[monty_dweezil]

Over the past few months we’ve noticed there is wee pooling underneath the trays in the bathroom and ensuite. These are the Oz-pet custom trays, so not small or particularly low-sided. We wondered how this was occurring and assumed that one or both boys must just accidentally miss slightly and it’s run down the side.

Then last week we saw Dweezil weeing in the ensuite tray and he was sitting up quite high, the same as when he poos, and his wee was shooting straight out behind him (instead of down), at the tiles along the bottom of the wall! Then obviously ending up on the floor beneath the tray. Lol.

I’m pretty sure this is a fairly common thing in cats. He doesn’t do it every time he wees, but it happens once a week or so, and in both trays. It also doesn’t seem to coincide with them being dirty (the trays, not the cats, lol) or clean, or anything like that.

If anyone else has this problem, what have you done to help it? We want to continue to use the Oz-pet litter, and we definitely don’t want to go smaller in tray size. We don’t REALLY want a hooded tray, cause we’ve heard many cats don’t like using them cause they trap the smell in there. Also, I doubt you can get hooded Oz-Pet compatible trays. Should we erect some kind of shield? lol

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[CatsRU]

The only thing I can think of ATM is to put the Ozpet tray inside a storage tray - like those for underbed storage.

[furball]

Maybe some newspaper under the tray.

I have several girls who pee standing up. I couldn't stand the mess so hooded trays all around. However you must be careful which hooded trays you use and the "lip" of the hood needs to overlap the inside of the tray or drips will still end up outside. BTW I use OZ Pet too and I find the ordinary trays more convenient for cleaning.

[charleycat]

I'm not sure if I'm right, but I often take this as the sign of the beginnings of a UTI and take steps to sort both cats out before it develops. In the meantime, Lucy has one huge storage container with a hole cut in the side as a doorway for her to step through (no lid, just the base). The doorway is lined with cut off hose so it doesn't scratch her as she goes in or out. The oz-pet is more difficult .... but you can do the same thing with the large storage container and just put oz-pet in the bottom. It breaks down as usual but you have to take the whole thing outside to sieve it.

[Heather Sharada]

Storage container as Charleycat mentions.

[monty_dweezil]

Storage container, yes...that is a good idea for the main bathroom tray...but the ONLY issue is that in the ensuite, the only area the tray will fit is wedged between the toilet and the vanity unit. There is just nowhere else for it to go unless we have it right in the middle of the room (and the space there once you step inside is about as big as the tray. It's a tiny, miniscule ensuite).

So to fix the problem and not just end up with wee running down the bottom of the storage container instead of the litter tray, would be for the tray to be bigger and higher than the litter tray, BUT it won't fit. The tray is already tightly wedged. It's not even that huge an issue in the main bathroom because it's a larger room and we can remove the tray, wipe and mop the area underneath. But in the ensuite, because it's so small a space, we have to try and remove the tray without it dripping everywhere, and we can't slide it out cause then it gets wee literally all over the entire floor. Ugh.

I think we'll just try some sort of plastic tarp-type thing and put it under the ensuite tray and up that wall where the wee goes.

[charleycat]

Modify the tray somehow so that it has high sides???

[Furkidz]

I buy the big black storage tubs from Reject Shop = $10 each.
I still put the Oz Pet Seive in the bottom and use it the same way.

[Lisa J]

We have elevator bottoms here where they start off squatting & then rise up into the zoned out concentrated feline face. All of our trays are hooded triangular ones & we've found these work really well.

[oriental cats]

fortunately mine dont "miss" but my friends cat does she uses old bath towels and changes it every day putting the wee wee one into a bucket of napisan and then washes the whole lot

[Lotus]

The solution here is high sided plastic storage boxes from Bunnings and the $2 type shops. They come in various sizes and work well. They are available in the same sort of length and width as conventional trays, as well as in the large sizes, so should fit in your ensuite. The one I am thinking of is available in the $2 type shops for about $5 or $6, and I use them in my kitten pens to prevent litter going everywhere, as do a few breeders here. You don't need the really big ones.

Most conventional litter boxes are really too shallow and some cats don't like hooded trays. Dealing with wet tarps is also not pleasant so I would have a look at the various storage boxes (take a measuring tape with you!).

Given the toileting and marking issues you have had previously, I would suggest using the high sided storage box, rather than changing to a hooded tray which the boys may not like using or want to enter...the last thing you want is more weeing on beds and in sinks.

This post has been edited by Lotus: 15 October 2009 - 02:27 AM

[monty_dweezil]

That's a good idea, and seems to be the most practical one. As long as the storage box is not larger than the base of the Oz-pet tray we already have (or not more than 1mm bigger, lol) cause otherwise it's not gonna fit! The bathroom one will though. At least that'll be one (I realised a hooded tray won't fit in the ensuite either. Too big and it'd hit the toilet seat if it was tall enough) We don't want to do away with the ensuite tray all together (well, for us we really DO, but for the boys, we definitely don't).

I'll have a look this weekend. Thank you!