Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Feline Costumier on October 19, 2008, 15:16:58 PM

Title: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Feline Costumier on October 19, 2008, 15:16:58 PM
I ordered one of those mats for the door of the litter tray as I thought it would be worth a go after Dave enthusiastically takes the litter with him everywhere, including my bed  :sick:

I have to say, what a joy! It has made a huge difference, I also changed the litter to Cat's Best OKO which I think has contributed, the grains aren't as small as with the clumping clay litter I was using before (can't remember the name right now). Takes a good day or two for any litter to stray further than the mat and as yet have found no more in my bed, thank heavens.

On the subject of litter, this is the first one I've tried that doesn't smell at all whatsoever, I have a covered tray and the clay litter I was using before began to smell very quicly even with prompt removal of any mess. The Cat's Best has been in there for nearly a week now and there isn't even a faint whiff of nastiness, all this and you can flush it too! I highly recommend.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Yvonne on October 19, 2008, 15:19:11 PM
Can Cat's Best be purchased from the local super market?
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Mark on October 19, 2008, 15:25:17 PM
I have only seen it in PAH and Zooplus. I have tried loads of litters and find it superior to all of them. It clumps really well. I do find it on the floor but easy to sweep up with a dustpan.  You are supposedly supposed to be able to flush it but I have blocked the toilet more than once  :evillaugh:

One of the beauties is it is so light. All the cats took to it straight away. The only time I notice a smell is if there is an unburied poo on top  :sick: - I haven't smelled wee once since I started using it a couple of months ago. I would never use anything else although I am tempted to try Oko Best Gold which is pellets and supposed to be better for not trailing.

A bag lasts for weeks as you only need to scoop and top up.

I also have a litter mat in the kitchen and it does help.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Feline Costumier on October 19, 2008, 15:37:20 PM
I get it from Zooplus, it was actually a thread Mark started that made me try it. It is quite cheap too. One small downside is if you don't get to the wee clumps quick enough and they dig through it, it does break up a bit but that is the only downside so far.

I do worry about blocking the toilet, particularly as my landlord is already not thrilled at the presence of cats but, well, it is so much easier than running down to the bin with a little bit of waste in the peeing rain. Yes, I am lazy.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 19, 2008, 17:15:23 PM
I have to say, what a joy! It has made a huge difference, I also changed the litter to Cat's Best OKO which I think has contributed, the grains aren't as small as with the clumping clay litter I was using before (can't remember the name right now). Takes a good day or two for any litter to stray further than the mat and as yet have found no more in my bed, thank heavens.

Funny, when I used to use Cats Best for all the trays it used to drive me absoutely crazy - the tracking, I found it worse than most! but, it IS a good litter otherwise. I gave up using it because of the tracking really, but tried some again recently just in one tray - and even just in one tray I was clearing up little bits of litter from everywhere LOL! However, because of that I am going to try Cats Best Gold like Mark mentioned, because it is pellets (which the other trays have in them now anyway) - but it also clumps - interested to see how a clumping wood pellet works! Hoping its coming soon, because I'm getting kinda low now..... :scared:

Oh by the way, you can also get Cats Best at Jollyes if you have one of those nearby.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Mark on October 19, 2008, 17:30:29 PM
All our trays are on hard floors and I keep a mini dustpan & brush (49p in Wilkos) on top of each one. It takes 5 seconds to sweep up the mess.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 19, 2008, 17:50:28 PM
All our trays are on hard floors and I keep a mini dustpan & brush (49p in Wilkos) on top of each one. It takes 5 seconds to sweep up the mess.

I've got hard floor (well, vinyl) in kitchen where trays are - but carpet in lounge, so cats walk straight from kitchen into lounge and bits go too! - even my specail litter trapper mat (boucle bathmat!) only helps a bit. Am going to change carpet in lounge to hard floor at some point though.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Millys Mum on October 19, 2008, 18:16:09 PM
Gillian its probably the extra hairy factor of the feet that makes it worse for you  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 19, 2008, 20:09:15 PM
Gillian its probably the extra hairy factor of the feet that makes it worse for you  :evillaugh:

Yep, reckon so!  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: bunglycat on October 20, 2008, 02:09:28 AM
Yes i know that feeling - Smartie digs so hard - i thought he had dandruff the other day - it was litter in his coat !!! he seems to put his head down and then scratch up litter like mad , its hooded and still gets it flying out the entrance bit ( there should be a flap on there , but they wouldn''t use it like that , so had to take the flap off !!
Its definately the hairy feet too , its suprising how much litter sticks to them !!
I have used AK cat litter for ages , but they have stopped doing it and i only have about 5 bags left - will have to source some at Doncaster cat show next saturday .
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Janeyk on October 20, 2008, 08:09:39 AM
I was only looking at those mats in PAH on Friday, nearly bought one but they just had a small oval one and a very large square, if the square one had been smaller I'd have bought it.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Mark on October 20, 2008, 08:18:32 AM
I bought the oval one. It's still hard to vacuum the bits out so I shake them out when I vac the kitchen floor.I have mastered the wee up the side of the tray thing now. I tip the tray so the clean litter goes to one end. Remove the clump with toilet paper then spray with bugs away, leave for a minute and dry with more paper.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Feline Costumier on October 20, 2008, 08:38:50 AM
Mine is one from Zooplus, quite a cute paw shaped one. Yes, can't always get all the litter out with the vacuum cleaner but I'd rather it stuck in there than in my bed!
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: heather-kitty on October 20, 2008, 09:02:04 AM
I've got the oval PAH litter mat and it does trap the litter quite well!
I'm tempted to try that cats best litter now. I currently use wood pellet litter and it's when it turns to dust, sticks to the cats feet, and gets taken round the house that it annoys me! I have to say, I don't get any bad wee smells with the wood pellet litter though!

Heather
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Mark on October 20, 2008, 09:05:46 AM
You can't remove wee with wood pellets though? - I love that I can scoop out clumps a couple of times a day leaving clean litter only  :) (sad I know  :evillaugh: )
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: heather-kitty on October 20, 2008, 09:11:56 AM
You can't remove wee with wood pellets though? - I love that I can scoop out clumps a couple of times a day leaving clean litter only  :) (sad I know  :evillaugh: )

You're right, it's virtually impoossible to try and scoop out the bits that have been weed on because the dust spreads! I've never actually tried a clumping litter but I think I will do now!

Heather
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Mark on October 20, 2008, 09:17:30 AM
It isn't perfect but the best I have tried. The litter sticks to the scoop and I have to rinse and spray it.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Yvonne on October 20, 2008, 09:29:01 AM
I think I will have to stick with Waitrose as there is no PAH around here
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Mark on October 20, 2008, 09:36:16 AM
You can order online now - but not sure if they have a "Highland and Islands" surcharge  :shify:
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 20, 2008, 15:10:28 PM
OK, I now have 60 litres of Cats Best GOLD - it better be good LOL! The pellets are larger than the Cats Best Oko granules, but smaller than normal wood pellet litter. Have filled one tray - am eagerly awaiting deposit  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Feline Costumier on October 20, 2008, 18:44:01 PM
I considered the Gold but thought it best to get the cheaper one first to try. I don't know where I'd be without a clumping litter, don't remember the days without it, I shudder to think the amount of perfectly good litter you have to waste, not to mention the expense and effort!

I await the verdict on Gold with baited breath.
Title: Re: The unexpected joy of a litter mat
Post by: Gillian Harvey on October 20, 2008, 23:50:40 PM
I considered the Gold but thought it best to get the cheaper one first to try.

I await the verdict on Gold with baited breath.

Well, the Gold is just as good at clumping as Oko - as to tracking - well the jury's still out on that one, needs a bit more road testing methinks! Have noticed a few bits on the carpet already though........ :doh: