Let's Talk About Covered Litter Boxes and Light-Colored Litter

[Rackonteur]

I am getting way too old to scrub black cat litter out of bathroom tile grout!

Do any of you use the “crystal” litters that are light colored?

I have been using Tidy Cats litter, because it isn’t dusty and it really helps with litter-box odor. But one of my kitties is bad about scattering litter when she exits the box, and when it gets mixed with water from the walk-in shower it turns black in the grout between the floor tiles. So the bathroom floor looks a lot dirtier than it really is. Do the crystal litters turn dark when they get wet? Would they look as dirty as the clay litter I’m using now? I like a clumping litter, but would consider using something like S’wheat(?) Scoop if it doesn’t turn dark when wet.

I have used covered litter boxes in the past and although both cats prefer an open one, they will use a covered one if that is all that is available to them. So I am thinking of going out and buying one. But I also like a huge open box, which is what I have now, and if I could find a light-colored litter that didn’t turn dark when tracked and dampened I would rather try it, and keep my open box, than go back to a covered box, since the kitties like the open box.

[french_fry]

I love my Modkat litter box. There’s virtually no tracking. There’s nowhere to hide a litter box in my (tiny) apartment so it has to be somewhat attractive, otherwise I’d get a Clevercat, which is the same idea for like $100 less. CAVEAT: my cat is pretty petite at just 8lbs. For larger or multiple cats I’d probably DIY a Clevercat top-entry box with a large Rubbermaid tub.

My cat has litter allergies so I have to use World’s Best (corn, I believe) or Blue Buffalo Walnut. The Blue Buffalo stains my cat’s feet a rust color so I’m guessing it wouldn’t work for you but the World’s Best doesn’t darken.

The crystal litter I tried was wonderful but made my cat have an immediate asthma attack so it got less than 12 hours of use.

[regalace]

We have seven indoor cats and the crystals are the only thing we use. I detest clumping litter because of the difficulty in prying the clumps off the sides of the box, and because they all seem to stink after only a couple of days, even with careful cleaning. I think our last batch of crystal litter was the Exquisicat or maybe Nature’s Miracle? It’s the finer stuff, not the large crystals. It doesn’t get dark like clay litter at all. We use only covered boxes (or high-sided storage tubs with doors cut out) because the big boys tend to stand up to pee and they were peeing right over the edge of even deep uncovered pans. They do still track litter out, and we use the litter-catching mats which seems to help. They’re the ones made of a rubbery material, with sort of loops of texture to catch the litter. You can get them at Wal-Mart for a few dollars.

Edited to add: the crystals don’t get dark, but if they are the brands with a blue tint rather than white, the blue color bleeds when the crystals get wet.

[PaintedMare]

My cat uses the Booda Dome covered litterbox (not the one with stairs inside, just the front-entry.) I was scared he wouldn’t use it if I took his open pan away, but he does in fact use it! (usually right after I clean it and put the top back on… sneaky Finnigan.)

I also caved and bought World’s Best Cat Litter about a month ago just from people recommending it. It does tend to track as it’s very fine, but it doesn’t feel like litter under your feet, feels softer, and I keep the box out of the way so I’m not often walking near it. I like that it doesn’t have that litter smell. I have a small apartment, and the smell of cat litter travels easily. :o Also it may just be me, but I think it lasts longer? I sprinkle a layer in every time I clean the box, and I bought it about a month ago, and I estimate I have about a month left.

I’ve tried just about every type of cat litter except the $$$$ ones. Yesterday’s News, Tidy Cats, Scoop Away, Feline Pine, Swheat Scoop, etc. Either they had that “litter” smell and felt like grain under my feet, or didn’t clump at all and odors circulated quickly. World’s Best isn’t perfect but I think it’s the best I can find.

[french_fry]

@PaintedMare;8097323

I also caved and bought World’s Best Cat Litter about a month ago just from people recommending it. It does tend to track as it’s very fine, but it doesn’t feel like litter under your feet, feels softer, and I keep the box out of the way so I’m not often walking near it. I like that it doesn’t have that litter smell. I have a small apartment, and the smell of cat litter travels easily. :o Also it may just be me, but I think it lasts longer? I sprinkle a layer in every time I clean the box, and I bought it about a month ago, and I estimate I have about a month left.

Even though it’s made of corn rather than wheat, I think World’s Best litter has a strong odor of whole wheat bread. Blech.

That said, I prefer it to the artificial fragrances, my cat does well on it, and I find it clumps better than the other natural litters so it’s still a winner in my book!