New cat - a few questions please!

joshtbh

got it just, £7.50 from Pets at Home for 10l. like the woody smell of it. hope it does the business! As poppy's so big i've used over half of the bag for the first load, although as its been recommended, hopefully it'll clump so i can scoop out the bad bits (if I can find them!)

Fire_Fox

joshtbh wrote: »

got it just, £7.50 from Pets at Home for 10l. like the woody smell of it. hope it does the business! As poppy's so big i've used over half of the bag for the first load, although as its been recommended, hopefully it'll clump so i can scoop out the bad bits (if I can find them!)

I started with a free 5 litre bag, swiftly went out for a bigger bag once I'd filled the tray. When you go to scoop, tip the whole tray of litter towards one end and then scoop out any clumps/ poo. Then start scraping the litter back towards you with the scoop until it's mainly at the other end. Then you know you have got all the doings!

joshtbh

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I started with a free 5 litre bag, swiftly went out for a bigger bag once I'd filled the tray. When you go to scoop, tip the whole tray of litter towards one end and then scoop out any clumps/ poo. Then start scraping the litter back towards you with the scoop until it's mainly at the other end. Then you know you have got all the doings!

thanks for teh advice, we've got on quite well with the litter but do find it does smell though when she's done a 2 in this stuff! where did you get it free?

Fire_Fox

joshtbh wrote: »

thanks for teh advice, we've got on quite well with the litter but do find it does smell though when she's done a 2 in this stuff! where did you get it free?

I got some OkoPlus free with an online purchase of Orijen. If the doings smell look at your kitty's diet.

Lilith1980

Fire_Fox wrote: »

A water bowl is best placed well away from food bowls or litter trays;

Can I ask why? I'm not questioning it, I'm just interested to know and if I should move my water bowl because at the moment it's right next to my cat's food bowl.

Thanks

Waterfalls

Lilith1980 wrote: »

Can I ask why? I'm not questioning it, I'm just interested to know and if I should move my water bowl because at the moment it's right next to my cat's food bowl.

Thanks

this is a quote from vicky halls website-she is fantasic feline behavouist!

Q: Why does my cat drink water from my glass beside the bed but not from his bowl in the kitchen?
A: Most owners tend to place a bowl of water beside the food in the kitchen presuming that cats like to have a drink with their meal. This is a human preference rather than a feline one! If cats are hungry in the wild they will hunt for prey. If they are thirsty they will search for water. They will never find them in the same place. It is extremely important that cats drink water to promote a healthy urinary system. You can encourage your cat to drink by placing short plastic tumblers on tables around the house or providing an indoor water feature. Cats love to drink from dripping taps and sources of moving water.

Fire_Fox

Lilith1980 wrote: »

Can I ask why? I'm not questioning it, I'm just interested to know and if I should move my water bowl because at the moment it's right next to my cat's food bowl.

Thanks

As waterfalls said many cats prefer it: I wonder if it's instinct not to leave dead things (food) near where they drink from so it doesn't contaminate the stream (bowl).

joshtbh

Hi again all.

Time to ask you guys some more questions i'm afraid.

Poppy seemed to be settled in all fine, however she now has begun to smell of her mess She's treading in it, twice it's got under her claw and once all matted on her leg, and she doesn't seem to be cleaning it off herself (at least very quickly anyway), this is resulting in us having to give her distressing washes and not really being comfortable with her being in her favourite places (snuggling up to us on the settee).

It's actually started happening since I've started on the Okoplus litter, I'm not suggesting its this thats making her do it but not sure what to do, hoping you can help as you all have done so far which i'm very grateful for! thanks so much in advance.

Fire_Fox

Does she smell of number one, number two or both? Do you mean she has poo or dirty litter stuck to her? If it's poo are her poos very well formed and fairly dry? Did you switch over slowly to the new litter? Does she have a large enough tray to move about in without treading in what she has done, and enough litter to dig deep in? Are you able to secretly observe her toileting behaviour so you can see where she is going wrong?

joshtbh

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Does she smell of number one, number two or both? Do you mean she has poo or dirty litter stuck to her? If it's poo are her poos very well formed and fairly dry? Did you switch over slowly to the new litter? Does she have a large enough tray to move about in without treading in what she has done, and enough litter to dig deep in? Are you able to secretly observe her toileting behaviour so you can see where she is going wrong?

smells of number 2, its her poo thats stuck to her. Her poos have been fairly dry, but a recent development on that is that that today its been runny, very runny. Only thing that I think may have caused that is that i've fed her chicken in gravy whiskas the last few days. I'll be honest it was everywhere, all on her foot today, I think i've cleaned it ok though now.

I did switch to the new litter in one go, she has enough to move about iwthout treading in it, and its deep enough for her to dig in.

I'm switching her diet as from tonight. I don't believe feeding her 2 wet meals per day is doing her any good as she's not had as much of an appetite for Maine Coon 31 Royal Canin biscuits. Whiskas is rubbish anyway from what i've read since I bought it. I think i'm going to feed her on dry only with a wet food treat maybe once or twice a week, and good quality stuff.

I also think i'm going to change her litter back to some expensive white coloured ones (any ideas pls ppl?) but clumping if possible.