Re: Pets chit chat thread
Humane societies and shelters generally a) don't care about smell nor do they care if the cat boycotts the litter tray because it's dirty; and b) cut corners as tightly as possible in order to save money... some cut corners to the point of being unethical, but most just tighten up as much as they can, compromising whatever standards can be safely compromised in order to stretch their meager funds as far as possible.
You can't really apply shelter standards to the real world. They often talk the big talk, but when you examine their actual practices and standards the differences are clear (to the point that 'Shelter Medicine' is a whole sub-category of the Veterinary industry). They do the best with what they've got (and I do have respect for what many of them manage, while I actively think others should be shut down and prosecuted), but they are almost NEVER good role models.
That one doesn't have a set recommendation. It really depends on your cat and how often you scoop and change. It is perfectly acceptable to put just a cup of litter and change it every single time the cat toilets (this is what most vet clinics do, because the litter tray is right there in the cage with them and it's not nice to be sitting in the same 'room' as your poop)... but I literally mean EVERY SINGLE TIME they toilet. Most cats prefer to have a good chance of burying their poop, so prefer a few inches deep. Just don't fall into the trap of thinking that deep = less often changes... because that's not nice for the cat and is not sanitary for you or Nova.
Just keep doing what you are doing. 2 inches deep, scoop daily (personally I would say whenever you walk past and notice there's something in there, scoop it... but not everyone is that dedicated so do it at least once daily) and a full change and clean weekly. If he has two trays, even better... most cats will chose to toilet in a clean tray over using one that's had something in it (even if it's been scooped) but will tolerate having only one.
Think about it this way. No one LIKES to toilet in public toilets... especially the council ones in parks and stuff (versus the ones in shopping malls that are checked and cleaned every hour). But if you need to pee, you're going to go into the dirty stinky toilet and pee. Sometimes you're going to hold it until you get home, because the toilet is just too dirty and stinky. Sometimes you're going to pee behind a bush because the only other option is the gross long drop out on the highway that makes you want to puke. Cats are not that different from humans in their toileting preferences. Cats are people too
Originally posted by Shahaku
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You can't really apply shelter standards to the real world. They often talk the big talk, but when you examine their actual practices and standards the differences are clear (to the point that 'Shelter Medicine' is a whole sub-category of the Veterinary industry). They do the best with what they've got (and I do have respect for what many of them manage, while I actively think others should be shut down and prosecuted), but they are almost NEVER good role models.
Originally posted by Shahaku
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Just keep doing what you are doing. 2 inches deep, scoop daily (personally I would say whenever you walk past and notice there's something in there, scoop it... but not everyone is that dedicated so do it at least once daily) and a full change and clean weekly. If he has two trays, even better... most cats will chose to toilet in a clean tray over using one that's had something in it (even if it's been scooped) but will tolerate having only one.
Think about it this way. No one LIKES to toilet in public toilets... especially the council ones in parks and stuff (versus the ones in shopping malls that are checked and cleaned every hour). But if you need to pee, you're going to go into the dirty stinky toilet and pee. Sometimes you're going to hold it until you get home, because the toilet is just too dirty and stinky. Sometimes you're going to pee behind a bush because the only other option is the gross long drop out on the highway that makes you want to puke. Cats are not that different from humans in their toileting preferences. Cats are people too
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