Leaving on vacation, litter box question

[emmabelle]

We are leaving for eleven nights of cruising and Disney. How do you guys handle the litter box situation while you're away? We have two cats and I was thinking of leaving out three boxes of litter for them to use. I'm assuming that they would use the boxes equally. They usually share a box that I scoop regularly, but I don't won't to ask my neighbor to do that in addition to feeding them.

 

[storzo]

I buy the disposable litter boxes in addition to their usual. I have two cats so one ususal plus two disposable makes three total and that is more than enough for a seven day trip. I also buy a few extra disposables so that if my brother feels they look extra full, he can just put another out without having to scoop. I even tell him he doesn't have to throw the old one out if he doesn't want to.

 

[luvwinnie]

I would never leave them without someone scooping. Mine are very picky about their box. I'd come home to quite a mess.

 

[minnieandme]

I think it's best to have someone come in and scoop. Even with 3 boxes, if it's too dirty (and it will be over the course of 11 days) they will go anywhere.

 

[HeatherH]

I hire a PET SITTER who cleans out the boxes twice daily in addition to feeding and playing with my cats.

I'm sorry, but it is just WRONG to be gone for ELEVEN DAYS and not expect that the litter odor...no matter HOW many boxes you have...would be overwhelming. Especially with two cats. Cats are very fastidious creatures and you may find that they will eliminate ELSEWHERE if they don't have a clean box. I have two cats and TWO boxes now, and they need to be scooped at LEAST DAILY.

Find someone who will clean the litter boxes for your cats if you really think your neighbor won't.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I would never leave my cats alone for that long without their boxes being cleaned. I think anything over two nights would require someone coming in to scoop.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I would never leave my cats alone for that long without their boxes being cleaned. I think anything over two nights would require someone coming in to scoop.

I agree. Anytime we are gone for more than two nights we have someone come in and take care of Kitty.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

And also, when we're gone two nights, they have two boxes.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I agree. Anytime we are gone for more than two nights we have someone come in and take care of Kitty.

Me too. I want to know that they're being checked on. My pet sitter feeds, cleans the box and will brush and/or play a bit with them. If I'm gone more than a week, I have a friend that will stop by also and just make sure everyone is ok.

 

[emmabelle]

I buy the disposable litter boxes in addition to their usual. I have two cats so one ususal plus two disposable makes three total and that is more than enough for a seven day trip. I also buy a few extra disposables so that if my brother feels they look extra full, he can just put another out without having to scoop. I even tell him he doesn't have to throw the old one out if he doesn't want to.

Thanks for your response, that sounds like a good idea.





To the others who left what I would consider rather negative responses, we love our cats and wouldn't do anything to hurt them, they will be fed every day, people are leaving responses that makes it sound like we are leaving them alone for eleven days.

 

[eclectics]

I would never leave my cats alone for that long without their boxes being cleaned. I think anything over two nights would require someone coming in to scoop.

If you don't want to ask your neighbor to clean them, you can buy some disposable ones, fill them, and stack them up somewhere, maybe your garage. That way when one gets dirty your neighbor can simply throw the dirty one in a trash bag and replace it with a clean one.
Sorry, but leaving three 'unattended to' boxes for 11 days isn't going to cut it. You will come home to a huge, smelly mess.

 

[Robinrs]

My sister is in charge of pooper scooping while I'm away. We go away about 10 times a year and have FOUR persnikety cats so you know the deal!

Earlier this month my sister came with us on vacation so she had her 37yo daughter take care of my 4 and her one. Not just for scoop duty, just to visit them and love them up a bit.

My neice is now MADLY in love with my cats... this always happens... and begging me for one!

 

[Keggy]

My cats would be fine with their regular plus two disposable. I have two cats.

I know you love your cats! I love mine too!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

My cats are not too picky about their box, but 11 days is a long time to go without scooping.

I would either ask the neighbor to scoop (I bet she wouldn't mind, especially if she has cats of her own, and you bring her back something good ), or use the idea of the disposable boxes.

Good luck.

Denae

 

[ducklite]

If you don't want to ask the neighbor to do it, I"d pay a professional pet sitter to come in every three days and scoop. I think you're going to come home to a pretty stinky house otherwise. In this area the pet sitters charge $15-20 a visit, certainly a small price to pay.

Anne

 

[mommasita]

I would make sure all the room doors are closed, in case the cats decide the boxes are too full, and look for a nice cozy bed to do it on

I don't know about 11 days, but I left my 2 cats for 2 days, and had a nice surprise on my bed...

 

[storzo]

I go away every year for 7-8 days and leave the disposable boxes for my brother and I've never found a #1 or #2 where it shouldn't be and the only odor came by fault of my brother who didn't risnse out the used food cans.

 

[DMickey28]

I think leaving three boxes is good.

One word of advise ... DO NOT LEAVE CLUMPING LITTER IN THE BOX ....

We went away for a week, DH was supposed to come back in a week and I was staying away for two weeks. Well DH got caught up at work and ended up staying an extra five days. I left clumping litter in the litter box, only one because it was supposed to be only five nights from me leaving and DH getting back. Well, the clumping litter turned to a conceret block and we just moved to this new place and didn't give a key to anyone down here yet. Long story short, they made our couch their new bathroom and I don't think I am going to be able to save the couch ... OUCH ...

If your cats will tolerate a regular litter you might be better off ...

Have a great trip!!! I have NEVER had a problem leaving the cats before so I am convinced it was the clumping litter that did me (and my couch) in.

ETA: The only other time we knew we were going to be gone more than 5 nights we have a pet sitter come in every other day and check on them. They aren't picky about their litter and the regular litter works well for us. I have two cats ... We just got stuck in a pickle because we had just moved a week and half before this mini trip!

 

[Monte Cristo]

I am not a cat person and so I don't want to sound stupid, but don't they make those automatic scooping boxes? Then the person who comes to feed them would just have to pick up the tray and dispose of the mess instead of actually scooping. You could even set up a garbage can specifically for that outside.

 

[storzo]

I am not a cat person and so I don't want to sound stupid, but don't they make those automatic scooping boxes? Then the person who comes to feed them would just have to pick up the tray and dispose of the mess instead of actually scooping. You could even set up a garbage can specifically for that outside.

Some peope might not want to go for the expense.

I had one and that's a good idea, but they are in the $200 price range, when mine broke down, I wasn't about to spend that much on another, although they are very handy and I do feel I got my money's worth.