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Itsy bitsy kitty litter box in carrier?
I'm trying to acclimate my two cats to carriers in preparation for a
trip that will take 7-8 hours, sometime this autumn. The girls have separate carriers. The smaller kitty will be in the intermediate size Kennel Cab and the bigger one will be in a large carrier of the same brand. Since I will be traveling alone in a compact car with the kitties, I don't think it would be a good idea to let them out of the carriers at rest stops to use a litter box on the car floor. So I am trying to come up with ways to handle the elimination problem. One way could be to use small shoe-box size plastic containers as litter pans inside the carriers. These boxes are about 10" long and 6" wide, small enough that the cats would still have room to lie down in the carriers. But I'm wondering if they would actually use them. The cats might have to be contortionists to get themselves in position! If anyone has put a litter box in a carrier, please share your experiences. Another way would be to use disposable litter boxes inside the carriers. But the ones I've seen would take up about a third of the floor space in the carriers, not leaving a lot of room for the kitties to stretch out and be comfortable. Or I could line each carrier with incontinence pads or disposable diapers. I'd like to hear your thoughts on that, too. BTW the younger & smaller one, 9 year old Freckles, is acclimating quite well. I had her out in the car for a half hour this evening, and she just sat in her carrier without a peep. I wouldn't go so far as to say she enjoyed the ride, but she accepted it. Her adopted sister, 11 year old Muffin, will be a different story. I just got her last year and she is terrified of being put into the carrier, and of cars. Her carrier has been sitting out for a few months so she is used to seeing it and being near it, but she won't go in, even with a nice soft blankie in there. Thanks to this NG I have just found out about Feliway, so maybe that will help. Thanks for any and all thoughts on this subject! |
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"Sara" wrote in message ... I'm trying to acclimate my two cats to carriers in preparation for a trip that will take 7-8 hours, sometime this autumn. The girls have separate carriers. The smaller kitty will be in the intermediate size Kennel Cab and the bigger one will be in a large carrier of the same brand. Since I will be traveling alone in a compact car with the kitties, I don't think it would be a good idea to let them out of the carriers at rest stops to use a litter box on the car floor. So I am trying to come up with ways to handle the elimination problem. Thanks for any and all thoughts on this subject! I travel with a litter box on the floor behind the driver's seat. I have never had any trouble temporarily letting cats out of the carrier (with doors closed and locked!), but I have also found that the cats never use the litter box until I reach a motel for the night. I used to worry about it, but it doesn't seem to bother them at all -- and, as I said, they don't take advantage of the litter box when given an opportunity. The only time I have had a cat actually use the litter box in the car was with one cat that was quite elderly and needed the box more frequently. I really think this would be easier than trying to place litter in the carrier unless you think your cats will be so frightened that you can't get them back into the carriers. It might be a good idea to take the two of them on a couple of practice runs and stop someplace where you could remove from the carriers and see if you can get them back into the carriers while still in the car. Good luck! MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of Duffy's integration into our household): Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54 Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56 MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of Duffy's integration into our household): Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54 Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56 |
#3
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"Sara" wrote in message ... I'm trying to acclimate my two cats to carriers in preparation for a trip that will take 7-8 hours, sometime this autumn. The girls have separate carriers. The smaller kitty will be in the intermediate size Kennel Cab and the bigger one will be in a large carrier of the same brand. Since I will be traveling alone in a compact car with the kitties, I don't think it would be a good idea to let them out of the carriers at rest stops to use a litter box on the car floor. So I am trying to come up with ways to handle the elimination problem. Thanks for any and all thoughts on this subject! I travel with a litter box on the floor behind the driver's seat. I have never had any trouble temporarily letting cats out of the carrier (with doors closed and locked!), but I have also found that the cats never use the litter box until I reach a motel for the night. I used to worry about it, but it doesn't seem to bother them at all -- and, as I said, they don't take advantage of the litter box when given an opportunity. The only time I have had a cat actually use the litter box in the car was with one cat that was quite elderly and needed the box more frequently. I really think this would be easier than trying to place litter in the carrier unless you think your cats will be so frightened that you can't get them back into the carriers. It might be a good idea to take the two of them on a couple of practice runs and stop someplace where you could remove from the carriers and see if you can get them back into the carriers while still in the car. Good luck! MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of Duffy's integration into our household): Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54 Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56 MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of Duffy's integration into our household): Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54 Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56 |
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#6
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"Sandra Loosemore" wrote in message ... BTW, I wouldn't want to be shut up in a compact car for 7-8 hours with a "used" litter box anyway. Phew. :-P And if it was in the crate with the cat, how would you clean it without letting the cat out? Make sure the car's AC/air/fan was set in "fresh air intake' instead of "recirc"! ;-) Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon |
#7
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"Sandra Loosemore" wrote in message ... BTW, I wouldn't want to be shut up in a compact car for 7-8 hours with a "used" litter box anyway. Phew. :-P And if it was in the crate with the cat, how would you clean it without letting the cat out? Make sure the car's AC/air/fan was set in "fresh air intake' instead of "recirc"! ;-) Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon |
#8
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Thanks for any and all thoughts on this subject!
In my experience, they won't use the litter box while travelling anyway, so it's probably not worth the bother. We've frequently taken 7-8 hour car trips and the cats have never shown any interest in using the litter box. We have a station wagon so we have the litter box in the back, and on stops we used to give them the chance to use it, but they never did. Just make sure when you get where you're going, you set up a litter box right away because they are going to want to use it then. |
#9
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Thanks for any and all thoughts on this subject!
In my experience, they won't use the litter box while travelling anyway, so it's probably not worth the bother. We've frequently taken 7-8 hour car trips and the cats have never shown any interest in using the litter box. We have a station wagon so we have the litter box in the back, and on stops we used to give them the chance to use it, but they never did. Just make sure when you get where you're going, you set up a litter box right away because they are going to want to use it then. |
#10
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They do sell small "corner" boxes in the small pets section of the pet stores.
http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_8543.shtml You could try that..These would be better than a rectangle box. Angela (Aol.com doesn't hop!) A HREF="http://www.rabbitadoption.org" Rabbit & Small Animal Adoptions/A HREF Rabbits & small animals for adoption--worldwide links, including vet referrals & other rescues, care tips, mail order products, etc. |
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