The real cost of having pets

gettingready

gettingready wrote: »

Well, opened the 40litre of Oko Plus yesterday so timing starts now - how long will 40litre of Oko Plus last with 4 cats that despite going outside only ever pee/poo into their litter trays?

date of opening: 20/03/12 LOL

Posted in red so I can find this post easy later on.. when the bag finishes LOL

29th today and did not top up the boxes even yet. Hmmmmm 40 litres will definitely last over a month, perhaps even 2 - so that is a definite plus.

Still not convinced about the clumping ability as there seem to be a lot of "sowdust" (sawdust???) in the trays between the granules...

And I think it smells.. But that may be because coming home from work to 2 trayes full of 4 cat's deposits.. have to breathe in before opening the door, get in, quickly get rid of said "deposits", open all windows and THEN breathe out...

Sigh.. joy of 4 cats...LOL

marvellousaunt

gettingready wrote: »

And I think it smells.. But that may be because coming home from work to 2 trayes full of 4 cat's deposits.. have to breathe in before opening the door, get in, quickly get rid of said "deposits", open all windows and THEN breathe out...

Out of interest, is it number 2 or number 1 that smells? Have you tried bicarbonate of soda?

Not sure there is a litter out there that would stop a poop from smelling, a poo is a poo after all, but if it's number 1, that's a different matter... just curious!

mizfiesta

Wow! Hats off for dealing with 4 cats 'twosies'! I adopted a rescue kitty (indoor boy) two weeks ago and I must admit, I think it's going to take me some time to get used to the litter tray clean up! How does everyone else feel? Do you eventually get used to it?

gettingready

I can smell cat pee. From the tray after scooping up so suposingly only clean litter is there - I can smell cat pee from there.

I do have to say my nose is super sensitive but.... did not smell it when the cats were using a different litter.

I find Oko similar to wood based normal litter as it turns to dust (part of it anyway) - it does not clump as well as my previous one, tracking with Oko is much worse than with the other one too.

I know lots of people swear by Oko Plus but I really feel my previos one worked much better for me (read: for the cats).

BUT my previous one was coming to £40 per month with my 4....

BUT - pls remember I have 4 cats so of course it makes a difference

Hmmmm

Energize

I'm surprised at some of the costs in this thread, it costs me less than £3k per year to keep my horse.

rita-rabbit

I am still economising however with petrol issues decided to get food & litter in one place PAH - clay clumping 5kg (£2), woodchip (massive bag about 15 litres) & multipack of butchers classic.

I will delay getting my zooplus order until the Burns dried is getting low (sprinkling it over wet food as cats were getting hungry between meals on just wet food & I work full time). I haven't costed it HOWEVER I have noticed that Animonda carni & Smilla tins meat is far denser than Butchers Classic so whilst the latter is cheaper to buy a tin doesn't last as long or fill them up as much.

rita-rabbit

I put essential oil in a burner & light a candle before starting on cleaning litter trays - nicer alternative to spraying `air freshener'. If cats are not diagnosed with urinary problems feeding more dry than wet means less stuff in litter to clean however.

gettingready

Classic is cheaper at Asda then it is at PAH - and in Asda I can order fish only - my lot only liked fish flavour.

rita-rabbit

Thanks for tip but PAH is closer to home than ASDA so I weighed up petrol costs & decided to stay local.

My two know I am v firm & what doesn't get eaten for breakfast becomes dinner - so they don't mess about! Also as getting wet food twice a day is still a novelty to them (it used to be a treat) they are v happy with ANY wet food I feed them.

gettingready

I see - I do nto drive so order from ASda with my normal shopping for delivery