Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Gwen on September 20, 2007, 09:50:45 AM

Title: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Gwen on September 20, 2007, 09:50:45 AM
I buy mine a new tray for christmas every year as I use liners I didn't see much point in buying a new tray too often.  How often should we change the actual tray itself guys? :)
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: clarenmax on September 20, 2007, 09:55:15 AM
Max has had his for years  :shify:  Its thoroughly cleaned once a week, and is lined first with newspaper, then a plastic liner bag, so don't see the need to change unless its broken?
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Dawn F on September 20, 2007, 09:57:39 AM
I've had my trays for a couple of years, I don't line them and give them a good scrub everytime and I change the chick crumb, I won't buy new ones unless they break I wouldn't have thought
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Ela on September 20, 2007, 10:06:16 AM
This topic was covered quite recently. Most of my trays I have had for many years and are as good as new, not even scratch marks on the bottom. A lot I think depends on the type of litter used. A few weeks ago I was looking after someone's cat and they brought its own litter tray, thinking that I would not have enough.  I personally would have been ashamed, as although very clean it has a layer of grey on the bottom, obviously some type of horrid litter has been used. I used one of my own but all week I soaked the tray in everything to try to remove the litter residue and scrubbed it until my hands were sore, all in vain. I am sure if the tray had been thoroughly cleaned every day it would not have been in that state.
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Mark on September 20, 2007, 14:46:54 PM
I buy mine a new tray for christmas every year

How generous are you?   :evillaugh:
Do you also buy people irons and socks for gifts?  :rofl:
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Gwen on September 20, 2007, 15:35:36 PM
I buy mine a new tray for christmas every year

How generous are you?   :evillaugh:
Do you also buy people irons and socks for gifts?  :rofl:

They should be so lucky,they are lucky if they get a card :evillaugh:
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: lilycat on September 20, 2007, 15:59:58 PM
Oh I feel like a bad meowmy now....just realised my lot have had the same litter trays for 9 YEARS!!!!!  I think some replacements will be in order before they get to the 10 year anniversary  :shy:. Goodness me  :shy:

Note to self....5 new litter trays...asap!
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Mark on September 20, 2007, 16:16:27 PM
If there's nothing wrong with them, why bother?- you are being eco- friendly  ;D
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: blackcat on September 20, 2007, 19:30:32 PM
If they are regularly cleaned and not split or broken I would consider it environmental vandalism to replace them...
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: berties mum on September 20, 2007, 19:32:43 PM
I read somewhere that if the cat scrapes the bottom of the tray and makes a scratch, it can collect bacteria and become nasty ... same logic as for plastic chopping boards I guess.  But I line mine with newspaper and we don't seem to have any scratches ...
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Susanne (urbantigers) on September 20, 2007, 19:38:19 PM
I do replace mine every year to 18 months (have gone a couple of years occasionally) as they do put scratches in it, and the plastic is quite porous so does eventually absorb odours.   The flap is usually broken after that amount of time too  ;D  I could probably get a tray made from stronger plastic, but I've not seen any big enough and am happy with the one I use.  But I do like to replace it from time to time.
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Mark on September 20, 2007, 21:18:45 PM
I read somewhere that if the cat scrapes the bottom of the tray and makes a scratch, it can collect bacteria and become nasty ... same logic as for plastic chopping boards I guess.  But I line mine with newspaper and we don't seem to have any scratches ...

Must be difficult to chop carrots like that  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: lilycat on September 20, 2007, 22:44:23 PM
As a concession to the eco-lobbyists  ;) I'll give 'em all a good 'once over' and just replace the iffy ones.... ;D
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Mark on September 20, 2007, 22:57:58 PM
Don't forget to put the others in the recycling bag  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: lilycat on September 20, 2007, 23:03:09 PM
'Course not...I'm a recycling fiend   :shify: even if I'm not sure it's recyclable - if it's plastic it goes in the blue bin!
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Mark on September 20, 2007, 23:09:54 PM
Same here - apparently, our coucil don't recycle tetrapaks - they should! - therefore they go in  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: lilycat on September 20, 2007, 23:17:02 PM
I love recycling...I'm even keeping my eyes open for a suitable box that will fit under my sink so I can put my broken down cardboard in it. At the moment I have a carrier bag hanging on one cupboard doorknob which is for cardboard and another one hanging on another doorknob for plastics/tin cans. The place looks like Derby City Council Recycling centre  :rofl: :rofl:
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Ela on September 21, 2007, 07:42:08 AM
Quote
Oh I feel like a bad meowmy now....just realised my lot have had the same litter trays for 9 YEARS!!!!!

Well I don't feel a bad mum and some of mine are well over 10 yrs old, but as I say they are still as good as new, so the money spent would be wasted, better to spend it on something necessary.
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: lilycat on September 21, 2007, 09:26:54 AM
Well, I've had a look at 'em and a couple could do with replacing - it's not from the aesthetic point of view so much as they're a bit scratched in the corners. Oh well, 2 isn't so bad  :)
Title: Re: How often should we change the litter tray itself?
Post by: Millys Mum on September 21, 2007, 16:37:12 PM
Mark by doing that the depot place will just dump the whole lot as its contaminated.

Tetra paks are able to be recycled at some tesco stores or you can send them to a recycling plant.
Quote
www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk