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Litter Box Location

cherylfawnp

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Jun 25, 2010
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Hey everyone, my kitty will finally be here tomorrow!!!!!:BigSmile: But I need some advice on the litter box location. I really have two options for the litter box...

Option 1: Put the litter box in my downstairs bathroom. If I do this, I would be putting the litter box in the bathtub because the bathroom is small and the litter box takes up too much floor space (we don't use this bathtub unless we have guests and then the litter box would have to be moved while guests were here), and I think this location would help keep the dogs out of the litter box :Badly: My main concern with this, is that when we have guests, moving the litter box may confuse the cat...

Option 2: Walk-in-closet in upstairs bathroom. This is really just a spare closet that we use for Christmas decorations and other odds and ends (no clothes in here). If I pick this location, we would install a kitty door on the door to the closet, and then the cat would have its own private bathroom and the dogs could not get in!!! I also think this would really help contain odor. I have two big concerns with this location. Is it difficult to teach a kitten to use a kitty door? Is this something he would pick up right away? Also, the temperature in the closet could be a problem. In the summer it stays rather warm in there (shouldn't be a problem for him), but in the winter, it gets pretty cool in there in comparison to the house temp. There is a vent in there so it does get AC and heat, but it doesn't seem to help much. Now keep in mind I live in South Alabama so we don't get that much cold weather, but it does happen. Would the cold temp be harmful to him? Would he refuse to use the litter box if it felt too cool in the room?

Thanks for the advice! :Laugh:
 

Bella07

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Congratulations on your new Sphynx! I can only imagine how excited you must be.
Putting the litterbox in the closet sounds more like a long term solution. Since Sphynx cats are so intelligent (there was recently a thread proving them to be the smartest out of all cat breeds) I am sure that yours will pick up the kitty door rather quickly. I wouldn't worry too much if the temperature is cool in the closet some of the time. I can't speak for yours, but my cats don't "hang out" in the litter box for long periods of time. They just go in there to do their business and leave in a few minutes. So, I would go with option 2 if I were you. Good Luck!
 

Candys

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Congratulations on your new sweetheart. I like the closet idea the best. They can easily pick up on the cat door. Mine did. :Laugh:
 

Fester

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I would agree with the closet with only mild reservation--- I think litterboxes on top of anything carpeted is unwise -- either litter gets tracked -- a pain to clean up
or an accident occurs --even more of a pain to clean.

this is assuming that you aren't like me --I'm too forgetful to dare to place a catbox where I couldn't see it or smell it before it got too foul!
 

ckutkuhn7

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I would opt for the closet. When training to use the door/closet litterbox I'd close the closet for access to the door. Put your kitten through the hole and into the litterbox. Let the kitty find his own way out through the door. Repeat this 3 or 4 times and do it daily until you notice your kitty is going through the door on their own.
I would also make it a habit to add daily scooping to the daily house chore list. If its out of sight its very easy to forget to scoop it out. I'd at the very least scoop it daily and change when needed. Goodluck!!!
 

cherylfawnp

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Thanks for all the great advice! I decided to go with the closet location. That's the bathroom I use anyway, so I will just make it part of my routine to check the litter box. I also just found out I won't be getting my kitty tomorrow :Cry: He was neutered this week, and the anesthesia has made him sick. The breeder wants to make sure he is better before sending him home. I hope the little guy starts feeling better soon.

kitten3.jpg
 

ElGatoLoco

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Hmm, tough one. I think kitty would figure out the door thing pretty easily. So I'd have to go with the closet. As for the heat. It won't bother kitty one bit. In fact, he'll probably go in just to warm up. I'm in Texas and my kitty prefers going in the heat. He'll do anything to sit out on the screened in porch in 90+ heat. As for the cold, brief periods won't bother kitty. In the winter he buries himself in blankets and kitty beds in between looking out the window. I always know when he gets cold because he comes running to me purring and puts his little paws on my face and neck to share my body heat. He gets warmed up and takes off for round 2 fight with the bugs for house supremacy.
 

MissMySphynxBoys

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He is so handsome. What have you named him? Sorry to hear he didn't handle the anesthesia well. It must be disappointing not to have him join you when you expected, but he should be feeling better before long.

I like the closet idea too. It sounds like a good litter box option.
 

xxx_phoenix_xxx

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the closet idea sounds fab :ThumbsUp:
he is soooo cute i'm very jealouse lol i'm gettin g a sphynx at some point after x mas its so exiting to think that i will have one of my own one day soon.:BigSmile:
hope he is feeling better soon and comes home with you i bet you really cant wait
awww love him xxxx
 

cherylfawnp

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He is so handsome. What have you named him? Sorry to hear he didn't handle the anesthesia well. It must be disappointing not to have him join you when you expected, but he should be feeling better before long.

I am thinking about the name Dobby, but I haven't quite made up my mind. I also like the name Zero (like the dog from Nightmare Before Christmas).
 

marlene

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Sorry I missed this, been a bit under the weather lately. I would recommend the closet. Kitties like privacy when they do their business and having the box moved because guests are present would probably confuse and frustrate the little guy.
 
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