Hooded litter trays - any good?

martin2345uk

Okay so getting fed up with the kitchen floor covered in cat litter every morning, Derek isn't the tidiest cat, so was wondering if anyone has any experience with those covered trays you can get?

Do cats get claustrophobic? Do they even recognise them as litter trays?!

Fluff15

Yes, I have them for my cats as we're in a flat and smell travels! I've only ever used covered trays though, and the person I got them off also used a covered tray so it's all they've known.

My two prefer to use them when the flaps are kept open, but that's okay as there's still less litter over the floor and if they've dropped a particularly smelly poop it can be shut until I clean the tray up later. One of them was peeing on the floor when the flap was closed, so that's why I leave the flap open now. I think they like having them covered as they use the side of the flap to clean their paws after using.

I think they're worth the investment. Maybe keep the flap open at first, and use the same litter so Derek recognises the smell of his toilet space. With time, you can try closing the flap. If he really doesn't get along with it, maybe get a mat you can put the tray on, and just pour the littler from the mat in the morning into the bin.

geri1965_2

I got one for mine and don't really rate it. She wouldn't use it with the door on, so it still smelled, and the filters on the side kept falling off. She still managed to get litter outside of it.

If it's mainly mess you are bothered about rather than smell, try a high sided storage box.

iammumtoone

I have always used covered ones however I always take the door off.

I had to do this with one of my large cats as otherwise she would not have been able to use it, she was too big, she would perch herself with her feet balanced on the tray lip, her body and head would be sticking out of the hole with the business end in the tray.

It does still smell this way but it helps with the mess. To be honest for me the smell wasn't a bad thing as I was at home all day so I knew when it needed emptying

GwylimT

We use them as our litter trays are outside and so clearly we don't want them to get full of rain, we have to take the flaps off otherwise it is awkward for our cat. She still gets litter outside the tray and it would still smell (why we keep it outside), we have to check ours every few hours to empty, a bit awkward to keep taking the lid on and off really.

KxMx

We use one, although Lily worked out it was a litter box she could not master the door, so it is used without.

I upgraded her last year to a jumbo sized one (she is a large cat) and she initially mistook it for a carrier, held out for two days, had to pee in it eventually lol and been fine ever since.

meritaten

Yes, Barnes has a covered one and an open one - and for some reason known only to himself prefers to do poos in the open one and pees in the covered one. the one advantage with the covered one is he can only scatter litter out of the doorway...............where with the open one its everywhere. But then, I am quite certain that kittens are taught by mama cat to scatter litter outside the tray to 'ward off evil spirits'. Barnes takes it to extremes sometimes, I often find litter along the landing too. and it hurts like hell to walk across cat litter in bare feet!

suzeesu2000

Goodness me, would you poop in full view :eek::rotfl:

My lovely little lady has a covered tray and it's fab, she like to cover her deposits well and would, otherwise, cover everything in a 100m radius with kitty litter:rotfl:

We have also taught her, because she is a clever girl, to wipe her feet on the inside of the cover on her way out. Very little litter leaves with her.

iammumtoone

you can buy mats to clean their feet on the way out

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter_litter_boxes/deo_accessoires/litter_box_mats/99932?gclid=CLCXuYewjr8CFW3HtAodGhkA4w

I can't tell you if they work as have never used one.

TBagpuss

They are pretty good, if Derel will use it. Do go for a big one, lots of trays are far too small.

Another option (particualrly if mess rather than smell is your main concern) is to go for a much deeper box - get a cheap plastic crate (this sort of thing http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/20206316/ ) you can then have a good, deep layer of litter, which helps reduce smell, and still have the rim high enough that there is unlikely to be much spillage.

martin2345uk

Well we bought a covered one today, so now it's just a case of waiting to see if he uses it! The door's off and he's already been in for a gander, fingers crossed I won't come down in the morning to some floorcrap.