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Dear CK—Litter Box Etiquette Edition

Dear CK—Litter Box Etiquette Edition

I'm baaaaack! Sorry for the absence. First I had writer's block and then TW got sick. How. dare. she.

Someone out there must have mistaken me for Sparkle Cat. I received a letter axing for advice. I don't know that I could do as good a job as Sparkle did but I'll give it a shot. Being a cat who's never had litter box issues, I may need assistance with this. What would Sparkle say? The writer is obviously very distraught.

Dear CK,

I have a litter box problem with my kitty, who's stunning much like yourself. Since she lived here with us, she's always had a closed box. I've read that it's better for cats with asthma to have open boxes so I thought I'd try it. The only trouble is that my kitty likes to pee on the top of the box so it goes all over the litter mat and floor. I've tried three open boxes of various designs and heights with little success. The two-piece ones all have a small space between the top and bottom. Kitty found that space as soon as she stepped into the box and peed right through it. I've tried everything from piling lots of litter in the corner where she always pees to taping all around the box. The latest box is eight inches high, in which I put three inches of litter. Not only have I found pee on the top lip of the box [see photo] but she kicks litter all over her Pop's bathroom. I'm at my wit's end. Is my only solution to go back to a covered box for her?—TW, Cows Butt, WY

Dear CK—Litter Box Etiquette Edition

Hmmm, strange that this writer has the same initials as The Woman but the similarities end right there. I would suggest that she cleans the box regularly and maybe put more litter in it. I'll bet kitty doesn't have enough litter and uses the top of the box instead. I'd also suggest that this TW plays with her cat more so the cat doesn't feel the need to play in the litter. Otherwise, I dunno why she's protesting. Lady, I'm sure you have other, more pressing problems in your life. Get down on your knees and clean that mess up!

Am I missing something here? Do any of my readers have any advice for this poor distraught human and her obviously unloved and under-stimulated cat?

Would you like to comment?

  1. Well, actually if the reader is putting three inches of litter in, it may actually be too much! We don't have that much litter in our boxes... in fact one, with the silica crystals only has an inch of litter. But to get to the real problem - pee and litter getting out of the box. My friends at The Conscious Cat always recommend the NVR Miss Litter box, which is designed for kitties like the one with the issue. Here is the link for them: https://www.nvrmiss.com/ That should be high enough... the reader can also make one out of a storage container, if NVR Miss isn't high enough.

    I hope that's helpful!

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  2. Another TW - hmmm, sounds suspishus.

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  3. Hmmm..... those initials are suspicious for sure. We get litter all over the place. Our mom just gave up and gets the vacuum.

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  4. Oops! Litter on the floor - yep that's normal here, Smooch likes to rake the flip out of the box and flick it all offur the floor, some of the B Team are tray emptiers and some are furry neat and tidy! We have two scoops of litter per tray, about 1 - 2" deep, plus most of our 7 trays are made fresh effuryday due to Smooch's widdling issues (yep we need shares in a cat litter factory!) As fur this poor kitty seeking advice, we would suggest reverting back to a covered box, but due to the asthma would would cut the top out fur extra ventilation, making sure there are no sharp edges - use duct tape to wrap the edges. It's worth a try!

    Big hugs

    Basil & Co xox

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  5. Keisha, we've solved a few litter box issues by finding the largest box we could find, so there was plenty of 'clearance' between cat and any sides. We have had good luck with the plastic boxes used for mixing concrete in, at the hardware store! And, against all news to the contrary, I fill those suckers up with a LOT of litter, because they are so big. Maybe it's the size that this poor, misunderstood kitty is having an issue with?!?

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  6. Hahaha, the writer does sound like your human but I guess many people come with initial TW :-) I love your advise to get down on knees and clean the mess up LOL. Litter gets all over the place here, too, and I get down on my knees :-)

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  7. Hmmm, what a conundrum! We suggest getting a bigger box, or like our humans did, they cut an opening in a plastic storage box and put down a bigger litter-catching mat, and now, no more similar problems, even for some of us "high pee-ers" and "party-time litter throwers."

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  8. I vote for a big box with lots of litter. If you want to back to covered, you can use double-sided sticky tape to attach a doggy piddle pad to the back & top of the box to help eliminate pee from running down the walls. This worked for my kitty who liked to hike his butt up in the air and pee as high up as he could! You could also put piddle pads under the edge of the box in place of a traditional litter mat.

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  9. That is very strange CK, maybe further investigation will uncover who the letter came from.

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  10. Getting down on knees and clean the mess up, great advice, MOL ! We suggest a bigger box, and enough litter. Purrs

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  11. CK...what....noe.... itz all in de mindz eye art gal o ree peece ? :) ♥♥♥

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  12. Check that IP address, CK. We wanna know more about this TW.

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  13. I have lots of out of the box thinker so I put a puppy pad in the front to absorb anything that goes over.

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  14. This woman is odd...fi your sweet kitty pees on the top of the lid for the litter....remove it! Let your kitty stretch out and enjoy her morning litter watering. A few toys attached to the side of the litter box will find kitty occupied especially if nip is introduced. Use your imagination woman.

    Crotchety Kali

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  15. Hmm, this sure sounds fishy, CK. But, you know, this human's parents have a kitty who sounds just like this mysterious feline. They've resorted to letting him have a covered box like he prefers, and stuffing the rim with absorbent material as well as surrounding the box with it, to soak up his wayward yellow water. As long as the kitty's happy, the humans should just be grateful. Right?

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  16. Hmm, I wonder who this TW is. Eric would always squat but peed very close to the edge, then when he finished he was a champion litter flinger. I used the bottom of parrots cages as litter boxes. The high edges stopped the over the edge peeing, but didn't do much for the litter flinging.

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  17. CK, I'm with the others - I suggest a bigger litter box, too. My box is the kind that comes with a hood, but I don't use it 'cause I like to have plenty of room & air space to move around in my box. I have allergies, too, so don't recommend a cover for that reason 'cause it can hold in the litter dust & that can't be healthy fur us sensitive kitties. Maybe the other TW is an imposter?! (Just kidding) Tee hee hee! -Valentine (& Mom) of Noir Kitty Mews

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  18. Sounds like some good advice there, CK. Hope that other TW listens!

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  19. Wow, that poor cat! Good thing YOU don't have such problems, LOL!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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