They are referring to the litter box you can’t smell anymore due to smell blindness. I love a nice cat, but it’s really frustrating how many people insist the litter box in their house doesn’t smell.
It’s entirely possible to have a cat without your house smelling but so many cat owners get lazy with the litter cleaning. We have one cat, use corn based litter (can’t stand the clay smell of the cheaper litters) and scoop it once a day at least. I’ve had guests multiple times confirm with me that I had a cat when they came over because they couldn’t smell anything and are used to that smell you’re describing. One friend demanded to see where the litter box was because they didn’t believe me lol. As long as you keep on the litter it only takes like thirty seconds to scoop it so there’s no hassle doing it once or twice a day. Also using the correct litter makes a big difference too.
Yup, if I’m home I clean the tray 2-4 times a day, it’s a 1min job and my place doesn’t smell like piss. If I hear him going I’ll clean up directly after.
We switched from corn (“world’s best” brand) because it started just turning to dust. There would be so much unfouled litter that was basically useless at the bottom of the pan that we were going thru a ridiculous amount of it for 3 cats.
We switched to the Arm & Hammer zero dust and holy shit it’s so much better. Like I’m kicking myself for not switching sooner.
I scoop every day, usually more than once. On the weekend I completely dump them and refill with new litter. Monthly I pull everything out and wash it down outside.
We bought two huge plastic totes and cut cat sized holes in one end. One jumbo litter tray goes inside each, and it goes on this neat pad I found online that traps the litter from their paws really well. I keep both in the closet in my office (not used for anything else) which has sliding barn doors so we just leave each end cracked open.
Best way is to ask guests imo, since we’re nose blind to it. That’s how I know my house doesn’t smell, guests who don’t own cats tell me so. We use world’s best though and have great results from it, we also only have the one cat so that might explain the lack of dust compared to what you were dealing with. There’s definitely some dust but not enough to cause an issue or get anywhere outside the box.
Yeah I think it’s a matter of three cats, one of whom is an excessive scratcher/cover-upper-er. The corn was getting pulverized into nothing. It just seemed like at some point the formula or productionprocess changed because at first we thought Worlds Best actually lived up to the name after using fresh step for years (worlds worst!)
I vaguely remember a while back talking to my partner about the same thing when changing the litter, I think you’re right in that they did change formulas at some point.
The source is NABU = “Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union” (the largest non-profit nature conservation organization in Germany)
Translated from german:
But you have to look at the overall picture: only in human settlement areas are cats a serious factor that can partially lead to a decline in bird populations. But in fact, bird populations are increasing there, while they are decreasing especially in agricultural landscapes, but also in forests. Blaming these declines on cats would be far too simplistic. The greatest threat to biodiversity is and remains the progressive degradation of habitats by humans.
Ah yes, the non US cat, way different, doesn’t kill animals in droves for fun, sorry, my bad. Justify it however you want doesn’t change the fact that loose domesticated cats are detrimental to the wildlife in the area.
It is not about how many animals a cat kills. The question is “how many kills are sustainable for the local animal population?”.
And that number will always be different depending on where you are.
In North Africa cats are literally native animals and in Europe they have been held as free-roaming pets for thousands of years.
They are referring to the litter box you can’t smell anymore due to smell blindness. I love a nice cat, but it’s really frustrating how many people insist the litter box in their house doesn’t smell.
It’s entirely possible to have a cat without your house smelling but so many cat owners get lazy with the litter cleaning. We have one cat, use corn based litter (can’t stand the clay smell of the cheaper litters) and scoop it once a day at least. I’ve had guests multiple times confirm with me that I had a cat when they came over because they couldn’t smell anything and are used to that smell you’re describing. One friend demanded to see where the litter box was because they didn’t believe me lol. As long as you keep on the litter it only takes like thirty seconds to scoop it so there’s no hassle doing it once or twice a day. Also using the correct litter makes a big difference too.
Yup, if I’m home I clean the tray 2-4 times a day, it’s a 1min job and my place doesn’t smell like piss. If I hear him going I’ll clean up directly after.
We switched from corn (“world’s best” brand) because it started just turning to dust. There would be so much unfouled litter that was basically useless at the bottom of the pan that we were going thru a ridiculous amount of it for 3 cats.
We switched to the Arm & Hammer zero dust and holy shit it’s so much better. Like I’m kicking myself for not switching sooner.
I scoop every day, usually more than once. On the weekend I completely dump them and refill with new litter. Monthly I pull everything out and wash it down outside.
We bought two huge plastic totes and cut cat sized holes in one end. One jumbo litter tray goes inside each, and it goes on this neat pad I found online that traps the litter from their paws really well. I keep both in the closet in my office (not used for anything else) which has sliding barn doors so we just leave each end cracked open.
I don’t think my house smells bad. I hope.
Best way is to ask guests imo, since we’re nose blind to it. That’s how I know my house doesn’t smell, guests who don’t own cats tell me so. We use world’s best though and have great results from it, we also only have the one cat so that might explain the lack of dust compared to what you were dealing with. There’s definitely some dust but not enough to cause an issue or get anywhere outside the box.
Yeah I think it’s a matter of three cats, one of whom is an excessive scratcher/cover-upper-er. The corn was getting pulverized into nothing. It just seemed like at some point the formula or productionprocess changed because at first we thought Worlds Best actually lived up to the name after using fresh step for years (worlds worst!)
I vaguely remember a while back talking to my partner about the same thing when changing the litter, I think you’re right in that they did change formulas at some point.
I don’t smell it but I know it stinks.
It’s the first thing I think about when I’m about to have company.
“So, ummm, do you have a cat?”
If the answer is no I replace the litter.
If the answer is yes I freshen it up.
It doesn’t make the whole house smell. Just the room it is in.
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The effect that has on the animal population around your house is pretty devastating
That depends on where you live. Every ecosystem is different.
Australia or USA? Yes thats bad.
Central Europe? Not so much.
Source?
The source is NABU = “Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union” (the largest non-profit nature conservation organization in Germany)
Translated from german:
https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/voegel/gefaehrdungen/katzen/15537.html
They recommend castration to limit the cross-breeding of house cats with wild cats, but see no general problem in free-roaming house cats.
Thanks! Appreciate that.
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https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380
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Ah yes, the non US cat, way different, doesn’t kill animals in droves for fun, sorry, my bad. Justify it however you want doesn’t change the fact that loose domesticated cats are detrimental to the wildlife in the area.
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It is not about how many animals a cat kills. The question is “how many kills are sustainable for the local animal population?”. And that number will always be different depending on where you are. In North Africa cats are literally native animals and in Europe they have been held as free-roaming pets for thousands of years.