New cat - a few questions please!

Petal_3

I don't know where else you can get it....I get mine from P @ H.

Fire_Fox

golden_eagle wrote: »

I have used a clumping litter and it was a nightmare! It stuck to the litter tray and when I finally managed to scrape it off it stuck stubbornly to the scooper. :eek: Has anyone else had the same experience? Since then I started using normal litter (just the value one from Tescos). It's ok and cheap. What are the benefits of more expensive ones? Is there a real difference making it worthwile spending more?

You need a jumbo tray filled deep with litter, then the clump will be right in the middle of unused litter and not stick. If the litter sticking to the tray your cat is peeing along the edge of the tray because he hasn't enough room to move round. I am looking to buy a Wilko's underbed storage box for £4.50 for my second tray as it's as big as the £15 cat litter trays.

Whether it's worth you spending more is up to you. I won't use non-clumping clay litter for several reasons:
1. Clay is mined so it's a finite resource
2. Wet clay sticks to the cats paws and may be toxic
3. Clay not biodegradable so I can't flush and my bin will stink
4. Non-clumping is a false economy as you have to throw the entire tray away
5. Non-clumping is less hygienic as you can't get the entire pee out in one go.

In addition, Noah has had pododermatitis which has left him with sensitive paws. The OkoPlus is very soft and wood is naturally anti-bacterial so the product doesn't aggravate his condition. As Spudette says, wood absorbs much better than clay:
http://www.friendshipestates.co.uk/vmchk/friendly-natural-cat-litter/view-all-products.html

Fire_Fox

golden_eagle wrote: »

Point taken and flap duly removed . Diet shouldn't be a problem. Feed them a variety of RC, JWB, Burns and other decent brands.

All of which contain grains/ carbohydrates which some cats find difficult to digest as it is a completely alien substance for an obligate carnivore. Noah was on Felix wet and JWB dry in his foster home, as soon as I put him on a high meat diet his poo stopped smelling which is brilliant given that I live in a flat!

IMHO the best dry foods are Orijen (75% meat, no grain), Applaws (80% meat, no grain), Pets at Home Purely More Meat (70% meat) and Fish4Cats (60% fish). These are all similarly priced to what you are paying at the moment.

golden_eagle

Fire_Fox wrote: »

All of which contain grains/ carbohydrates which some cats find difficult to digest as it is a completely alien substance for an obligate carnivore. Noah was on Felix wet and JWB dry in his foster home, as soon as I put him on a high meat diet his poo stopped smelling which is brilliant given that I live in a flat!

IMHO the best dry foods are Orijen (75% meat, no grain), Applaws (80% meat, no grain), Pets at Home Purely More Meat (70% meat) and Fish4Cats (60% fish). These are all similarly priced to what you are paying at the moment.

Am I the only one who thinks that one needs a PHD to get to the bottom of all these food/litter etc issues?:D Ok, will try other food to see if it makes any difference.

Lish_2

I dont mean to hi-jack your post but I've been busy reading all the helpful advice posted to your thread as I bought a 13 week old red pointed Siamese on Tuesday and he is not eating yet even though i've had him 2 nights? He is still on the food the breeder gave to me and i am using the same bowls as what he had at his mums but still to no avail. I even gave him plain chicken (tiny) pieces but he wasnt interested. Can anyone tell me if this is just nerves? He was sick (fluid) this morning so i have him booked in to the vets this evening for a checkup *so i am not asking for medical advice* but wondered if anyone else has shared the same experience when they brought their little one home?
Being Siamese he is going to be very vocal but he is wandering around my flat crying constantly- although to be fair, he was really good last night and just seems to follow me everywhere but when not having 121 attention he just cries.
He was playing well with us last night and slept through the night but he just seems a bit withdrawn this morning and just cries- i hope this is a mixture of him being a typical talkative Siamese and nerves because he is in his new place but i am kind-of seeking reassurance really!
Would be good to know what you cat enthusiasts think?.....
Many Thanks,
Lish.

golden_eagle

Lish, could you perhaps ask the breeder what sort of an eater he was? However, I suspect that not eating for 2 days is not right. My previous cat was a big eater than one day for no aparent reason he lost his appetite for almost a week (I've tried feeding him all kinds of different stuff to tempt him). He was also sick one morning (fluids not furball). The vet didn't seem concerned told me to monitor his behaviour and if he was quite happy not lethargic than I had prob nothing to worry about. Suffice to say he started eating again after about a week as if nothing happened:j. Hopefully your vet will be able to provide advice.

joshtbh

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You need a jumbo tray filled deep with litter, then the clump will be right in the middle of unused litter and not stick. If the litter sticking to the tray your cat is peeing along the edge of the tray because he hasn't enough room to move round. I am looking to buy a Wilko's underbed storage box for £4.50 for my second tray as it's as big as the £15 cat litter trays.

Whether it's worth you spending more is up to you. I won't use non-clumping clay litter for several reasons:
1. Clay is mined so it's a finite resource
2. Wet clay sticks to the cats paws and may be toxic
3. Clay not biodegradable so I can't flush and my bin will stink
4. Non-clumping is a false economy as you have to throw the entire tray away
5. Non-clumping is less hygienic as you can't get the entire pee out in one go.

In addition, Noah has had pododermatitis which has left him with sensitive paws. The OkoPlus is very soft and wood is naturally anti-bacterial so the product doesn't aggravate his condition. As Spudette says, wood absorbs much better than clay:
http://www.friendshipestates.co.uk/vmchk/friendly-natural-cat-litter/view-all-products.html

Thanks for all the top advice. I'm back to work now on Poppy's first day alone I'm thinking of going for some good branded clumping litter now, OkoPlus sounds good, how is it for reducing odours?

Fire_Fox

joshtbh wrote: »

Thanks for all the top advice. I'm back to work now on Poppy's first day alone I'm thinking of going for some good branded clumping litter now, OkoPlus sounds good, how is it for reducing odours?

I have zero odours with OkoPlus, or I would have switched by now! Number ones get soaked right up which kills any potential smells, and Noah is good at burying his number twos. I sit at the laptop about six feet away from the tray and it doesn't presently have the hood on. As I have said tho, food plays a role in smells as of course does how vigilant you are with scooping. I would try OkoPlus before World's Best simply because WB is crazy expensive.

joshtbh

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I have zero odours with OkoPlus, or I would have switched by now! Number ones get soaked right up which kills any potential smells, and Noah is good at burying his number twos. I sit at the laptop about six feet away from the tray and it doesn't presently have the hood on. As I have said tho, food plays a role in smells as of course does how vigilant you are with scooping. I would try OkoPlus before World's Best simply because WB is crazy expensive.

This one I should go for then?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/clumping-okoplus-wood-pellet-cat-litter-10ltr-by-cat-s-best-15263

Petal_3

Yes - that's the one.