Regarding Pumpkin & Litter (stuff I've learned with Max's help)

[Xandria]

I am humbled. No matter how much research I have performed (and I know some of you here can attest that I've researched considerably), knowing a thing, and putting it into practice can be different things.

Having said that, Max has been a very patient subject of my learning in progress state.

I'd like to share what I've learned in case this helps anyone else.

Pumpkin

Max required some pumpkin for his soft poops and I had purchased, ahead of his arrival, FirmUp Pumpkin. He quite disliked it, even when I added Fortiflora. I thought that the dehydrated nature would make this product more convenient to have on hand. But... nope, it offended the little naked Lord's palate.

I thereafter purchased pure pumpkin in a can. Well, that's a whole other story! Max found this type of pumpkin much more pleasing. However, I now had a massive can of raw pumpkin. I didn't wish it to go bad, so I plopped a series of approximate tablespoon blobs onto parchment paper and put them into the freezer.

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Once frozen, I peeled the convenient frozen pumpkin sized blobs from the paper...

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...and tossed them into a freezer bag for future use!

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YAY for learning and stuff!

Litter

After Max's recent protest to pellet litter, I scoured the Internets for even more information. I found the information on catinfo.org to be truly helpful. Thusly, in setting up Max's new water closet, I discovered the most amazing litter trapper!

Let me say this again... I found a Max approved litter trapper!!

Lord Maximillian von Strange, like many kitten nakeds I presume, has delicate little paws that do not wish to come in contact with rough or uncomfortable surfaces. Most litter trappers are very bumpy, constructed of hard plastic etc.; in other words, I knew right away Max would not be amused.

So here it is: Cats Rule Litter Mat. Granted, it does not trap ALL litter, but it traps the most I've experienced before. I am seriously impressed. And Max has no issues with it! Whew! *mops brow*

Oh, I also stole Hubby's desk area Alen air purifier and placed it near Max's litter box so it takes as much of the dust out of the vicinity.

And here are some photos of Max's WC:

(A friend noted that the curtain give a Broadway production feel -- LOL. But check out the litter mat!!!!)

(Almost 4" deep for Dr. Elsey's Ultra litter, a sturdy scoop that's actually a vegetable strainer/scoop, and a fabulous waste bucket!)​

 

[Calicocious]

Nice setup

 

[Cleopatra Beers]

We use small containers to hold the pumpkin for the rulers of the house.
4 containers will hold a small can of pumpkin, and it gets used up fast enough that we don't have spoilage problems. We feed pumpkin with canned food twice a day to all three cats. Marcus came to us on raw food, and he had great bowel habits. But I had a severe case of food poisoning 2 years ago, so we did change him off of it.

 

[Hairless Blessing]

You've got it going on, that will make one happy baby.

 

[Xandria]

@Cleopatra Beers -- yikes about the food poisoning. That is nasty. I could tell stories, but I won't.

How long does pumpkin last in the fridge?

 

[Xandria]

And thank you, @Hairless Blessing & @Calicocious !! Max is fun to spoil!

 

[zoinks]

@Xandria you are so damn organized!

Max is lucky to have such a resourceful mom. Thanks for sharing with us! Your posts are always useful

 

[Xandria]

Awww, thanks @zoinks. Truly. If astrology means anything, I'm a double Virgo born in the year of the monkey. I organize the #^&( out of everything. I compulsively seek to find the most efficient method to do anything. I swear it's a disease. But I'm glad if I can help. I guess it's no wonder I teach technology to adults for a living. ha.

 

[Cleopatra Beers]

@Cleopatra Beers -- yikes about the food poisoning. That is nasty. I could tell stories, but I won't.

How long does pumpkin last in the fridge?

The pumpkin usually lasts about a week. So we freeze the containers, and take them out of the freezer as needed. Each container lasts us between 5 and 7 days. I was hospitalized for 6 days with the food poisoning and came too close to dying for my comfort. When we researched raw feeding, we found that cats that are fed raw chicken can shed campylobacter (the bug that made me so sick) even if they are healthy. @susi794 also found out that they can get parasites, even if their food is frozen for an extended time before they eat it. Anyway, while Marcus was on raw (chicken and beef mixed), I had issues with having him kiss my face because of my concerns about getting sick again. So we ended up putting him on the same food that Cleo eats, with treats of raw chicken necks and raw beef occasionally.

 

[Xandria]

@Cleopatra Beers , so sorry to hear. Glad you are all well!!! And I totally understand. hugs. And thanks for the info on pumpkin!

 

[Hairless Blessing]

And thank you, @Hairless Blessing & @Calicocious !! Max is fun to spoil!

Izmae is too. Never get tired of loving and spoiling my baby.

 

[admin]

Awesome stuff - thanks for sharing! (y)

 

[TorchicPyro]

Oo so fancy! I like the litter setup

 

[Condo commando]

Very nice setup.

It's great to be able to exchange ideas.

 

[deanna]

i love the set up, i will definitely be getting one of those litter mats!

 

[Jebsmom]

What a great idea for the pumpkin. Yep definetly love when you share your research with us !

 

[gothicmist]

Come organize my house will ya!

 

[Calicocious]

@Xandria at this rate you'll be able to hire out your services to come to people's houses and set them up for the arrival of their Sphynx. Now there is a consult job I'd love to have! LOL

 

[Xandria]

@Xandria at this rate you'll be able to hire out your services to come to people's houses and set them up for the arrival of their Sphynx. Now there is a consult job I'd love to have! LOL

Omg, I'd love that. Sphynx nanny! Ha ha. Seriously, if I were younger and single, I'd be all over this idea.

As for organizing... Yes, I'm compulsive. It's good and bad. Mind, not every place in my current home is organized within an inch of its life due to some cramped areas and lack of time. But I continue tackling spots. But I stop at super organizing Max's toys other than he has certain toys he prefers in different parts of the house so I make sure they're in the appropriate region. Lol.

 

[Ickushouse]

Sounds like Max has first class "help." I can relate to the compulsive organizing thing. Nobody but Eudo would ever be allowed to leave things lying around willy-nilly, including a fun tunnel that is always banging around the floor of my small front room.

 

[MelissaAlice]

Loving your set up; I wish I could do something like that; Queen Elfie is afraid of closed in spaces. All of out litter boxes have to out in the open with at least 3 sides exposed.

 

[curlysue]

Love the litter set up and the freezing of the pumpkin is a great idea (now on my to do list once I get home). Question @Xandria next to the cat box you have a clear tub is that for use litter?? I use gallon ziplock bags to transport used litter to the trash can.

 

[Xandria]

@curlysue, thanks! Yes, the clear tub is for used litter. I really like the style because the entire lid can snap off (snaps on all sides), and is air tight, but there's also a top loading lid with a single snap at front. So I only pop the one snap, deposit Max's "gifts", shut it, and that's it. I empty it out about 2-3 times per week in the main garbage, then wash the container with a bleach solution, dry and put back.

It's perhaps not as simple as a litter locker or any solution where you use a bag every time to dump, but I really try to minimize my use of plastics and consumables.