. It rotates and turns every clump and lump down into the bottom box which has a liner (I buy them from the Dollar Tree, 10 for $1). This box needs to be cleaned out once a week and the round compartment where it initially goes and gets dumped from needs cleaning at least once a month. I also add baking soda periodically or else I get the Arm & Hammer Litter Box powder which smells good. The Litter Robot is expensive but well worth it. It’s like scooping every time it’s used. Just remember to clean out the bottom box where it goes into one to two times a week.

By: jerik kauffman

jerik kauffman — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:31:17 +0000

In place of liners, I use cheap 30 gallon trash bags,from Dollar Stores; put the whole litter box inside, and the litter on top of it. Much cheaper than liners. Works great. When cleaning, just fold over bag, and entire litter is inside. Then wash out box as well, buy a new litter box about once a year, even tho it still looks brand new.