My previous kitty was so smart and fastidious....years ago we were doing a big home remodeling/addition. I moved her litter box from the basement up to the back porch, carried her to it and showed it to her, and never had a problem. When the time came months later to move it back down, I reversed that process. A couple hours later I was reading in my living room and she came to “get” me...and gestured with her head for me to follow her (yes, she knew how to do that!). So, I followed her. She led me to the porch where the litter pan HAD been, circled a couple of time, and mewed, as if to say “now, just where did you put that?” So I gladly led her downstairs, she jumped right in and potties, and never had a bit of trouble!! If you pay attention to them they almost talk!!
Yes Cats do talk and if you pay attention you will know what they need. I scoop the litter box every time I use the bathroom. And my cat comes to watch. My kitties box is basically alway clean and Arm&Hammer black and purple clump and seal litter is absolutely dustless!!!!!!And we always use the restroom together!
My cat gets in the way while I’m scooping (because the world is his cat toy) and then takes a big ol stinky dookie as soon as I’m done. I love him so much.
LoL my cat does the same...first she will lay to the side of the box while I’m scooping to make a game of it. Then just as soon as I’m done ...she jumps in and takes a dump....😂🤦🏼♀️
I'm baffled by that person who'd rather destroy their house with cat pee than put down a simple litter box. No one else would want to look out the window when all they can smell and stare at is the uncleaned cat pee stains. smh...
I was thinking the same thing. How could you enjoy that room with a beautiful view with that horrible smell in it not to mention that yellow eye sore all over the wall. I wouldn't even go in that room. That would destroy the beauty of that room anyway. No amount of pee or poo in the litter box smells as bad as it does when it's on the floors or the walls.
It's unfortunately way more common than you would think. I used to cat sit for people when they went on vacation, and have seen some awful litter box situations. The absolute worst one was when one of my clients went on vacation for a month, but only requested visits for their two cats once every THREE DAYS. I figured that maybe they had someone coming in between my visits, but if that's true, they definitely were NOT cleaning the litter boxes. You don't WANT to imagine what a litter box looks like after 3 days accumulating pee and poop.
I had a cat who TRAINED HERSELF to use the toilet. Too funny to finally figure out who was using the toilet and not flushing and no toilet paper! Occasionally heard "water running" but no one in the bathroom, until one day catching her in the act! She was such a smart cat!!! Little Miss Muffet!
My sister's cat did the same. No one told it to do so, he just wanted to imitate the humans in the house. But, yes, they allowed the cat to enter the WC while they were there doing their thing... In my house we let the cat out of the WC while we are using it, even thoug she stays outside the door waiting eagerly for my daughter to come out, very curious of what's happening in there 😂.
I had a cat that learned on their own also. Funny thing is I had another cat that learned to flush the toilet (because he constantly played with the handle and realized it made the water "do that thing"), but not use it to poo/pee. He just liked what the water did 😂
This is completely random. But after we adopted a pomeranian/poodle mix ? puppy . We started to potty train her on wee wee pads. After one week or so, we noticed that our cat had trained our puppy to use the litter box! LOL!
@@andrewfradale275 Thanks! My Sophie (who has since passed away) was soooo smart. As a puppy, when we were out, we didn't crate her. We just put a puppy gate up, keeping her in the kitchen with her food, water and wee wee pads (and the litter box). When we would leave the house in the morning she would be hopping in place on her hind legs behind the gate. She was too small to hop over it. When we got home, she was all over the house. The gate had not moved and we couldn't figure it out. It went on for the next 5 days or so. Finally, we acted like we were going to leave the house. She started hopping. And we closed the door behind us and left. But we quietly opened the door to peak in about 2 minutes later to see if she was still hopping. We caught her scaling the gate like Spiderman! That's how she was getting out! Lol! She never did it in front of us, only after we left. Ever since that day, we just put the gate away and let her have the run of the house. She was already litter trained. But she still enjoyed her walks and backyard potty trips when we got home. Unfortunately we could not let her use our doggie door, because of this one time I was cooking, she was by my side as usual and I heard this loud bang on my window. A hawk dive bombed the window (apparently not seeing the glass) trying to get my Sophie. The hawk didn't break the glass but ever since then, Sophie was never let out unescorted.
@@tigre9271 Great story! Animals are so amazing & bring us such joy ☺ This world would be a sad & lonely place without them! The love we give them is returned to us ten fold! Have you ever read the poem called "The Rainbow Bridge"? Gave me such peace every time one of our furry babies left us. I truly believe they will be waiting to greet us when it's our time to leave this world behind. Peace to you & yours!
We had to live in a hotel for a little bit, and had the litter box in the bathroom, and my cat Link would wait for me to go to the bathroom, and go with me. Stare me dead in the eyes and go. I know he would wait because he would look at me and the bathroom, repeatedly. Apparently we were bathroom buddies. He didn’t feel comfortable in the hotel and could tell I didn’t either. Still miss you Link.
Without having been a cat owner previously, my instinct was to put the litter inside one end of the bathtub (and use the shower in the OTHER bath myself). When I'm sitting there stinking up the room with my OWN waste, I lean over and scoop kitty's waste into a bag-lined-bucket with a lid, spray deodorizer before I leave the room, as I always have to eliminate MY odor.
Link sounds like he was a great boi. Im sure he misses you too. My Binx was a needy little lap boy who wanted nothing more then to be attached at the hip. I miss him. They dont really leave us the fuzzy rats, they're too cute and leave far too deep an impression when gone.
My cat does that too. He could be dead asleep in the middle of the night but by the time my naked bum hits the toilet seat, Mr. Mouse has appeared out of nowhere so we can 'go' together.
*Me looking at my cat that runs to the litterbox when they hear me scooping it and is doing their buisness literally next to the scoop and 50 cm from my face:* Yeah, cats definetely don't need any privacy.
My cat’s litter box is just an open pan that sits beside my toilet. I clean it out every time I use the bathroom. It’s a Hallmark moment when we use our toilets together. 😂
I told my doctor that my adopted kitten was surrendered after one night for “kicking litter out of the box” and she told me her kids’ adopted kitten would be declawed and toilet-trained. Ma’am, you don’t want a cat - you want a stuffed animal.
Yes, if the animal is going to be mutilated, best to get a bird or fish, no cats. At that point it is merely an object not a pet. Removing the nails is like up removing your fingers. They cannot hold on to anything. The pain does go away, but the emotional trauma and sadness remains, like human fingers, the pain goes away, but the the hands are rendered useless. Sorry.
@@meeryllianawandelan1036 wish I could say so. This conversation happened over the summer. :/ I try to stay out of other people’s pet parenting business, but I was so concerned that this poor little thing was not going to have the best life. You spend money and time like that, you’d think it would be to make life more enriching!
oh god, my cat is 7 month old and still loves to play with the litter do that i have to clean the floor in my office everyday because it is full of sand 😂😂 i love him he is soo funny
My cat does not need privacy. He meows and leads me to his litter box so I can "guard" him while he goes. He will go without me if I'm not home but if I'm home he wants me there to "protect" him. So I do my job and tell him what a great cat he is for using his box and then go back to what I'm doing. Side note he also insists on guarding me in the bathroom when I'm going to.
My cat has similar behavior when I go to bed. She insists on a few minutes of snuggling, a kiss on the nose, and then keeps watch while I fall asleep, regularly moving from my second pillow by my head (It's comfy to lay on and she can be touching me and purring at me) to the windowsill, and sometimes making rounds in the living room. When I wake up, she's usually in the window sill or in her cubby in my nightstand, but always hops over to me when she realizes I'm awake for a kiss on the nose and some petting before I get dressed for the day. She was a kitten we picked up that was born to one of the local feral cats about four years ago this October/November, just old enough for her mother to be trying to drive her off so she'd be self-sufficient. I was the first human to ever hold her or show her affection, and she purred for me like no tomorrow. She's been my best friend ever since, basically velcroed to me at all times while I'm home. So yeah, she keeps watch for the Outside Things so they don't get me, and even hisses at my mom if mom tries to come to my room to talk to me or bring something.
One of mine suddenly starting pooping outside the box. Since the vet declared her free of worms, I'd don gloves, call her over, and put the poo in her box. I'd cover it with litter. She'd watch. Of course, after a couple weeks, she had worms in her poo. I took her in for treatment. She spent the next 18 months calling me to the litter box every time she had to poop. She'd make a grand effort to cover the poo (somehow never managing to get a speck of litter on the pile). I'd tell her that she was a good and clever girl. She didn't do that to my sons. Only me. A friend, who has a cat rescue, told me that she did that because she knew that it was important to me, and wanted to show me that respected and loved me. Your cat is clearly doing you a solid.
GOD That is an eye opener! "They're doing us a favor." He's right. And not to mention, "It's not fair." Such compassion. Those two statements speak volumes to this man's compassion and ability to empathize with our fur fambly.
I had a cat for many years. She was an indoor/outdoor cat. When she got older, during the winter time, I discovered that she chose to use the closet in the spare bedroom for her toilet needs, instead of going out in the cold 🥶. So I got her a litter box, but she couldn’t figure out how to use it, since she had never used one before. I struggled with that for a while, then one day, the neighbor cat came into my house just as I was leaving. I didn’t have time to chase her out, so I just left her in. When I came back later, I found out that she had used the litter box. When my cat saw the “gift” in the litter box, she finally understood what the box was for, and she used it faithfully for the rest of her life. 😂
That's how I feel about dogs lol They put up with so much more than our beautiful cats (who are amazing in their own right! But far from earning the title "man's best friend" 😂)
"They may kick a little bit out on th floor..." My cat: empties the entire litter box on the floor before pottying in the empty box then getting mad because she can't get the litter back in to bury it.
@@aligrotts6400 um... no! The whole point of this video was to explain why not to have litter boxes with lids on! I’m fine with excessive litter outside the box, I bought a litter tray mat, just pick it up and dump it right back in the box!
You can have both. I have four box locations and 3 cats. I have the dump and sift boxes where you have a sifter you put in an empty box pour the used litter and it sifts all the clumps at once. They always stick a little so I take the sifter and dirty box and clean them. You have to be careful when you pour to keep them from breaking up. I keep them cleaned up and no cat smell or fragrance smell either. Just posted this by itself and copied it here but this setup works really well.
Im a 60 yr old from Canada, I've always had cats and I agree 100%, with everything you said in this video. And I always say check and clean the litter daily and it won't stink. People have always said they were amazed that my house never smelled bad and I had many cats. Love your channel and your advise!
My aunts cat is so damn intelligent,one time we changed his litter with a new kind and he couldn’t poop in it,so instead of pooping around the house he would meow to my grandma and have her follow him to the litter box to express his problem!My aunt went to buy his usual litter and poor thing held his poop till she changed the litter😂😂We all love him so much,such a smart butt!
Cat litter is the same as pet food... you have to introduce them slowly. Don't throw out the old litter but put a handfull of the new in the old, each day add a handfull. After a week or two, you will be able to make the switch. I know its stupid but when you switch from regular litter to pellets or some other type of litter, its a big change for them not only the smell but the texture too. Cats are very very intelligent😸
My cat looks at me with concerns whenever I scoop out her litter, like she's half insulted half puzzled at me stealing her poopies. As soon as I'm done she makes a point of peeing in it, just to reinstate what's hers. Love her so much
I have 16 cats and kittens (big overpopulation problem here in Israel) and thanks to your advice I have 14 litter boxes (I need to pick up a couple more) spread across 7 rooms. Some people think that's too many cats but they all get along great and I love them. My vet was actually amazed at how sweet they are.
Thank you for all of your hard work rescuing all of those kitties. I have 5 cat rescues and a foster cat, all from the street. I have many litter boxes as well. Those boxes are cleaned 3 to 4 times per day. You're right that if the boxes are cleaned routinely, there is no smell.
Jackson I feel so validated because my common sense and my understanding of my cat babies has dictated exactly what you share in this post. I've had cats all my life. No scent, no cover , no liners, no auto scoopers. I have 3 adult rescue cats , 4 boxes. Not one accident outside their boxes. It's alot of work keeping boxes clean for 3 cats but my precious kitties are worth it!! Thank you 😇😻😺
100% agree. I know people that don't have cats cause they don't want to deal with litter boxes in their homes. And there is nothing wrong with that as long as you don't get a cat. Your not a cat person if you can't deal with a litter box. Just like your not a dog person if you can deal with scooping up their crap in the back yard. If your not responsible enough to do all of that, THEN DON'T GET A PET. Simple as that.
@Flamingo 2 yeah like just know your cat and know your space: if there's a problem space your cat gravitates towards to pee, then put the litterbox there. i live in pretty close quarters s when my family had a cat growing up, and a single bathroom we also hang laundry in so there would be no space for the box in there. instead we had a big cardboard box from the grocery store that we put in the computer room and then put his litterbox in there to catch anything he may have knocked out; you could also put newspapers or pads under the litterbox if you are worried about it getting on the floor. many cats are already litterbox trained and will go wherever you put the box but if your having issues then you'll want to rethink the placement / make sure the box is correct size / have the correct amount of boxes to accommodate how many cats you own.
My cat just woke up from his nap and trotted over to me in the middle of this video, and I’m like hey my buddy, I do what Jackson has always advised since the start, and he headbutts me and is like “I know, I love you”
I can't understand why it should be a big deal to scoop the litterbox each day. It takes only seconds. And if you can't deal with cat waste, why have a cat in the first place???
I think some people have just never tried doing it every day. I grew up in a house where the litter box was not scooped daily and it was always a huge fight/ordeal over who had to dump the litter and replace it, blah blah blah. When I grew up and got cats of my own, I scooped their boxes every day morning and night and it is easy peasy. The house doesn't stink and kitties are happy that they have a clean litter box. I currently have a cat who doesn't always cover her poop and sometimes I'll just scoop right away so I don't have to smell it since she loves to do that in the box in my home office with me 2 feet away. Even scooping right away isn't that bad, it's 100X better than picking up fresh dog poop with only a bag between you and the poop. Pro tip: get a Litter Genie or similar litter disposal system and put it right next to the litter boxes. Then all you have to do is scoop, pull the handle to let the waste fall in, and you're done until the bag is full. When it gets full, you take it out. It's 100% worth the price which isn't even that much to begin with.
@@justanotherjessica Picking up dog poop is not a big deal either. It's fast and efficient. Stop comparing the two like one animal is more of a burden. Whatever animal you have, you have to love it and accept it's normal bodily functions. With cats, you can have more bathroom issues if something is bothering them where they will go outside of the box. Also litter creates a lot of mess around the house. In many ways cats are a lot more work than dogs. Either way, our animals give us unconditional love so a bit of clean up is fine. If you keep the litter pan clean, kitty should be happy. If puppy is getting lots of walks, they should be happy. I'd rather deal with my animals and their potty issues than a disgusting roommate, or a sloppy lazy husband anyday. 🤣😊
@@sophiepires792 you yourself just compared "the two animals" by saying "In many ways cats are a lot more work than dogs". And stop telling people to stop saying their opinions (speaking to you in your aggressive dictating language).
@@marina7935 Get a life. Seriously. No one was "agressive" or "dictating" towards you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with comparing caring for animals and the ensuing responsibility of pet parenthood. The point that I clearly made was not to compare animals in terms of "desirability" making one animal's care more "burdensome." Saying that picking up after a dog is 100X worse than having to repeatedly sift through and clean a little pan is not a truthful statement, and it attempts to make the argument that dog care is somehow worse. In many ways cats ARE more work than dogs, and that is fine. People need to be prepared for the responsibility of caring for an animal and cleaning its waste. It doesn't matter if you have a cat, a dog, a fish, a reptile, a hamster or a bird, you have to be prepared to look after all of their needs, including bodily functions. It is considerably easier to quickly pick up waste with a plastic bag then it is to maintain litter pans around the home. There is also more cost involved in maintaining litter boxes, and more possibility of behavioural issues related to litter boxes. You also need to arrange your home in a way that gives cats places to jump, hide, climb and sleep. This is a reality of having cats. Making it seem like cat care takes no work at all is dishonest, and means that people will not take proper care of a cat if they think that way. The argument that dogs have to go outside, therefore they are too much work is also harmful. Ultimately, if you get an animal, they are a member of your home and you need to be prepared to care for them. Nothing in my original comment was offensive, you're just an insecure person who is projecting negativity.
I live in Albania and was honored to have a street kitty come live with me at age approximately 3-1/2 years. She is now almost 5-1/2 years old. The very first day she was here, she hid immediately and I did not see her for approximately 3 days. She immediately began to use the litter box. (That let me know she had not escaped.) I am so grateful I am able to buy a biodegradable fiber-product kitty litter from Germany…unscented. She won’t let me hold her or pick her up. She does snuggle next to me at night and next to me when I’m reading or watching a movie. She loves being brushed. She also follows me from room to room as I go about my daily chores. I finally heard her meow, ever so softly about 6 months ago. She is the quietest kitty I’ve ever had. I absolutely adore her. I know she loves me, too.
I am a blind cat owner, and yes, I am writing this using a screen reader. Most of the newfangled litter boxes you described wuld be entirely inpractical both for my cat and for me. I have a good old fashioned litter box, with nice, normal sand, and yes, I do have a scoop, but I usually put a rubber glove over my hand and clean the box in that manner, because that way I can determine if I've missed some or not. It would be interesting, at least to me, to hear some other blind people's points of view on this matter. :) Warmest regards! P.s. Your videos are absolutely brilliant!
Thank you so much for posting. I'm totally blind myself and have wanted a cat since I was a little girl. I was trying to brainstorm ways of litterbox cleaning. I like the glove idea a lot. Do you use clumping litter, or regular clay?
@@sabrinazarogoza8686 It is a clumping one, it's much easier to collect with a glove. You can readily recognise what is soiled by your cat's business, and what is still clean sand. :)
Molly is really sweet and full of ideas and tricks. I really like her and Gallop and darn, I am old, I forget the new dogs name. It's named after a beer I have never seen in central NY
I am not blind, but have vision issues. I use a 44" tv as my work monitor. I actually use some toilet paper and put the clumps and poo in a poop bag and toss it in the garbage cans in the garage. I am going to be moving to a small place, so I am going to get one of those litter genies because I will be sharing my room with my two cats. Well, I do now, but their litter box will be in my room there. My mom needs a roommate and some help, so I will be in a small room with a loft bed and my desk because I work from home. Yup, 50 year old woman climbing up/sliding down a ladder. 🤣 My mama cat is the litter sister of my mom's cat and they are territorial. I took them with me to my mom's place over Christmas and her cat was on sentry duty all night long. I could hear her sometimes outside the door hissing. She was so mad at me for bring my cats lol. Fun times.
Those crystals should be outlawed, in my opinion. When I was a beginner pet owner I bought them and one of my cats got deathly ill from eating a crystal while cleaning his paws. It doesn't make sense for an animal that cleans itself with its mouth to force it to walk on toxic junk. I appreciate your constant advocating, Jackson! You're helping cat parents everywhere be better.
Oh I'm so glad you said this! I've been trying different litters and I was planning on that next if what I ordered isn't great. My kitten eats everything! I have to vacuum and check for lose strings on things religiously bc she scares me to death! 🙄
@@fixinfkinsandwiches6183 actually that's what I ordered and it came in two days ago and it is great, thank you! I like that it doesn't smell like a pile of chemicals too! 😁
I never get mad at my cats if they happen to poop outside the box. That’s a clear indicator to me that I need to clean their box ASAP, so it’s my fault entirely. I’m working on having multiple boxes on different floors of my house.
Its weird how people want animals without the "animal" in them. I've had cats since i was around 9 & i did train my 1st cat to go in the toilet ONLY b/c my mom said "if u can teach him to go in the toilet u can keep it, cause im not buying litter!" 😂That was ages ago & he was the only 1 I trained to do that. I wanted that kitten so bad! Ever since, I've taken care of all sorts of kittens, cats, mamas, ferals, etc. Out of all the things you said the only "mistake" I've been making is the scented litter. It never ocurred to me that it could bother them. I will have to reconsider now.
Elizabeth will get on the table if her litter box is dirty. She used to use my bed when I first got her. I have 2 boxes 📦now 1 in the bathroom and one hidden in a sliding door closet so I always have one that is clean. At night 🌉I inspect them too
My cat loves a clean litter box. She would per on the walls if her litter box wasn't fresh. I don't want her walking on old pee, to take a pee. (She jumps in bed with me at nite) so, she has several big, open litter boxes.
When you introduce them to their new home, take them straight to the litterbox. Cats seem to be hard-wired to "get" the litterbox as soon as they see it.
since I'm here early and the risk that Jackson is reading this, I just want to say that you have helped me a lot and my cats love you very much (me too obviously) / Love from Sweden🇸🇪
I'm with you 150 per cent! Cats do not ask to come and live in our houses, we bring them home. And then we expect them to alter their natural instincts to fit our convenience or whims. I have one cat, and she's happy where the litterbox is and never acts out. If she did, I would try to find out why. You really do have to respect pets, they are not just toys.
Frances Jackson Those TH-cam videos that show people tormenting their cats because they think it's funny and the others that call cats jerks because they knock things over--I think their cats are acting passive/agressive to get even. No pet is a toy. They're living beings and if you don't want to treat them that way, you shouldn't have pets.
I agree 100% and have happy healthy cats with no litter box issues. Your points are well-taken, Jackson... We all need to respect our pets, their needs, and care for them well.🐱
Can I ask you how you deal with smell? I'm asking because my sister has a cat (that also goes to litter box every single time) and her apartment smells and now when my sister is pregnant it's a big issue. So big that she and her husband are reconsidering giving the cat away (which upsets me. If I would have my own apartment I would take the cat).
@@julkap4190 I scoop out the litter waste twice a day (mornings & evenings) and have no isses with smells. And I change the litter entirely once a week, and wash the boxes at that time. They may need to increase their cleaning to accommodate their pets. And may wish to have their pet checked by the vet to ensure it is healthy. Illness can cause odors that are strong. That is Jackson's point on cleaning the waste often and observing the pet's elimination habits. When sick, they may go outside the box (can't resist the urge) and that can get into the carpets. Use a blacklight to try and detect this (see Jackson's other video covering this).
I have fostered over 40 cats. I was their last stop because they were "unadoptable" -- reported as having litter box problems. I found the pet store litter boxes way too small. The cats were already highly stressed. I use open Rubbermaid storage bins. I find ones with a smooth bottom, no grooves for wet litter to get stuck. Lots of room to move around. I put a large rubber mat with texture underneath for them to shake out liitter on paws. I was thinking a water heater leakage tray could work too. If they like to raise their bums while peeing then I make a small "wall" with flattened boxes covered with garbage bags. Sometimes I prop the lid up against the wall or washer whatever for more coverage. Easy/cheap to clean up/replace.Successfully adopted out almost all of them. Usually they just needed quiet and TLC!😘😍😍
I have a tall top entry box so I don't have litter tracking everywhere. It seems to work really well for mine. It's difficult to dump out though so I have to have my husband dump it out for me. I hate the scents- they are always too strong and over-powering. I have to use a dust-free litter. So far, the only one I found was arm and hammer. Occasionally, I find her leaving poop out of the box but that's because she zooms out full speed...
I’ve used those rubbermaid bins also! No cat boxes are big enough for my growing boy who now weighs 17 lbs! I’m going to be buying a couple bins soon to replace my “jumbo” litter box that he has outgrown
I also didn't buy a petstore box because they really are too small, they shouldn't have to go and sit still in a single uncomfortable position, they should have enough room to move
Some ppl take time and have patience, learn about the animals and continue being educated about them, have compassion and understanding. Like you!!! All others probably aren't the best ppl to be responsible for an animal's well-being. 😁🐈❤
I have two cats. Since the beginning I got two open litter boxes for them, so each one had its own, right? Well, they ended up using one box for pee and the other one for poo LOL.
Decades ago my mother accidentaly bought baby powder scented cat litter, our orange tomcat lost big patches of fur, the scent must have been rly toxic, the whole stuff was tossed as soon as we recognised. Todays cats get only the good cats best organic clumping litter, smells way better than any betonite litter
I just can't stand the scented litter either. It smells so bad !! I live with my mother and she loves those kind of scented litter, but I can't stand them. So I made a compromise with her: I scoop the litterbox only when she agrees to put normal litter in them. When she put scented litter, she has to scoop the litterbox herself. Well, after a few months, I won! No more scented litter! And my cats seems happy about it too. They used to do outside the box every day. Two of them always do in the boxes now, the third one continue to do outside the box sometimes but not as often as before, and only when something stresses her out.
When we brought a feral kitten into our home last year, one of the first things the vet told me was to be sure she had at a minimum two -even better 3 - litter boxes in various rooms of the house. It has been great! We hadn’t had an indoor cat in 19 years, and I love the advances/greater knowledge there is about cat behavior.
I scoop my cat's litter boxes at least twice a day. Can't image myself have to do my business in a toilet bowl full of s**t, so I definitely wouldn't do that to my two lovely kitten... They are so spoiled at times that they will meow me to clean the boxes so they can use it right afterwards... 😅😅😅
do you get up to scoop as well? just got a new cat and set up her base camp in my room. for that reason she’ll go at night and i usually get up to scoop but lately have been losing on sleep because of it. would it fine to just leave it until the morning?
I agree whole heartedly. I scooped my kitty box as soon as I knew there was waste in it. That way my small apartment smelled nice and the kitty was never forced to go where she shouldn't because her box was full. Cats are clean animals; they like a clan place to go.
@@ssssn587 yep! As long as it's not absolutely trashed you cat can use it but I would not recommend leaving for more than 24 hours because my experience they start pooping out of the litter box around then so yes, get your full night of rest! You need it
@@ssssn587 I had my kittens when they were 2 months old, I setup their safe room separate from my bedroom, my last scoop of the night is before I go shower then I will scope firs thing in the morning, I normally gets up around 7 or latest 8ish... They seems to have no problems... My kittens are now 9 months and 1 years old, no more safe room overnight anymore and they each have their own designated litter boxes...
@@intigniadickey2224 I learned from experience that don't scope right after cause the smell will be too much, I now let the soaked litter sit for a few minutes to let the odor subside a bit then scope into my litter genie....
I rescued my cat from the streets. She never lived in a home and the moment I brought her in my house and put a litter box she automatically started using it. I didn’t have to train her or anything. I don’t know how she knew but that’s the easiest potty training I’ve had with an animal.
Mine did exactly the same after living in the streets for 4 months approximately. He came home and immediately started using the box, thankfully as this is my first kitten 💕
When I was a kid, my dad kept asking me and all of my siblings who was shitting in the toilet and not flushing. Needless to say, no one confessed. This saga went on every day for weeks. As you can imagine, he was getting pretty frustrated. I was a kid so I really didn't care. Anyway, one day my father was walking past the bathroom and saw the cat _shitting on the toilet!_ He laughed and laughed and laughed! This whole time he thought one of his kids was doing it, but it ended up being the cat! NO ONE trained the cat to do this, the cat did it on his own. I'm not sure why, the litter box was just on the other side of the bathroom. Maybe the cat didn't like the litter? My parents did not get the expensive kind! We had a lot of cats growing up and this was the only one who ever did that. Who knows, but it's a funny story to think back to!
@@RosheenQuynh I'm not really sure to be honest. It was a really long time ago, so I don't remember much. Part of me wonders if there was something wrong that was causing it. Maybe there was a health issue that we weren't aware of, maybe we weren't changing the litter frequently enough, maybe the cat didn't like the type of litter? I really don't know!
The emotional empathy and care you display here is incredible. I think sometimes we forget that we choose to bring these living things into our home. They aren't furniture. They aren't a video game. They have their own health and wellness and we are their caretakers since we wanted them. We should want to care for them and make them happy, and create a balance in our home. Otherwise, did you buy it because it's cute and you view it like a vase?
I have a large dog that loves to eat cat poop, so I always have my (large, uncovered) litter boxes high enough that the dog can't reach them. One is on top of a wide shelving unit, another on a table. The cats don't mind, as long as the surfaces are stable. And, reading this, I've just realized that an additional benefit is that I don't have have to bend over! I'm 73.
Our (pretty anxious) calico was being ambushed by one of the other cats in the lidded box, which was making her so nervous to use the box and she was going outside of it. Having the box in our living room where I could see what was happening was so helpful! Once I noticed it, we took the lid off and added another box, on your recommendation. Voila! She hasn't gone outside of the box again.
I have the inverse problem, I need to have one litter box with the lid on because my youngest will try to play with our oldest when he is in the litter box... the other I keep just the tray without the hood...
@@sofiareis1723 haha my kitten did that with her brother. She would run and pounce before he even left the box! Rude. Now, they both will wait behind the corner when they notice the other going and then pounce when they come out.
Same. My cats hate each other and although they never attacked each other in the boxes, they both clearly hated the domes because they COULD be attacked. The domes are gone and it’s helped a lot. One makes a mess kicking out litter, but I have a broom...
I never appreciated the fact that my cat will use the litter box anywhere I put it. I just assumed I was doing HER the favor by giving here a box. Thanks for this, Jackson. There is always something profound to be learned from you.
I just listened to the video again after a year. All of this is valid and true. It is easy to tell that Jackson Galaxy truly cares about cats and people and I think that is the highest complement. Please keep your kitties inside, thats my pet peeve!
this narrative completely sells me on Jackson Galaxy. He 'gets' and espouses post-humanism and bioethics better than any analytic philosopher who makes a living and reputation out of talking about animal rights, with respect to cats especially. Bless him, in a word. Not just a smart man, a big man. Really big.
So true, and he takes the time to understand the animals. Too many people think lack of speach means no intelligence and treat them accordingly (this includes human babies and toddlers). Animals communicate very well if you just take the time to listen.
Totally agree! I don't even like cats (I'm allergic to them) but I could listen to Jackson advocate for cats all day. His approach is a lesson for all humans who look after animals
Hi Jackson!! I just wanted to tell you that YOU are the sole reason I’m a cat person now. Used to be scared of cats and stereotyped them as mean/vicious. Now, I cant wait to get one! Much light, much love!💕
WOW, that's an amazing transformation, Robin! Agreed, Jackson is truly amazing and we been following him since his Animal Plant days. You better post a video or two of your future furry ones. 😁👍
My cat was abused severely before being thrown on to the streets. She jumps up every time she hears me in distress ready to protect me. She licks my tears when i cry. She sleeps next to me and guards the bathroom door when im in there. She loves snuggles and constantly wants to be picked up and loves to nuzzle her head in my neck. Despite being treated so badly, she's so loving and kind. Im so happy you changed your opinion on cats! They're amazing.
You have valid points sure, but about automatic boxes, my mother is 80 and she struggles everyday bending over to scoop several boxes. I'm not always there to help. She's almost to the point where she can't bend down to scoop at all. So we got her a Litter Robot so that she wouldn't have to keep doing it all the time. It's been a life saver for her. She's happier and all the cats(all 4 of them) have cleaner litter to use all the time. As responsible pet owners, it's our duty to keep an eye on their feces. We all want healthy pets.
I work at an animal shelter and I get countless phone calls from older people that can no longer physically care for their cats and need to surrender. Purchasing your mom an automatic litter box in this situation was the best option for your mom and her cats.
I'm so glad you found that solution. I just got my first Litter Robot and I'm in love. I have chronic illnesses and I'm not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds? This has been a lifesaver for me and my cats. IDK why Jackson is so against them. They make it easier to care for your cats and you can still see if something is wrong. The litter clumps are at the bottom of the tray, not at the bottom of the fricken ocean! You can also just turn it off and look at what's in there if you're really concerned. I've had cats with urinary problems and it's really frustrating to go through. So with my current cats, they eat an all wet diet so I don't have to go through removing the crunchy food from them and having them complaining when there are no crunchies in the dish. They just think there's no crunchies in the house!!
@Cajunomics Right? It's the best!! I wonder if Jackson won't say anything positive about it because of the price. Because his reasoning just doesn't make sense for the Litter Robot. Maybe it does for another type but I just can't understand why he's opposed to something that is so helpful.
I'm not 80 but close. I got an ordinary cat sifter for litter for $1, a broom handle from an old broom, drilled a couple of holes thru both, screwed in two screws, then taped around it several times with duct tape. Voila. I never have to bend to sift the litter anymore. It takes only a few minutes to create. Easy
I totally agree! I have extra boxes, unscented litter & clean them 2x daily. I also clean floors with just water, don't use any chemicals in the home & wash laundry with unscented as well. Very important for our cats noses & paws!
Jackson nailed this. I've always did just as he directed here, and I never had any problems with my cats using the litter boxes. Plus...SCOOP every box at least once per day!
idk, I clean my cats' boxes at least 4 times a day and I have 6 boxes for 4 cats and I still have 1 cat who pees outside the box. Not all the time but occasionally
I only have one box because my cat is currently living in one room/bathroom with me. its near my toilet, I scoop it every time I go to the bathroom when I get done before I wash my hands. I'm already there. and I would rather it be clean for both of us!
My wife and I adopted our first cat last week, and I was just discussing the same with my wife when scooping up Murphy's poop and pee from the litter box that it is actually great that he is doing this for us and that this wonderful clay is clumping everything together and making life easy. I didn't know that people felt that even this was inconvenient. I wish dogs did the same!
Everyone among my siblings and nephew agree with you. Cats keep things clean, some brands of litter get around, but that's what litter mats are for. Cats just want us to keep the litter box clean. It is not that hard. Dogs can learn to use a litterbox, but some don't like it
Our cat taught our puppy how to go in the kitty litter box. They are 3 now and the dog will still go in the box sometimes. He is trained to go outside, but when home alone may go to basement litter box.
I had a cat who, from the time I adopted her, would go to the bathroom with me every time I entered that room. I had a litter box for her which was uncovered, and contained non-scented litter. She was great at using that box. However, over time, I noticed that I was not finding enough elimination in the litter box when I cleaned it each day. When I mentioned taking her to the vet, my son said, "No, Mom, she's fine. She uses the toilet in the bathroom next to your bedroom. I saw her go in there and noticed she was using the potty so I flush it before I leave for school and when I get home." I was stunned. I still kept the litter box, but she, all on her own, used the human toilet. No one taught her or encouraged her to go. Occasionally she would use the litter box, but not consistently. Strange but true.
Scented litter is revolting. And I'm with you on everything else, too! Another problem with covered litter boxes is that you need to be able to see when the box needs to be cleaned out. Cats hate dirty litter boxes!
We bought the arm and hammer double duty litter (pet store guy said it was the best) when we took in our first Foster and it damn near killed me and my mum the first night bc of the high smell (we have cat allergies and asthma and thought that's why we got so sick, we haven't had a cat in the house since 2017 when my childhood cat passed away- it was safe for her to be indoor/outdoor where we lived at the time so we had no experience with litter). After switching the litter and airing out the house the allergies are manageable, so long story short if those litters can be so bad for some humans, I can't imagine how bad it can be for our kitties.
Same! I hate scented TP, can't stand scented wipes, I hate hand sanitiser that's scented ... so I wouldn't never buy scented litter for my cats. Add in that our house is kinda small and the litter boxes are in the main bathroom (only other option was the laundry area which isn't heated, so that was instantly nixed. I hate going when it's cold so I'd never expect my cats to use a cold area) so I'd smell the litter fragrance all the time too. Yuck.
Omg this reminds me of when we first rescued our first cat. He was living in a parking lot and we got him in our car to take him home so we had nothing at home. I sat with him in the car while my husband got some supplies. Food, a litter box, litter, etc. He got this rather small box and the most awful litter ever. We both hated it, so within the next few days I got a bigger box and normal litter and helped show him what to do so he didn't have to keep soiling things like the futon and guitar case. We have multiple boxes now but yeah we were so unprepared at first. It was lavender something but I can assure you that it was the worst smelling thing I've ever bought.
Totally. I have a sensitive sniffer (I don't even wear perfume, it's too much for me.) So like the clay unscented baking soda clumping ones. We had to get the cedar wood chips when she had her sterilization surgery for no dust, she hated it, she didn't go for the first 2 days, then accepted it, but was glad when it was done and we switched back. Personally I liked the mild cedar smell, but it was difficult to work with and clean.
I was visiting a friend who had one of those self-cleaning litter boxes. It lasted about a week. The end was when her cat entered the covered box and as he was doing his natural business, the device activated. As the rake came to clean the litter, the cat felt it was being attacked which I totally understood. The cat went into attack mode and litter was flying everywhere. The cat was howling and hissing, batting at the rake with his paws and jumped straight up, dislodging the cover and allowing the cat to escape. The cat sat halfway across the room, staring at the box and growling at it. I am sorry, I found it hilarious and totally agreed with the cat. 🐈🤭
We had one years ago. Our Callie cat was doing her business and was taking a bit longer than normal, the box activated. She hopped out - turned around and smacked the box. It was as if she was telling the box it was being rude. Then she hopped back in and finished her business.
I have the litter robot. It’s been outstanding so far. Auto sensor doesn’t start anything until cat is out & it stops if there is any movement. Ez to clean , just like changing a garbage bag. It’s great but it was $550. Worth it.
That’s what I would be afraid of for my cats. They already have enough anxiety lately with some life changes. So it’s like no thank you, litter robot! 😁
My new kitten came into my home 5 days ago. I showed her her litter box. She started using it immediately. She is clean and neat and appreciates her little bathroom area. My baby girl is purrrrrrfect!
For the litter problem, you can buy a litter mat. And for the privacy thing, maybe not everyone finds it nice, but there are litter boxes with high walls. It's a little more private and the cats still can see everything they want Plus it also prevents the littler from coming out on all sides, exept that part were they go in and out. Both are very convenient. No litter on the floor anymore.
My former feral kitty has found away to still get it out of the high sides. Still prefers sand. We do scent with the arm and hammer baking soda scents. It allows us to control how strong the scent is.
Im so happy i watched this. Im guilty of quite a few of these things and i love my cats like children. They absolutely are family to me so thank u. I'll make changes. Keep doin what ur doin man.
heather case: To take Jackson's rant a step further in a *practical* way, here is a video at Becky Marshall's channel titled "You're Doing Your Cat Litter Wrong" with a REAL sustainable and MUCH cheaper way that is cat friendly, sustainable, and smell free. Check out the comments there.
Exactly how I see it, cats do us a favor using the litter box and not just anywhere. I adopted my cat when he was already 10 months old, he kept sneaking into my garden or backyard to sleep, so I looked to see if he had tutors, and realized he didn't have anyone, so I got closer to him and started letting him in. That's when I noticed he used to look for places to pee, or do it in the garden by the flowers, but when I bought his first litter box and was about to try and incentive him to use it, he amazed me by always going there and nowhere else. On top of that, I said "call me if you need anything and I'll come clean your box, ok? Thank you for being such a good boy". I don't know if he understood me, but almost 2 years later, he still always calls me whenever he uses the box, and I think this is the cutest think, and I happily go to his assistance, because I'm happy he trusts me with such important task for him, it's as if he knows I won't let him down making sure his box is always ready for use.
Is it just me or is there anyone else out there that cleans their litter boxes a minimum of twice a day? I have three cats and two litter boxes that work perfectly in my home and their is no extended smell, no mess and three very happy cats. If they are cleaned often, then clean up time only takes seconds. And I love the Litter Genie that you promote, Jackson. Thank you! I have one next to each litter box. They are so convenient!
Ha! I wish it were twice a day. Three required; usually four times a day. Some of our indoor cats will not use a litter box which has been used! I giggle when I hear "at least three litter boxes". Typically find 9-12 in my house. Seven was the least ever seen. (And these are large boxes. 18-20-pounds of litter in each one.)
I really like your compassion and concern for the cats and how you phrase it from their perspective, like how the cats choose to use the box as a favor to humans.
My cat is a bit of an idiot in the litter box. When she needs to poop, she digs a pit then stands in that pit and poops on the little mound of litter she made then tries to bury her poop with litter from the pit. She'll turn around and sniff it, get a disgusted expression because it's not sufficiently covered then start moving litter from a different part of the box over the poop in an annoyed rush. All because she doesn't poop in the pit she digs.
I'm laughing, because I have a cat with neurological damage. She takes a poo, and tries so hard to cover it, but she never does. She scratches the floor, the wall. The poo is still there. Sometimes, I will scoop up the poo while she's trying to cover it. She looks so surprised! She even re-enters the box to make sure that the poo is gone. I tell her that she's a good girl, "Look! You hid your poo so well that no one will find it!" When I change out litter, she tries to bury the bags. She's so cute. I am so blessed to have her. Your girl sounds like a character, too. I bet she keeps a smile on your face!
Can’t believe it took me so many years to think of wiping the bottom of the litter box with paper towel damp with olive oil! This makes nothing stick to the bottom and clean up is a snap!
I'm now using stainless steel litter boxes for environmental reasons (because they don't need to be replaced, saving me $$$ in the long run), and the first thing I noticed is that the steel box plus a good quality cat litter keeps the odor down by a lot.
One of my cats lovesss scratching the sides of the litter box (not actually burying anything just scratching the sides.) Do you think stainless steel would deter her from the litter because of the sound?? Cause right now we have plastic and her making scratches makes it hard to get the odor out even with deep cleaning so I've been thinking about stainless steel.
@@jessiea7977 My cats scratch at the metal sides. Still no odor and still easy to clean. (They do manage to bury their waste, though.) They seem not to mind the sound.
@@rainierday8155 It's something with odor control and clumping action. I use Sustainably Yours (which does track a bit), but other people swear by other litters. Check out some review videos on TH-cam if you're shopping around for something specific.
I have 3 cats and 3 litter boxes. I clean them once or twice per day. I only use unscented litter. My cats always use their box and my one cat will let me know that if I start slacking. He will literally lead me to the poop and nod in the direction.
Not one grain of salt needed! You tell it Cat Daddy! Thank you so much for saying it as it should be said. Thank you for looking out for the welfare and needs of the cats.
As a vet tech, THANK YOU!!! I have had these talks with so many people. They just don't get that we are making cats live in our environment, we need to adjust to them!
I'm late to this video but feel his advice is so so true. It's the experience you only get after trying all different kinds of human convenient alternatives and realizing by fighting AGAINST your pet's instincts is only setting them and yourself up for failure and will only hurt your precious relationship. Thank you for putting it in a video!
What bl**dy good sense this man is talking! Why have I only just subscribed today? I should have been supporting this channel for years! Thanks, Jackson.
This is my first time seeing Jackson but the title caught my attention, I absolutely agree with all of your points. Our cats give us so much love and companionship I think we can accommodate what is only natural for them. We found in our own house that our 14 year old cat needed a second litter box to accommodate her elimination needs and it has prevented accidents outside the boxes. We also have always cleaned the box(es) every time we see anything in it so that might be 5 or 6 times per day. The boxes stay clean for her and don't smell for us it's such an easy thing to do for our sweet kitty.
Jackson is so right with his advice to have open litter boxes! I have a 15 year old who had a kidney stone in his bladder. If I had not been able to see him not being able to urinate, he could have ended up with kidney damage or worse. Keep it open, and keep it in a socially important area where you can see them.❤️
Try to have open box when one of your cats is digging so furiously that huge chunk of litter ends up being all around on the floor. And I do mean huge chunk.
My favourite litter I've ever used has been "World's Best Cat Litter" multi cat, the red bag, nice light corn scent, my 20lbs Maine Coon was such an angel about putting up with me trying out different litters, may he rest in Peace, I had to make him a custom top entry litter box to keep my mom's dogs out of his dirty litter
I love that he points out "they are doing us a favor." My stepmom and dad were adopted by a feral kitten some years ago, and even though he was going outside they still decided to put a litterbox in their walk-out bedroom. Recently kitty has been making different choices: sometimes when he comes in for dinner he'll go in the litterbox right away and, for reasons I cannot fathom, parental units get all bent out of shape and call kitty names for stinking up the bedroom "on purpose" and I'm just sitting there like Dudes... you gave him a box inside and now you insult him when he uses it?? Smh
@@kittekat9676 i have my cats litter box in my room, it's my cat not my whole family's i won't subject them to the smell when they didn't sign up for the cat 🤷♀️
@@lajabrac that's different though you're not complaining about it like these people's parents are. I put a litter box in my room when moving to a new place because that's where the familiar scents are. Then once the cat has adapted I move the litter box outside of my room. Currently have one right outside my room in the dining room, one in the kitchen storage area, and one in the living room (two cats).
Same here. We hadn’t planned to for a cat, but this little man ended up in our lives and we’d never had cats before. Jackson Galaxy showed us the way and now we have TWO very happy little cats in our family. Couldn’t have done it without his help!
Proper litter tray care/etiquette is just SO important for cat owners to know about - it can be a rely source of anxiety for your cat and you might not even be aware! As always, thanks Jackson and keep up the amazing work.
I agree 100%. My cats have plain litter boxes with unscented, clumping, litter. I watch them eliminate once in a while to make sure all is well, and, I look at what I scoop, for the same reason. My Chartreux developed FUS very quickly and if it wasn't for this practice, he would have died. Scoop the poop people, and daily; your cats' lives depend on it!
My cats refuse to use a litter box without a lid, this year when she had a surgery, it took her awhile before she started to use it again after I had taken the lid off bc she couldn't get through the door with the cone on. I think it makes her feel secure to have the lid. Just my two cents. Thanks jackson galaxy I love your shows.
I also had a modest kitty. When I first adopted her, for about two months, she was urinating all over the house, even though I made sure I got the same litter she was used to and everything. She was also already comfortable with me, even following me into the shower when I needed to get clean. I got a lid for her litter box, and she didn't have another "accident".
Jackson keeps me humble when I'm really struggling with my cats, I've learned so much and I can't thank you enough for everything you do for our furbabies ❤️
Thanks, because of your explanations I paid attention to my cat's preferences. Low smooth litter box, fragrance free litter (both she and I have allergies to fragrances) and no lid/cover. She runs from it like a cheetah chasing invisible prey when she's finished and makes me laugh every day🐱
Thanks for the advice, first time cat owner and I want my cat to have the best experience ever, to have a house with a loving family and to have food available for him whenever he needs, and also to pee and poop as natural as possible!
It's crazy to me that I have to go out of my way to find unscented litter because apparently it's the least poplar choice and stores don't buy as much of it as all the crazy scented litters🤦♀️. Stop buying perfume litters for kitties dang it!!!
I'm with you here, Milly. Once the liquid is dried up in the litter the smell isn't even there anymore. I hate the industrial chemical smell of the litter more. But, I also can't find non-scented litter in town. :(
Thanks for caring this much Jackson! That rant gave me tears in the eyes. Happy to see there are people like you who have that kind of respect for the nature of the beastie ♥️
Jackson Galaxy, you may have an idea but I'm here to testify! Thank you for all the advice and for being such a great cat guardian advocate!! I had it in my head that I should hide the cats litter boxes and only do 1 or 2. I have 3 cats. You explained in such a way that I could really understand. They are choosing to live with us instead of I'm granting them access to live with me. I really got a lot out of your litter box episode. You are being heard!!! I've now got 3 open litter boxes with 3 litter box caties. Both the cats and the humans are happy. I also watched your episode on dry and wet cat food. I completely changed my outlook on dry vs wet. I also had no idea carrageenan and phosphates were a thing. Not to mention your episode on soft eyes and introducing yourself to a new cat. A long time ago someone told me cats are a throw away pet. I would never believe that because my cats bring me so much joy. If I could adopt all the cats in the pound I would. I'm just doing my best to take care of the cats I have. I love them to pieces and I'm so grateful for your advice. What you do matters. It matters to them soooo much. Great job on being a Steller cat advocate. You have done so much for them on this planet!!!!!
Reading this makes me incredibly happy. I can imagine that suddenly, for no apparent reason, all 3 of your cats realized their lives got better. They now have multiple places to use the bathroom and their food is making them feel wonderful. You changed their lives for the better and they love you for it!
Love, love, LOVE this! Everything Jackson says is spot on!! The statement "we are asking them to go in a box and they are doing us a favor" is revolutionary! Thank you for this video. Meeeow! ❤️
My cat is 2 month old now and since I adopted him he has never had a pee outside of his litterbox. He was soo adorable when he was 1 month old peeing in his litterbox. I was watching him hustling to just walk and go to pee in his litterbox by himself and it was so cute. I REALLY am proud of my baby.
I have been using wheat bran for years and it is perfect: it clumps, it is flushable and compostable and it is cheap (40# bag for 15$). It is soft and smells good, good emergency food too! It is technically cow feed and they carry it at ranch supplies stores. Will never go back to other litter!
My cat's totally mojito with having a litter box with a lid on it. I used to have an open one but my whole bathroom became a kitty litter beach. Girl goes to town in there. So I switched to one with a lid and she doesn't seem to mind. Then again, there are no kids or other animals in my home. Just us two. All the other stuff you mentioned though are just CRAZY. Bella is the most important one in my life and her happiness and comfort are paramount and guide everything I do. When she wakes me up at 5 am and wants breakfast, I give her breakfast. When she attacks my feet, I bring out the toys and play with her. She's my baby. Of course I'll clean up her business without complaining. Also you don't need crystals or perfume to counteract the smell. A good quality litter that your cat likes will do just fine. Now it feels like I'm the one ranting 😅 I do take that part with the lid on the litter box with a grain of salt, but I'll keep it in mind if I get another cat, which I do consider. Bella likes watching me pee but DEFINATELY not the other way around (not that I seek her out when she's.. You know...). Anyway, I appreciate you and your videos! Give your kitties some love from Bella & me ❤️
I have two cats and like yours, they kick a lot ! It was incredibly messy ( and in a way, wasteful) so I had to get a lid box but! I keep it open ! So the door and 3/4 of the ceiling is always open ! This way they barely dirty the ground as the litter hits the walls around! 😌😌
I agree on you with taking the litter box thing with a grain of salt. I think the main takeaway is if your cat is giving you HUGE SIGNALS that they're uncomfortable or unhappy with something, you need to accommodate for their needs. If your cat is super chill and happy with whatever the heck you do with the litter box, that's awesome! But if that changes in the future, a responsible pet owner should adapt to those changes if they're able to, even if it's a little inconvenient.
FINALLY! Common sense talk. I've thought of those things as I tried different litters or boxes. I'm thinking "this feels like a waste of time" So to have my thoughts validated by what you've said makes me feel better. I now just use a simple litter box with clumping litter. Less stressful
SadButTrue: To take Jackson's rant a step further in a *practical* way, here is a video at Becky Marshall's channel titled "You're Doing Your Cat Litter Wrong" with a REAL sustainable and MUCH cheaper way that is cat friendly, sustainable, and smell free. Check out the comments there.
Yes!!!!! It is absolutely crazy. I have two kittens that use two litter boxes on the first floor and they use one for pee and the second for poop. Now my older cat just uses her own on the second floor. No one but her uses it. Even in that litter box she pees in the front and poops in the back of the litter box. They are very specific as to where they do their business.
I use medium size totes with a hole cut in the side. Large box for more room. My cats love it. Cleaned daily and a small carpet in front to catch litter. Vacuumed daily new carpet square every 6 months.
thank you for making me aware that my cats are doing something for me as a gift. I watch a lot of animal shows especially the big primates and realize how much effort their keepers go to make their life better and I put very little time and to making my cat's life better. I'm really negative about myself when I realize that I don't even want to take a little laser light and play. My attitude has changed Jackson. I want to do better for my cat because they have made my life at age 70 something worth having and enjoying and they deserve better. Thank you.
I love your videos!!! When I rescued a 2 week old abandoned kitten I watched hours of your videos learning how to properly care for him. He's the best cat ever with all the mojo. We recently got another cat, followed your videos on introducing slowly through the door with food etc worked amazingly!!! Thank you for showing us how to make amazing lives for our cats to show off their cat daddy mojo!!! Much love my friend!!!
Wow, for some reason I'm just now seeing this Jackson Galaxy video! My cat of 17 years has always used her litter box! This particular litter box is spectacular, she's only 10lbs. and it's huge! (& purple) I clean her litter box every single day! It makes her happy! Thank you all!
Baking soda in the area seems to help a lot with the smell! We put up some old food cans filled with baking soda around the area where the litter sits and it's helped immensely.
One of our kitties is about 90% blind, (he had 2 different bouts with an eye infection) so he relys on his sense of smell greatly. Our litter is definitely unscented!!
Love this advice! I would add that the litter box needs to be cleaned out frequently. I check twice a day. When people say cats leave a smell in the house - well clean the damn box!!!
Bermuda Bourne: To take Jackson's rant a step further in a *practical* way, here is a video at Becky Marshall's channel titled "You're Doing Your Cat Litter Wrong" with a REAL sustainable and MUCH cheaper way that is cat friendly, sustainable, and smell free. Check out the comments there.
I worked for a ceramic research company. The lab adjoining mine was headed by a scientist who found uses for "fly ash" (burnt coal). They tested & claimed it was the PERFECT kitty litter. My cat was the first cat to use it. Very light and granular, Buck would get a paw full and throw it up to 4ft. For me & my cats Pine Pellets is the ideal litter. Tractor Supply sells huge bags for horse bedding @ $7. Same as Feline Pine.
I consider doing this because I live in a rural area and some of my neighbors actually burn coal in the winter but from what I read online it can have some potential caustic stuff in the ash I'm trying to find a solution for my backyard outdoor Street cat litter box maybe I'll try the pine pellets
My previous kitty was so smart and fastidious....years ago we were doing a big home remodeling/addition. I moved her litter box from the basement up to the back porch, carried her to it and showed it to her, and never had a problem. When the time came months later to move it back down, I reversed that process. A couple hours later I was reading in my living room and she came to “get” me...and gestured with her head for me to follow her (yes, she knew how to do that!). So, I followed her. She led me to the porch where the litter pan HAD been, circled a couple of time, and mewed, as if to say “now, just where did you put that?” So I gladly led her downstairs, she jumped right in and potties, and never had a bit of trouble!! If you pay attention to them they almost talk!!
Cats are so smart! I love mine! 🐱
Yes Cats do talk and if you pay attention you will know what they need. I scoop the litter box every time I use the bathroom. And my cat comes to watch. My kitties box is basically alway clean and Arm&Hammer black and purple clump and seal litter is absolutely dustless!!!!!!And we always use the restroom together!
@@Network126 The Egyptians thought they did talk and they horsewhipped cats.
Are you saying the Egyptians whipped cats?? Did you not know they worshiped bastet? Which was...oh yes a cat god!!
@@staceyrooke-thompson351 I think they meant worshiped but didn’t know how to spell it
Kyo is very polite about his litterbox. When he hears me go get a scooping bag, he runs for the litter box like "wait, wait, I got one more!"
Lucky. Snow poops as soon as I clear the litter.. it's as if she only wants to go on clean ones
My cat gets in the way while I’m scooping (because the world is his cat toy) and then takes a big ol stinky dookie as soon as I’m done. I love him so much.
LoL my cat does the same...first she will lay to the side of the box while I’m scooping to make a game of it. Then just as soon as I’m done ...she jumps in and takes a dump....😂🤦🏼♀️
@@laruku1006 same with mine if I accidentally miss a day she makes it clear that she suffered in silence all for me lol
@@diannedare8798 Oh same.. She loves to come watch me scoop.. probably to make sure i do a good job.
I'm baffled by that person who'd rather destroy their house with cat pee than put down a simple litter box. No one else would want to look out the window when all they can smell and stare at is the uncleaned cat pee stains. smh...
I was thinking the same thing. How could you enjoy that room with a beautiful view with that horrible smell in it not to mention that yellow eye sore all over the wall. I wouldn't even go in that room. That would destroy the beauty of that room anyway. No amount of pee or poo in the litter box smells as bad as it does when it's on the floors or the walls.
It's unfortunately way more common than you would think. I used to cat sit for people when they went on vacation, and have seen some awful litter box situations. The absolute worst one was when one of my clients went on vacation for a month, but only requested visits for their two cats once every THREE DAYS. I figured that maybe they had someone coming in between my visits, but if that's true, they definitely were NOT cleaning the litter boxes. You don't WANT to imagine what a litter box looks like after 3 days accumulating pee and poop.
Maybe cats aren’t for them...
You know Cats, and you love Cats. We love you xxx
I don't believe that story.
I had a cat who TRAINED HERSELF to use the toilet. Too funny to finally figure out who was using the toilet and not flushing and no toilet paper! Occasionally heard "water running" but no one in the bathroom, until one day catching her in the act! She was such a smart cat!!! Little Miss Muffet!
My sister's cat did the same. No one told it to do so, he just wanted to imitate the humans in the house. But, yes, they allowed the cat to enter the WC while they were there doing their thing...
In my house we let the cat out of the WC while we are using it, even thoug she stays outside the door waiting eagerly for my daughter to come out, very curious of what's happening in there 😂.
REALLY?! 😂🤣😂 I'd figure the turd would give it away...
I’ve caught one of my cats doing it too. She’s a trip lmao
I had a cat that learned on their own also. Funny thing is I had another cat that learned to flush the toilet (because he constantly played with the handle and realized it made the water "do that thing"), but not use it to poo/pee. He just liked what the water did 😂
They learn by watching you. My cat always accompanies me to the head. He sits there and sniffs and listens to me make ghastly sounds.
This is completely random. But after we adopted a pomeranian/poodle mix ? puppy . We started to potty train her on wee wee pads. After one week or so, we noticed that our cat had trained our puppy to use the litter box! LOL!
What a great story! Made me smile!
@@andrewfradale275 Thanks! My Sophie (who has since passed away) was soooo smart. As a puppy, when we were out, we didn't crate her. We just put a puppy gate up, keeping her in the kitchen with her food, water and wee wee pads (and the litter box). When we would leave the house in the morning she would be hopping in place on her hind legs behind the gate. She was too small to hop over it. When we got home, she was all over the house. The gate had not moved and we couldn't figure it out. It went on for the next 5 days or so. Finally, we acted like we were going to leave the house. She started hopping. And we closed the door behind us and left. But we quietly opened the door to peak in about 2 minutes later to see if she was still hopping. We caught her scaling the gate like Spiderman! That's how she was getting out! Lol! She never did it in front of us, only after we left. Ever since that day, we just put the gate away and let her have the run of the house. She was already litter trained. But she still enjoyed her walks and backyard potty trips when we got home. Unfortunately we could not let her use our doggie door, because of this one time I was cooking, she was by my side as usual and I heard this loud bang on my window. A hawk dive bombed the window (apparently not seeing the glass) trying to get my Sophie. The hawk didn't break the glass but ever since then, Sophie was never let out unescorted.
@@tigre9271 Great story! Animals are so amazing & bring us such joy ☺ This world would be a sad & lonely place without them! The love we give them is returned to us ten fold! Have you ever read the poem called "The Rainbow Bridge"? Gave me such peace every time one of our furry babies left us. I truly believe they will be waiting to greet us when it's our time to leave this world behind. Peace to you & yours!
@@andrewfradale275 Yes, I always say...We rescue them, then they rescue us.
haha, that's great!
We had to live in a hotel for a little bit, and had the litter box in the bathroom, and my cat Link would wait for me to go to the bathroom, and go with me. Stare me dead in the eyes and go. I know he would wait because he would look at me and the bathroom, repeatedly. Apparently we were bathroom buddies. He didn’t feel comfortable in the hotel and could tell I didn’t either. Still miss you Link.
Without having been a cat owner previously, my instinct was to put the litter inside one end of the bathtub (and use the shower in the OTHER bath myself). When I'm sitting there stinking up the room with my OWN waste, I lean over and scoop kitty's waste into a bag-lined-bucket with a lid, spray deodorizer before I leave the room, as I always have to eliminate MY odor.
Link sounds like he was a great boi. Im sure he misses you too. My Binx was a needy little lap boy who wanted nothing more then to be attached at the hip. I miss him. They dont really leave us the fuzzy rats, they're too cute and leave far too deep an impression when gone.
My cat does that too. He could be dead asleep in the middle of the night but by the time my naked bum hits the toilet seat, Mr. Mouse has appeared out of nowhere so we can 'go' together.
Awh this is precious. He needed somebody to make him feel safe in there.
💕😹🥰
*Me looking at my cat that runs to the litterbox when they hear me scooping it and is doing their buisness literally next to the scoop and 50 cm from my face:*
Yeah, cats definetely don't need any privacy.
I'm glad mine's not the only one that does that! It's like "Hey, cool! You're scooping? Here's some more while you're there..."
Mine too. I assume it's a territorial thing - makes me laugh
Omg it’s me hahah I also do this to make sure he is ok
So true
They like to go after scooping and after eating (obviously) it seems, so in those cases I keep the scoop bag out for a bit.
My cat’s litter box is just an open pan that sits beside my toilet. I clean it out every time I use the bathroom. It’s a Hallmark moment when we use our toilets together. 😂
My cat's favorite time to go is when I go 🥲
Same setup. She squints when she's pooping. Kinda unsettling. 😄 I'd be lost without her.
lol my cat goes when I go too
Good idea, actually. I may do that.
@@lilangelarishihow do you keep the bathroom from smelling?
I told my doctor that my adopted kitten was surrendered after one night for “kicking litter out of the box” and she told me her kids’ adopted kitten would be declawed and toilet-trained. Ma’am, you don’t want a cat - you want a stuffed animal.
Yes, if the animal is going to be mutilated, best to get a bird or fish, no cats. At that point it is merely an object not a pet. Removing the nails is like up removing your fingers. They cannot hold on to anything. The pain does go away, but the emotional trauma and sadness remains, like human fingers, the pain goes away, but the the hands are rendered useless. Sorry.
Oh dear god....
@ shadowedaethyr Can't you adopt your doctor's kitten before she does this barbarism to them?
@@meeryllianawandelan1036 wish I could say so. This conversation happened over the summer. :/ I try to stay out of other people’s pet parenting business, but I was so concerned that this poor little thing was not going to have the best life. You spend money and time like that, you’d think it would be to make life more enriching!
oh god, my cat is 7 month old and still loves to play with the litter do that i have to clean the floor in my office everyday because it is full of sand 😂😂 i love him he is soo funny
My cat does not need privacy. He meows and leads me to his litter box so I can "guard" him while he goes. He will go without me if I'm not home but if I'm home he wants me there to "protect" him. So I do my job and tell him what a great cat he is for using his box and then go back to what I'm doing. Side note he also insists on guarding me in the bathroom when I'm going to.
Mine too. Specially when he was younger, he'd wait for me to arrive home to pee.
My cat has similar behavior when I go to bed. She insists on a few minutes of snuggling, a kiss on the nose, and then keeps watch while I fall asleep, regularly moving from my second pillow by my head (It's comfy to lay on and she can be touching me and purring at me) to the windowsill, and sometimes making rounds in the living room. When I wake up, she's usually in the window sill or in her cubby in my nightstand, but always hops over to me when she realizes I'm awake for a kiss on the nose and some petting before I get dressed for the day.
She was a kitten we picked up that was born to one of the local feral cats about four years ago this October/November, just old enough for her mother to be trying to drive her off so she'd be self-sufficient. I was the first human to ever hold her or show her affection, and she purred for me like no tomorrow. She's been my best friend ever since, basically velcroed to me at all times while I'm home.
So yeah, she keeps watch for the Outside Things so they don't get me, and even hisses at my mom if mom tries to come to my room to talk to me or bring something.
A show of solidarity. Lol
One of mine suddenly starting pooping outside the box. Since the vet declared her free of worms, I'd don gloves, call her over, and put the poo in her box. I'd cover it with litter. She'd watch. Of course, after a couple weeks, she had worms in her poo. I took her in for treatment. She spent the next 18 months calling me to the litter box every time she had to poop. She'd make a grand effort to cover the poo (somehow never managing to get a speck of litter on the pile). I'd tell her that she was a good and clever girl. She didn't do that to my sons. Only me. A friend, who has a cat rescue, told me that she did that because she knew that it was important to me, and wanted to show me that respected and loved me. Your cat is clearly doing you a solid.
LOL. Love it.
GOD That is an eye opener! "They're doing us a favor."
He's right. And not to mention, "It's not fair."
Such compassion. Those two statements speak volumes to this man's compassion and ability to empathize with our fur fambly.
yeh. He's not only smart, he's really a decent person. There are few people like this. Great guy.
We had a dog and mom used to watch him use the cats litter box. That's how she found out Gibby had worms 🪱.
I had a cat for many years. She was an indoor/outdoor cat. When she got older, during the winter time, I discovered that she chose to use the closet in the spare bedroom for her toilet needs, instead of going out in the cold 🥶. So I got her a litter box, but she couldn’t figure out how to use it, since she had never used one before. I struggled with that for a while, then one day, the neighbor cat came into my house just as I was leaving. I didn’t have time to chase her out, so I just left her in. When I came back later, I found out that she had used the litter box. When my cat saw the “gift” in the litter box, she finally understood what the box was for, and she used it faithfully for the rest of her life. 😂
😻 thank you . A wonderful little story!
❤
BRB, going to thank my cats for every time they ever used the litterbox. Catz are angels and we don't deserve them! Meow
My cat is fantastic about the litter box.
😺😸😻😽😼
i praise my cats when they use the litter box xDD
"oh did you make a poopy? what a good boy! poopy in the litter poopy in the litter.. my baby goes poop & pee" LOL omg its so bad
That's how I feel about dogs lol They put up with so much more than our beautiful cats (who are amazing in their own right! But far from earning the title "man's best friend" 😂)
"They may kick a little bit out on th floor..."
My cat: empties the entire litter box on the floor before pottying in the empty box then getting mad because she can't get the litter back in to bury it.
^ our cat
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👌👌👌👌👌
HOWLING!!!
MY CAT!!👌👌👌🌷⚘💘🤣🤣🤣
Yep! That’s my Mr Tiggs to T 😂😂😂
Get a litter box with a top on it so it will just all fall back in.
@@aligrotts6400 um... no! The whole point of this video was to explain why not to have litter boxes with lids on! I’m fine with excessive litter outside the box, I bought a litter tray mat, just pick it up and dump it right back in the box!
What a relief to finally see someone who considers the needs of cats over our convenience.
You can have both. I have four box locations and 3 cats. I have the dump and sift boxes where you have a sifter you put in an empty box pour the used litter and it sifts all the clumps at once. They always stick a little so I take the sifter and dirty box and clean them. You have to be careful when you pour to keep them from breaking up. I keep them cleaned up and no cat smell or fragrance smell either. Just posted this by itself and copied it here but this setup works really well.
This should be normal 🙏🏻🥹♥️we have to Care for our babies the best !!!!! They Love us unconditionally
cats are peoples they have needs and feelings and more ,they need to be treated with respect if you want you and them to be happy in the same house,
Im a 60 yr old from Canada, I've always had cats and I agree 100%, with everything you said in this video. And I always say check and clean the litter daily and it won't stink. People have always said they were amazed that my house never smelled bad and I had many cats. Love your channel and your advise!
Your house smells. You just don’t smell it. Others that have gone into your home have just been over polite.
My aunts cat is so damn intelligent,one time we changed his litter with a new kind and he couldn’t poop in it,so instead of pooping around the house he would meow to my grandma and have her follow him to the litter box to express his problem!My aunt went to buy his usual litter and poor thing held his poop till she changed the litter😂😂We all love him so much,such a smart butt!
Bet it's dumb
@@donnitacoble3952 Shut up.
Cat litter is the same as pet food... you have to introduce them slowly. Don't throw out the old litter but put a handfull of the new in the old, each day add a handfull. After a week or two, you will be able to make the switch. I know its stupid but when you switch from regular litter to pellets or some other type of litter, its a big change for them not only the smell but the texture too. Cats are very very intelligent😸
It's not the same dummy
@@donnitacoble3952 Oh, you're a repeat offender. I hope you're well :c
My cat looks at me with concerns whenever I scoop out her litter, like she's half insulted half puzzled at me stealing her poopies. As soon as I'm done she makes a point of peeing in it, just to reinstate what's hers. Love her so much
Mine too😅
😂😂
It's the scent they want to stay, at least a little bit.
Mine does that too.
My cat looks at me like I’m an idiot for not instantly cleaning the poops out lol
I have 16 cats and kittens (big overpopulation problem here in Israel) and thanks to your advice I have 14 litter boxes (I need to pick up a couple more) spread across 7 rooms. Some people think that's too many cats but they all get along great and I love them. My vet was actually amazed at how sweet they are.
If anyone is wondering it takes me maybe 10 minutes per day to scoop up all the litter and there is no smell at all in the house.
I used to see so many cats when I lived in Jerusalem!! You’re so right about the overpopulation problem
Thank you for all of your hard work rescuing all of those kitties.
I have 5 cat rescues and a foster cat, all from the street. I have many litter boxes as well. Those boxes are cleaned 3 to 4 times per day. You're right that if the boxes are cleaned routinely, there is no smell.
awww so sweet
@@babynoodle42 🐈 overpopulation? How's so? Neutering is not practiced in Israel? It is it because the climate suits cats better?
Jackson I feel so validated because my common sense and my understanding of my cat babies has dictated exactly what you share in this post. I've had cats all my life. No scent, no cover , no liners, no auto scoopers. I have 3 adult rescue cats , 4 boxes. Not one accident outside their boxes. It's alot of work keeping boxes clean for 3 cats but my precious kitties are worth it!! Thank you 😇😻😺
Same here. I have 5 cats, 6 boxes. I use regular unscented litter and scoop every morning, change every two weeks.
@@sickandtiredofbeingsickand I relate to your username. Also it must be a dream to have so many cats! I’m adopting my 4th and 5th next month.
@@Awtuch I love my babies!
"i don't wanna look at a litterbox" then don't get a cat! its same irresponsible thinking of ppl who "dont feel like" walking their dog
100% agree. I know people that don't have cats cause they don't want to deal with litter boxes in their homes. And there is nothing wrong with that as long as you don't get a cat. Your not a cat person if you can't deal with a litter box. Just like your not a dog person if you can deal with scooping up their crap in the back yard. If your not responsible enough to do all of that, THEN DON'T GET A PET. Simple as that.
@Flamingo 2 yeah like just know your cat and know your space: if there's a problem space your cat gravitates towards to pee, then put the litterbox there. i live in pretty close quarters s when my family had a cat growing up, and a single bathroom we also hang laundry in so there would be no space for the box in there. instead we had a big cardboard box from the grocery store that we put in the computer room and then put his litterbox in there to catch anything he may have knocked out; you could also put newspapers or pads under the litterbox if you are worried about it getting on the floor. many cats are already litterbox trained and will go wherever you put the box but if your having issues then you'll want to rethink the placement / make sure the box is correct size / have the correct amount of boxes to accommodate how many cats you own.
Though, if you have or want to get a dog, the litterbox in a cabinet is actually a good idea to avoid the dog snacking on the cat poop.
Truth!
V.V. Oakley You are so right!! I couldn't have said it better myself!😉
My cat just woke up from his nap and trotted over to me in the middle of this video, and I’m like hey my buddy, I do what Jackson has always advised since the start, and he headbutts me and is like “I know, I love you”
Awwwwwwwwwwwww
💘💘💘🙏🙏🙏
I can't understand why it should be a big deal to scoop the litterbox each day. It takes only seconds. And if you can't deal with cat waste, why have a cat in the first place???
I think some people have just never tried doing it every day. I grew up in a house where the litter box was not scooped daily and it was always a huge fight/ordeal over who had to dump the litter and replace it, blah blah blah. When I grew up and got cats of my own, I scooped their boxes every day morning and night and it is easy peasy. The house doesn't stink and kitties are happy that they have a clean litter box.
I currently have a cat who doesn't always cover her poop and sometimes I'll just scoop right away so I don't have to smell it since she loves to do that in the box in my home office with me 2 feet away. Even scooping right away isn't that bad, it's 100X better than picking up fresh dog poop with only a bag between you and the poop.
Pro tip: get a Litter Genie or similar litter disposal system and put it right next to the litter boxes. Then all you have to do is scoop, pull the handle to let the waste fall in, and you're done until the bag is full. When it gets full, you take it out. It's 100% worth the price which isn't even that much to begin with.
@@justanotherjessica Picking up dog poop is not a big deal either. It's fast and efficient. Stop comparing the two like one animal is more of a burden. Whatever animal you have, you have to love it and accept it's normal bodily functions. With cats, you can have more bathroom issues if something is bothering them where they will go outside of the box. Also litter creates a lot of mess around the house. In many ways cats are a lot more work than dogs. Either way, our animals give us unconditional love so a bit of clean up is fine. If you keep the litter pan clean, kitty should be happy. If puppy is getting lots of walks, they should be happy. I'd rather deal with my animals and their potty issues than a disgusting roommate, or a sloppy lazy husband anyday. 🤣😊
@@sophiepires792 you yourself just compared "the two animals" by saying "In many ways cats are a lot more work than dogs". And stop telling people to stop saying their opinions (speaking to you in your aggressive dictating language).
@@marina7935 Get a life. Seriously. No one was "agressive" or "dictating" towards you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with comparing caring for animals and the ensuing responsibility of pet parenthood. The point that I clearly made was not to compare animals in terms of "desirability" making one animal's care more "burdensome." Saying that picking up after a dog is 100X worse than having to repeatedly sift through and clean a little pan is not a truthful statement, and it attempts to make the argument that dog care is somehow worse. In many ways cats ARE more work than dogs, and that is fine. People need to be prepared for the responsibility of caring for an animal and cleaning its waste. It doesn't matter if you have a cat, a dog, a fish, a reptile, a hamster or a bird, you have to be prepared to look after all of their needs, including bodily functions. It is considerably easier to quickly pick up waste with a plastic bag then it is to maintain litter pans around the home. There is also more cost involved in maintaining litter boxes, and more possibility of behavioural issues related to litter boxes. You also need to arrange your home in a way that gives cats places to jump, hide, climb and sleep. This is a reality of having cats. Making it seem like cat care takes no work at all is dishonest, and means that people will not take proper care of a cat if they think that way. The argument that dogs have to go outside, therefore they are too much work is also harmful. Ultimately, if you get an animal, they are a member of your home and you need to be prepared to care for them. Nothing in my original comment was offensive, you're just an insecure person who is projecting negativity.
@@marina7935 And you actually just sent me a message to tell me to stop giving my opinion, which according to you is a cardinal sin, dummy.
I live in Albania and was honored to have a street kitty come live with me at age approximately 3-1/2 years. She is now almost 5-1/2 years old. The very first day she was here, she hid immediately and I did not see her for approximately 3 days. She immediately began to use the litter box. (That let me know she had not escaped.) I am so grateful I am able to buy a biodegradable fiber-product kitty litter from Germany…unscented. She won’t let me hold her or pick her up. She does snuggle next to me at night and next to me when I’m reading or watching a movie. She loves being brushed. She also follows me from room to room as I go about my daily chores. I finally heard her meow, ever so softly about 6 months ago. She is the quietest kitty I’ve ever had. I absolutely adore her. I know she loves me, too.
I am a blind cat owner, and yes, I am writing this using a screen reader. Most of the newfangled litter boxes you described wuld be entirely inpractical both for my cat and for me. I have a good old fashioned litter box, with nice, normal sand, and yes, I do have a scoop, but I usually put a rubber glove over my hand and clean the box in that manner, because that way I can determine if I've missed some or not.
It would be interesting, at least to me, to hear some other blind people's points of view on this matter. :)
Warmest regards!
P.s. Your videos are absolutely brilliant!
Maybe Molly Burke will do a video re Lavender her cat you could always ask her?
Thank you so much for posting. I'm totally blind myself and have wanted a cat since I was a little girl. I was trying to brainstorm ways of litterbox cleaning. I like the glove idea a lot.
Do you use clumping litter, or regular clay?
@@sabrinazarogoza8686 It is a clumping one, it's much easier to collect with a glove. You can readily recognise what is soiled by your cat's business, and what is still clean sand. :)
Molly is really sweet and full of ideas and tricks. I really like her and Gallop and darn, I am old, I forget the new dogs name. It's named after a beer I have never seen in central NY
I am not blind, but have vision issues. I use a 44" tv as my work monitor. I actually use some toilet paper and put the clumps and poo in a poop bag and toss it in the garbage cans in the garage.
I am going to be moving to a small place, so I am going to get one of those litter genies because I will be sharing my room with my two cats. Well, I do now, but their litter box will be in my room there. My mom needs a roommate and some help, so I will be in a small room with a loft bed and my desk because I work from home. Yup, 50 year old woman climbing up/sliding down a ladder. 🤣
My mama cat is the litter sister of my mom's cat and they are territorial. I took them with me to my mom's place over Christmas and her cat was on sentry duty all night long. I could hear her sometimes outside the door hissing. She was so mad at me for bring my cats lol. Fun times.
Those crystals should be outlawed, in my opinion. When I was a beginner pet owner I bought them and one of my cats got deathly ill from eating a crystal while cleaning his paws. It doesn't make sense for an animal that cleans itself with its mouth to force it to walk on toxic junk. I appreciate your constant advocating, Jackson! You're helping cat parents everywhere be better.
Oh I'm so glad you said this! I've been trying different litters and I was planning on that next if what I ordered isn't great. My kitten eats everything! I have to vacuum and check for lose strings on things religiously bc she scares me to death! 🙄
I totally agree!
@@OriginalMeanGirl Have you tried the brand World’s Best Litter? It’s SO much better than clay! I won’t use anything else!
@@fixinfkinsandwiches6183 actually that's what I ordered and it came in two days ago and it is great, thank you! I like that it doesn't smell like a pile of chemicals too! 😁
Is the sensitive type still toxic? It's not colored or scented.
I never get mad at my cats if they happen to poop outside the box. That’s a clear indicator to me that I need to clean their box ASAP, so it’s my fault entirely. I’m working on having multiple boxes on different floors of my house.
My cat poops out of the box ever since she got constipated. I try to clean it up asap. I think she associate pooping in the pan with pain.
Its weird how people want animals without the "animal" in them. I've had cats since i was around 9 & i did train my 1st cat to go in the toilet ONLY b/c my mom said "if u can teach him to go in the toilet u can keep it, cause im not buying litter!" 😂That was ages ago & he was the only 1 I trained to do that. I wanted that kitten so bad! Ever since, I've taken care of all sorts of kittens, cats, mamas, ferals, etc. Out of all the things you said the only "mistake" I've been making is the scented litter. It never ocurred to me that it could bother them. I will have to reconsider now.
Elizabeth will get on the table if her litter box is dirty. She used to use my bed when I first got her. I have 2 boxes 📦now 1 in the bathroom and one hidden in a sliding door closet so I always have one that is clean. At night 🌉I inspect them too
@sadbuttrueinthe21stcentury Why don’t you clean it at least once a day?????
My cat loves a clean litter box. She would per on the walls if her litter box wasn't fresh. I don't want her walking on old pee, to take a pee. (She jumps in bed with me at nite) so, she has several big, open litter boxes.
I feel very touched seeing how emotinal JG is getting over this. I just saved a kitten 2 weeks ago, all this advice is very precious.
my kitty is such an angel. from the moment she entered my home she's always been very polite about using her litter box.
same! the only cat i’ve had that had a problem was a stray that i rescued and i think he had trauma
Same! Knew exactly where to go since day one and always buries his stink bombs like a good boy. Never peed or pooped anywhere else. I feel blessed.
When you introduce them to their new home, take them straight to the litterbox.
Cats seem to be hard-wired to "get" the litterbox as soon as they see it.
since I'm here early and the risk that Jackson is reading this, I just want to say that you have helped me a lot and my cats love you very much (me too obviously) / Love from Sweden🇸🇪
I'm with you 150 per cent! Cats do not ask to come and live in our houses, we bring them home. And then we expect them to alter their natural instincts to fit our convenience or whims. I have one cat, and she's happy where the litterbox is and never acts out. If she did, I would try to find out why. You really do have to respect pets, they are not just toys.
THIS. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Frances Jackson Those TH-cam videos that show people tormenting their cats because they think it's funny and the others that call cats jerks because they knock things over--I think their cats are acting passive/agressive to get even. No pet is a toy. They're living beings and if you don't want to treat them that way, you shouldn't have pets.
🙏🏻♥️♥️♥️👍🏻
I agree 100% and have happy healthy cats with no litter box issues. Your points are well-taken, Jackson... We all need to respect our pets, their needs, and care for them well.🐱
Can I ask you how you deal with smell? I'm asking because my sister has a cat (that also goes to litter box every single time) and her apartment smells and now when my sister is pregnant it's a big issue. So big that she and her husband are reconsidering giving the cat away (which upsets me. If I would have my own apartment I would take the cat).
@@julkap4190 I scoop out the litter waste twice a day (mornings & evenings) and have no isses with smells. And I change the litter entirely once a week, and wash the boxes at that time.
They may need to increase their cleaning to accommodate their pets. And may wish to have their pet checked by the vet to ensure it is healthy. Illness can cause odors that are strong. That is Jackson's point on cleaning the waste often and observing the pet's elimination habits. When sick, they may go outside the box (can't resist the urge) and that can get into the carpets. Use a blacklight to try and detect this (see Jackson's other video covering this).
Its so important to wash the litter trays, not just change the litter . And replace the pans regularly.
I have fostered over 40 cats. I was their last stop because they were "unadoptable" -- reported as having litter box problems. I found the pet store litter boxes way too small. The cats were already highly stressed. I use open Rubbermaid storage bins. I find ones with a smooth bottom, no grooves for wet litter to get stuck. Lots of room to move around. I put a large rubber mat with texture underneath for them to shake out liitter on paws. I was thinking a water heater leakage tray could work too. If they like to raise their bums while peeing then I make a small "wall" with flattened boxes covered with garbage bags. Sometimes I prop the lid up against the wall or washer whatever for more coverage. Easy/cheap to clean up/replace.Successfully adopted out almost all of them. Usually they just needed quiet and TLC!😘😍😍
I have a tall top entry box so I don't have litter tracking everywhere. It seems to work really well for mine. It's difficult to dump out though so I have to have my husband dump it out for me. I hate the scents- they are always too strong and over-powering. I have to use a dust-free litter. So far, the only one I found was arm and hammer. Occasionally, I find her leaving poop out of the box but that's because she zooms out full speed...
I’ve used those rubbermaid bins also! No cat boxes are big enough for my growing boy who now weighs 17 lbs! I’m going to be buying a couple bins soon to replace my “jumbo” litter box that he has outgrown
I also didn't buy a petstore box because they really are too small, they shouldn't have to go and sit still in a single uncomfortable position, they should have enough room to move
Some ppl take time and have patience, learn about the animals and continue being educated about them, have compassion and understanding. Like you!!! All others probably aren't the best ppl to be responsible for an animal's well-being. 😁🐈❤
This is a brilliant idea. I haven’t had any issues with mine yet but he’s just a kitten. If we end up having these issues, I’ll def try this out.
I have two cats. Since the beginning I got two open litter boxes for them, so each one had its own, right? Well, they ended up using one box for pee and the other one for poo LOL.
this really made me laugh!
mine do that too
That's what cats do.
You really need a third box. 1 for each cat plus one
But yeah one box for poop one box for pee just about
My two cats do that, too.
The scented litters make MY nose burn. And I have a bad sense of smell.
My Experiance you get a sickening level of fragrance and the smell of shit
Decades ago my mother accidentaly bought baby powder scented cat litter, our orange tomcat lost big patches of fur, the scent must have been rly toxic, the whole stuff was tossed as soon as we recognised. Todays cats get only the good cats best organic clumping litter, smells way better than any betonite litter
I think it's bad for them. And I can't stand the perfume either.
I just can't stand the scented litter either. It smells so bad !! I live with my mother and she loves those kind of scented litter, but I can't stand them. So I made a compromise with her: I scoop the litterbox only when she agrees to put normal litter in them. When she put scented litter, she has to scoop the litterbox herself. Well, after a few months, I won! No more scented litter! And my cats seems happy about it too. They used to do outside the box every day. Two of them always do in the boxes now, the third one continue to do outside the box sometimes but not as often as before, and only when something stresses her out.
They are just disgusting. Plain and simple. Cat piss has a better smell than those artificial scents
When we brought a feral kitten into our home last year, one of the first things the vet told me was to be sure she had at a minimum two -even better 3 - litter boxes in various rooms of the house. It has been great! We hadn’t had an indoor cat in 19 years, and I love the advances/greater knowledge there is about cat behavior.
I scoop my cat's litter boxes at least twice a day. Can't image myself have to do my business in a toilet bowl full of s**t, so I definitely wouldn't do that to my two lovely kitten... They are so spoiled at times that they will meow me to clean the boxes so they can use it right afterwards... 😅😅😅
do you get up to scoop as well? just got a new cat and set up her base camp in my room. for that reason she’ll go at night and i usually get up to scoop but lately have been losing on sleep because of it. would it fine to just leave it until the morning?
I agree whole heartedly. I scooped my kitty box as soon as I knew there was waste in it. That way my small apartment smelled nice and the kitty was never forced to go where she shouldn't because her box was full. Cats are clean animals; they like a clan place to go.
@@ssssn587 yep! As long as it's not absolutely trashed you cat can use it but I would not recommend leaving for more than 24 hours because my experience they start pooping out of the litter box around then so yes, get your full night of rest! You need it
@@ssssn587 I had my kittens when they were 2 months old, I setup their safe room separate from my bedroom, my last scoop of the night is before I go shower then I will scope firs thing in the morning, I normally gets up around 7 or latest 8ish... They seems to have no problems... My kittens are now 9 months and 1 years old, no more safe room overnight anymore and they each have their own designated litter boxes...
@@intigniadickey2224 I learned from experience that don't scope right after cause the smell will be too much, I now let the soaked litter sit for a few minutes to let the odor subside a bit then scope into my litter genie....
I rescued my cat from the streets. She never lived in a home and the moment I brought her in my house and put a litter box she automatically started using it. I didn’t have to train her or anything. I don’t know how she knew but that’s the easiest potty training I’ve had with an animal.
Cats are smart, it’s their instinct to look for sand, dirt or anything to cover their pee/poop
Innate behavior
Mine did exactly the same after living in the streets for 4 months approximately. He came home and immediately started using the box, thankfully as this is my first kitten 💕
@@luzye same this is my first cat after having nothing but dogs.
I had a lot of rescued cats, most of them used a litter box right away, no training. Cat's do not piss everywhere for no reason
When I was a kid, my dad kept asking me and all of my siblings who was shitting in the toilet and not flushing. Needless to say, no one confessed. This saga went on every day for weeks. As you can imagine, he was getting pretty frustrated. I was a kid so I really didn't care. Anyway, one day my father was walking past the bathroom and saw the cat _shitting on the toilet!_ He laughed and laughed and laughed! This whole time he thought one of his kids was doing it, but it ended up being the cat! NO ONE trained the cat to do this, the cat did it on his own. I'm not sure why, the litter box was just on the other side of the bathroom. Maybe the cat didn't like the litter? My parents did not get the expensive kind! We had a lot of cats growing up and this was the only one who ever did that. Who knows, but it's a funny story to think back to!
Thats actually pretty cool and funny...
If the cat is doing it naturally, might as well train it to flush too!
How is that possible? 😮
We had two cats that just took it upon themselves to use the toilet...I thought it was quite considerate of them 🤣
@@RosheenQuynh I'm not really sure to be honest. It was a really long time ago, so I don't remember much. Part of me wonders if there was something wrong that was causing it. Maybe there was a health issue that we weren't aware of, maybe we weren't changing the litter frequently enough, maybe the cat didn't like the type of litter? I really don't know!
@@GpD79 Wow! I had no idea a cat could train itself to do that on its own!
The emotional empathy and care you display here is incredible. I think sometimes we forget that we choose to bring these living things into our home. They aren't furniture. They aren't a video game. They have their own health and wellness and we are their caretakers since we wanted them. We should want to care for them and make them happy, and create a balance in our home. Otherwise, did you buy it because it's cute and you view it like a vase?
I have a large dog that loves to eat cat poop, so I always have my (large, uncovered) litter boxes high enough that the dog can't reach them. One is on top of a wide shelving unit, another on a table. The cats don't mind, as long as the surfaces are stable. And, reading this, I've just realized that an additional benefit is that I don't have have to bend over! I'm 73.
That shows the intelligence of dogs! YUK!
Mine does too. Horrible.
Dogs do that because cat poop is high in protein
@@ksisu1324 Dogs eat anything that stinks!
Disgusting
Our (pretty anxious) calico was being ambushed by one of the other cats in the lidded box, which was making her so nervous to use the box and she was going outside of it. Having the box in our living room where I could see what was happening was so helpful! Once I noticed it, we took the lid off and added another box, on your recommendation. Voila! She hasn't gone outside of the box again.
I have the inverse problem, I need to have one litter box with the lid on because my youngest will try to play with our oldest when he is in the litter box... the other I keep just the tray without the hood...
@@sofiareis1723 ahaha playing with the older sibling while they are in the restroom paints a funny picture
@@sofiareis1723 haha my kitten did that with her brother. She would run and pounce before he even left the box! Rude. Now, they both will wait behind the corner when they notice the other going and then pounce when they come out.
Same. My cats hate each other and although they never attacked each other in the boxes, they both clearly hated the domes because they COULD be attacked. The domes are gone and it’s helped a lot. One makes a mess kicking out litter, but I have a broom...
I never appreciated the fact that my cat will use the litter box anywhere I put it. I just assumed I was doing HER the favor by giving here a box. Thanks for this, Jackson. There is always something profound to be learned from you.
I just listened to the video again after a year. All of this is valid and true. It is easy to tell that Jackson Galaxy truly cares about cats and people and I think that is the highest complement. Please keep your kitties inside, thats my pet peeve!
nice username
I agree! And chipped incase they get out!
this narrative completely sells me on Jackson Galaxy. He 'gets' and espouses post-humanism and bioethics better than any analytic philosopher who makes a living and reputation out of talking about animal rights, with respect to cats especially. Bless him, in a word. Not just a smart man, a big man. Really big.
So true, and he takes the time to understand the animals. Too many people think lack of speach means no intelligence and treat them accordingly (this includes human babies and toddlers). Animals communicate very well if you just take the time to listen.
Totally agree! I don't even like cats (I'm allergic to them) but I could listen to Jackson advocate for cats all day. His approach is a lesson for all humans who look after animals
Hi Jackson!! I just wanted to tell you that YOU are the sole reason I’m a cat person now. Used to be scared of cats and stereotyped them as mean/vicious. Now, I cant wait to get one! Much light, much love!💕
WOW, that's an amazing transformation, Robin! Agreed, Jackson is truly amazing and we been following him since his Animal Plant days. You better post a video or two of your future furry ones. 😁👍
That's wonderful! I hope you'll find a feline friend to take home soon.
You will love it💜 cats are great friends to have with you😻
Mine waits on my bed every night so he can snuggle my leg all night as I sleep. That is all the evidence I need.
My cat was abused severely before being thrown on to the streets. She jumps up every time she hears me in distress ready to protect me. She licks my tears when i cry. She sleeps next to me and guards the bathroom door when im in there. She loves snuggles and constantly wants to be picked up and loves to nuzzle her head in my neck. Despite being treated so badly, she's so loving and kind. Im so happy you changed your opinion on cats! They're amazing.
You have valid points sure, but about automatic boxes, my mother is 80 and she struggles everyday bending over to scoop several boxes. I'm not always there to help. She's almost to the point where she can't bend down to scoop at all. So we got her a Litter Robot so that she wouldn't have to keep doing it all the time. It's been a life saver for her. She's happier and all the cats(all 4 of them) have cleaner litter to use all the time. As responsible pet owners, it's our duty to keep an eye on their feces. We all want healthy pets.
I'm sure he understands this. I'm sure he was talking about people who just buy them for personal convenience
I work at an animal shelter and I get countless phone calls from older people that can no longer physically care for their cats and need to surrender. Purchasing your mom an automatic litter box in this situation was the best option for your mom and her cats.
I'm so glad you found that solution. I just got my first Litter Robot and I'm in love. I have chronic illnesses and I'm not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds? This has been a lifesaver for me and my cats.
IDK why Jackson is so against them. They make it easier to care for your cats and you can still see if something is wrong. The litter clumps are at the bottom of the tray, not at the bottom of the fricken ocean! You can also just turn it off and look at what's in there if you're really concerned.
I've had cats with urinary problems and it's really frustrating to go through. So with my current cats, they eat an all wet diet so I don't have to go through removing the crunchy food from them and having them complaining when there are no crunchies in the dish. They just think there's no crunchies in the house!!
@Cajunomics Right? It's the best!! I wonder if Jackson won't say anything positive about it because of the price. Because his reasoning just doesn't make sense for the Litter Robot. Maybe it does for another type but I just can't understand why he's opposed to something that is so helpful.
I'm not 80 but close. I got an ordinary cat sifter for litter for $1, a broom handle from an old broom, drilled a couple of holes thru both, screwed in two screws, then taped around it several times with duct tape. Voila. I never have to bend to sift the litter anymore. It takes only a few minutes to create. Easy
I totally agree! I have extra boxes, unscented litter & clean them 2x daily. I also clean floors with just water, don't use any chemicals in the home & wash laundry with unscented as well. Very important for our cats noses & paws!
You realize water is a chemical, right? I think you likely meant to say no toxins, with which I’m completely on board, but there is a HUGE difference!
Jackson nailed this. I've always did just as he directed here, and I never had any problems with my cats using the litter boxes. Plus...SCOOP every box at least once per day!
I do cat sitting on the side and I don't understand my clients who leave instructions to scoop every other day. I always do it every visit.
Yes I never let it sit 👍
idk, I clean my cats' boxes at least 4 times a day and I have 6 boxes for 4 cats and I still have 1 cat who pees outside the box. Not all the time but occasionally
Twice a day is better. It takes all of 2 minutes.
I only have one box because my cat is currently living in one room/bathroom with me. its near my toilet, I scoop it every time I go to the bathroom when I get done before I wash my hands. I'm already there. and I would rather it be clean for both of us!
My wife and I adopted our first cat last week, and I was just discussing the same with my wife when scooping up Murphy's poop and pee from the litter box that it is actually great that he is doing this for us and that this wonderful clay is clumping everything together and making life easy. I didn't know that people felt that even this was inconvenient. I wish dogs did the same!
Everyone among my siblings and nephew agree with you.
Cats keep things clean, some brands of litter get around, but that's what litter mats are for.
Cats just want us to keep the litter box clean. It is not that hard.
Dogs can learn to use a litterbox, but some don't like it
Especially when it's raining! I wish my dog would use the cat's litter box instead of just eating out of it!
Our cat taught our puppy how to go in the kitty litter box. They are 3 now and the dog will still go in the box sometimes. He is trained to go outside, but when home alone may go to basement litter box.
@@kasperorganics-organiccott6881 that’s hilarious!
I had a cat who, from the time I adopted her, would go to the bathroom with me every time I entered that room. I had a litter box for her which was uncovered, and contained non-scented litter. She was great at using that box. However, over time, I noticed that I was not finding enough elimination in the litter box when I cleaned it each day. When I mentioned taking her to the vet, my son said, "No, Mom, she's fine. She uses the toilet in the bathroom next to your bedroom. I saw her go in there and noticed she was using the potty so I flush it before I leave for school and when I get home." I was stunned. I still kept the litter box, but she, all on her own, used the human toilet. No one taught her or encouraged her to go. Occasionally she would use the litter box, but not consistently. Strange but true.
I swear cats are evolving
@@elizabthharris6741 yeah, and imagine if they were able to breed at the extent they could if we weren't around-they'd evolve even quicker!
@@whatsyourfacemua so very true.
Amazing story.Thanks
The fact that it WAS NATURAL
and not trained or forced speaks of your respect 4 Kitty
I had a friend 25 years ago, her cat used the toilet also, nobody taught her either.
Scented litter is revolting. And I'm with you on everything else, too! Another problem with covered litter boxes is that you need to be able to see when the box needs to be cleaned out. Cats hate dirty litter boxes!
Scoop it out every day.
I already can't stand scented toilet paper for people, imagine what it is for a cat to have to go into a lavender (or whatever) scented litter box!
We bought the arm and hammer double duty litter (pet store guy said it was the best) when we took in our first Foster and it damn near killed me and my mum the first night bc of the high smell (we have cat allergies and asthma and thought that's why we got so sick, we haven't had a cat in the house since 2017 when my childhood cat passed away- it was safe for her to be indoor/outdoor where we lived at the time so we had no experience with litter). After switching the litter and airing out the house the allergies are manageable, so long story short if those litters can be so bad for some humans, I can't imagine how bad it can be for our kitties.
Same! I hate scented TP, can't stand scented wipes, I hate hand sanitiser that's scented ... so I wouldn't never buy scented litter for my cats. Add in that our house is kinda small and the litter boxes are in the main bathroom (only other option was the laundry area which isn't heated, so that was instantly nixed. I hate going when it's cold so I'd never expect my cats to use a cold area) so I'd smell the litter fragrance all the time too. Yuck.
Omg this reminds me of when we first rescued our first cat. He was living in a parking lot and we got him in our car to take him home so we had nothing at home. I sat with him in the car while my husband got some supplies. Food, a litter box, litter, etc. He got this rather small box and the most awful litter ever. We both hated it, so within the next few days I got a bigger box and normal litter and helped show him what to do so he didn't have to keep soiling things like the futon and guitar case. We have multiple boxes now but yeah we were so unprepared at first. It was lavender something but I can assure you that it was the worst smelling thing I've ever bought.
Totally. I have a sensitive sniffer (I don't even wear perfume, it's too much for me.) So like the clay unscented baking soda clumping ones. We had to get the cedar wood chips when she had her sterilization surgery for no dust, she hated it, she didn't go for the first 2 days, then accepted it, but was glad when it was done and we switched back. Personally I liked the mild cedar smell, but it was difficult to work with and clean.
I was visiting a friend who had one of those self-cleaning litter boxes. It lasted about a week. The end was when her cat entered the covered box and as he was doing his natural business, the device activated. As the rake came to clean the litter, the cat felt it was being attacked which I totally understood. The cat went into attack mode and litter was flying everywhere. The cat was howling and hissing, batting at the rake with his paws and jumped straight up, dislodging the cover and allowing the cat to escape. The cat sat halfway across the room, staring at the box and growling at it. I am sorry, I found it hilarious and totally agreed with the cat. 🐈🤭
We had one years ago. Our Callie cat was doing her business and was taking a bit longer than normal, the box activated. She hopped out - turned around and smacked the box. It was as if she was telling the box it was being rude. Then she hopped back in and finished her business.
😫😄😂 Awww man 😂😂 🥲
I have the litter robot. It’s been outstanding so far. Auto sensor doesn’t start anything until cat is out & it stops if there is any movement. Ez to clean , just like changing a garbage bag. It’s great but it was $550. Worth it.
That’s what I would be afraid of for my cats. They already have enough anxiety lately with some life changes. So it’s like no thank you, litter robot! 😁
Poor cat! I was thinking about getting one of those. Maybe I won’t.
My new kitten came into my home 5 days ago. I showed her her litter box. She started using it immediately. She is clean and neat and appreciates her little bathroom area. My baby girl is purrrrrrfect!
For the litter problem, you can buy a litter mat. And for the privacy thing, maybe not everyone finds it nice, but there are litter boxes with high walls. It's a little more private and the cats still can see everything they want Plus it also prevents the littler from coming out on all sides, exept that part were they go in and out. Both are very convenient. No litter on the floor anymore.
We use the high wall and lid variety. Otherwise, my balcony would be a sandbox.
I use the high wall box because she pees vertically. A definite over achieve.
My former feral kitty has found away to still get it out of the high sides. Still prefers sand. We do scent with the arm and hammer baking soda scents. It allows us to control how strong the scent is.
Im so happy i watched this. Im guilty of quite a few of these things and i love my cats like children. They absolutely are family to me so thank u. I'll make changes. Keep doin what ur doin man.
heather case: To take Jackson's rant a step further in a *practical* way, here is a video at Becky Marshall's channel titled "You're Doing Your Cat Litter Wrong" with a REAL sustainable and MUCH cheaper way that is cat friendly, sustainable, and smell free. Check out the comments there.
Exactly how I see it, cats do us a favor using the litter box and not just anywhere. I adopted my cat when he was already 10 months old, he kept sneaking into my garden or backyard to sleep, so I looked to see if he had tutors, and realized he didn't have anyone, so I got closer to him and started letting him in. That's when I noticed he used to look for places to pee, or do it in the garden by the flowers, but when I bought his first litter box and was about to try and incentive him to use it, he amazed me by always going there and nowhere else. On top of that, I said "call me if you need anything and I'll come clean your box, ok? Thank you for being such a good boy". I don't know if he understood me, but almost 2 years later, he still always calls me whenever he uses the box, and I think this is the cutest think, and I happily go to his assistance, because I'm happy he trusts me with such important task for him, it's as if he knows I won't let him down making sure his box is always ready for use.
Is it just me or is there anyone else out there that cleans their litter boxes a minimum of twice a day? I have three cats and two litter boxes that work perfectly in my home and their is no extended smell, no mess and three very happy cats. If they are cleaned often, then clean up time only takes seconds. And I love the Litter Genie that you promote, Jackson. Thank you! I have one next to each litter box. They are so convenient!
Absolutely this!
My vet told me to have one more litterbox than the number of cats. I have three cats and four boxes.
Yeah we clean the litter as soon as it's used. I mean it's really not that hard!
Ha! I wish it were twice a day. Three required; usually four times a day. Some of our indoor cats will not use a litter box which has been used! I giggle when I hear "at least three litter boxes". Typically find 9-12 in my house. Seven was the least ever seen. (And these are large boxes. 18-20-pounds of litter in each one.)
@@dmag193 how many cats do you have?
I had a cat that used the toilet, but I don't train him to do it. He also took a shower with me on his own. Thank you for your advice
I really like your compassion and concern for the cats and how you phrase it from their perspective, like how the cats choose to use the box as a favor to humans.
My cat is a bit of an idiot in the litter box. When she needs to poop, she digs a pit then stands in that pit and poops on the little mound of litter she made then tries to bury her poop with litter from the pit. She'll turn around and sniff it, get a disgusted expression because it's not sufficiently covered then start moving litter from a different part of the box over the poop in an annoyed rush. All because she doesn't poop in the pit she digs.
Maybe your litter box isn't big enough?
that's not nice. maybe she's just uncomfortable.
Our cats have many senses - no guarantee that one will be a sense of aim.......(she needs to watch a cat buddy do their business successfully.)
Cats' awareness of where their backsides are is quite lacking lol
I'm laughing, because I have a cat with neurological damage. She takes a poo, and tries so hard to cover it, but she never does. She scratches the floor, the wall. The poo is still there. Sometimes, I will scoop up the poo while she's trying to cover it. She looks so surprised! She even re-enters the box to make sure that the poo is gone. I tell her that she's a good girl, "Look! You hid your poo so well that no one will find it!" When I change out litter, she tries to bury the bags. She's so cute. I am so blessed to have her. Your girl sounds like a character, too. I bet she keeps a smile on your face!
Can’t believe it took me so many years to think of wiping the bottom of the litter box with paper towel damp with olive oil! This makes nothing stick to the bottom and clean up is a snap!
That really works? How have I never heard of this before??
Me either , I'm gonna have to try. !! ❤️😇😻
Oh thank you for this!!!❤
Well, you CAN teach a 69 year old lady that’s had cats all her life, new tricks. I am definitely going to try the olive oil
I've been thinking about doing that but wasn't sure if it would actually work
I'm now using stainless steel litter boxes for environmental reasons (because they don't need to be replaced, saving me $$$ in the long run), and the first thing I noticed is that the steel box plus a good quality cat litter keeps the odor down by a lot.
One of my cats lovesss scratching the sides of the litter box (not actually burying anything just scratching the sides.) Do you think stainless steel would deter her from the litter because of the sound?? Cause right now we have plastic and her making scratches makes it hard to get the odor out even with deep cleaning so I've been thinking about stainless steel.
@@jessiea7977 My cats scratch at the metal sides. Still no odor and still easy to clean. (They do manage to bury their waste, though.) They seem not to mind the sound.
What is good quality cat litter? It's the material it's made of different?
@@rainierday8155 It's something with odor control and clumping action. I use Sustainably Yours (which does track a bit), but other people swear by other litters. Check out some review videos on TH-cam if you're shopping around for something specific.
I have 3 cats and 3 litter boxes. I clean them once or twice per day. I only use unscented litter. My cats always use their box and my one cat will let me know that if I start slacking. He will literally lead me to the poop and nod in the direction.
i might be getting one soon hopefully i have a question how many times do i need to change the actual litter?
@@adammmmmmm2082 I clean the litter once or twice a day then dump the litter and clean the container every month.
@@dee_b_wildin ohhh thanks that helped a lot:)
@@adammmmmmm2082 If you got kittens, they do use the box more often than adult cats. I hope you're off to a great start with your new family members!!
same with my cats! they will have a specific meow to nag at me if their litter box is too full 🤣
Not one grain of salt needed! You tell it Cat Daddy! Thank you so much for saying it as it should be said. Thank you for looking out for the welfare and needs of the cats.
As a vet tech, THANK YOU!!! I have had these talks with so many people. They just don't get that we are making cats live in our environment, we need to adjust to them!
I'm late to this video but feel his advice is so so true. It's the experience you only get after trying all different kinds of human convenient alternatives and realizing by fighting AGAINST your pet's instincts is only setting them and yourself up for failure and will only hurt your precious relationship. Thank you for putting it in a video!
What bl**dy good sense this man is talking! Why have I only just subscribed today? I should have been supporting this channel for years! Thanks, Jackson.
This is my first time seeing Jackson but the title caught my attention, I absolutely agree with all of your points. Our cats give us so much love and companionship I think we can accommodate what is only natural for them. We found in our own house that our 14 year old cat needed a second litter box to accommodate her elimination needs and it has prevented accidents outside the boxes. We also have always cleaned the box(es) every time we see anything in it so that might be 5 or 6 times per day. The boxes stay clean for her and don't smell for us it's such an easy thing to do for our sweet kitty.
Jackson is so right with his advice to have open litter boxes! I have a 15 year old who had a kidney stone in his bladder. If I had not been able to see him not being able to urinate, he could have ended up with kidney damage or worse. Keep it open, and keep it in a socially important area where you can see them.❤️
Try to have open box when one of your cats is digging so furiously that huge chunk of litter ends up being all around on the floor. And I do mean huge chunk.
@@Terepin64 That's just a part of having pets. Cleaning up after them is part of the job.
@@Terepin64 buy a bigger and deeper litterbox
My favourite litter I've ever used has been "World's Best Cat Litter" multi cat, the red bag, nice light corn scent, my 20lbs Maine Coon was such an angel about putting up with me trying out different litters, may he rest in Peace, I had to make him a custom top entry litter box to keep my mom's dogs out of his dirty litter
May I suggest a baby gate or portable puppy pen to black your dogs from the litter boxes. My son and daughter-in-law use them.
I love that he points out "they are doing us a favor." My stepmom and dad were adopted by a feral kitten some years ago, and even though he was going outside they still decided to put a litterbox in their walk-out bedroom. Recently kitty has been making different choices: sometimes when he comes in for dinner he'll go in the litterbox right away and, for reasons I cannot fathom, parental units get all bent out of shape and call kitty names for stinking up the bedroom "on purpose" and I'm just sitting there like Dudes... you gave him a box inside and now you insult him when he uses it?? Smh
Eww its in the bedroom! Really nowhere else to put that thing? A lil further away perhaps, & maybe stench wouldn't b so problematic?
@@kittekat9676 i have my cats litter box in my room, it's my cat not my whole family's i won't subject them to the smell when they didn't sign up for the cat 🤷♀️
@@lajabrac that's different though you're not complaining about it like these people's parents are. I put a litter box in my room when moving to a new place because that's where the familiar scents are. Then once the cat has adapted I move the litter box outside of my room. Currently have one right outside my room in the dining room, one in the kitchen storage area, and one in the living room (two cats).
@@triforce_majora I keep one each bathroom - 3 for two kittens
typical low iq pet owners, i personally dont own any pets because i dont like dealing with poop lol.
Your love for cats shows so much!! Thank you for doing what you do
Same here. We hadn’t planned to for a cat, but this little man ended up in our lives and we’d never had cats before. Jackson Galaxy showed us the way and now we have TWO very happy little cats in our family.
Couldn’t have done it without his help!
Proper litter tray care/etiquette is just SO important for cat owners to know about - it can be a rely source of anxiety for your cat and you might not even be aware! As always, thanks Jackson and keep up the amazing work.
I agree 100%. My cats have plain litter boxes with unscented, clumping, litter. I watch them eliminate once in a while to make sure all is well, and, I look at what I scoop, for the same reason. My Chartreux developed FUS very quickly and if it wasn't for this practice, he would have died. Scoop the poop people, and daily; your cats' lives depend on it!
My cats refuse to use a litter box without a lid, this year when she had a surgery, it took her awhile before she started to use it again after I had taken the lid off bc she couldn't get through the door with the cone on. I think it makes her feel secure to have the lid. Just my two cents. Thanks jackson galaxy I love your shows.
You have a modest kitty 🐈
I also had a modest kitty. When I first adopted her, for about two months, she was urinating all over the house, even though I made sure I got the same litter she was used to and everything. She was also already comfortable with me, even following me into the shower when I needed to get clean. I got a lid for her litter box, and she didn't have another "accident".
Jackson keeps me humble when I'm really struggling with my cats, I've learned so much and I can't thank you enough for everything you do for our furbabies ❤️
Thanks, because of your explanations I paid attention to my cat's preferences. Low smooth litter box, fragrance free litter (both she and I have allergies to fragrances) and no lid/cover. She runs from it like a cheetah chasing invisible prey when she's finished and makes me laugh every day🐱
My 17 year old cat gets the "zoomies" after she poops too, which reassures me that she still has some kitten energy
@@dalejames3117 I call them the poop zoomies 😂
Thanks for the advice, first time cat owner and I want my cat to have the best experience ever, to have a house with a loving family and to have food available for him whenever he needs, and also to pee and poop as natural as possible!
It's crazy to me that I have to go out of my way to find unscented litter because apparently it's the least poplar choice and stores don't buy as much of it as all the crazy scented litters🤦♀️. Stop buying perfume litters for kitties dang it!!!
Okay okay...chill Milly
@@raivilafreedom8208 no thank you 😜
@@millylarz - oh Milly, Milly, Milly, I bet you’re a character, aren’t you 💜
I'm with you here, Milly. Once the liquid is dried up in the litter the smell isn't even there anymore. I hate the industrial chemical smell of the litter more.
But, I also can't find non-scented litter in town. :(
Sammee! I can't stand the scented litters but at stores near me there's ALWAYS significantly less available compared to the scented options!
I just rescued a little kitty earlier this week and your channel has been such a big help!!! Thank u cat daddy 😉
HUGS to you for taking in a little orphan kitty! I hope you bring each other much joy!
Hi Andy😁 I did the same with a kitten about a week ago. I never owned a cat before, so much stuff to learn🥺
Me too❤
Thanks for caring this much Jackson! That rant gave me tears in the eyes. Happy to see there are people like you who have that kind of respect for the nature of the beastie ♥️
Me too! Glad to know I wasn't the only one..
Jackson Galaxy, you may have an idea but I'm here to testify! Thank you for all the advice and for being such a great cat guardian advocate!! I had it in my head that I should hide the cats litter boxes and only do 1 or 2. I have 3 cats. You explained in such a way that I could really understand. They are choosing to live with us instead of I'm granting them access to live with me. I really got a lot out of your litter box episode. You are being heard!!! I've now got 3 open litter boxes with 3 litter box caties. Both the cats and the humans are happy. I also watched your episode on dry and wet cat food. I completely changed my outlook on dry vs wet. I also had no idea carrageenan and phosphates were a thing. Not to mention your episode on soft eyes and introducing yourself to a new cat. A long time ago someone told me cats are a throw away pet. I would never believe that because my cats bring me so much joy. If I could adopt all the cats in the pound I would. I'm just doing my best to take care of the cats I have. I love them to pieces and I'm so grateful for your advice. What you do matters. It matters to them soooo much. Great job on being a Steller cat advocate. You have done so much for them on this planet!!!!!
Reading this makes me incredibly happy. I can imagine that suddenly, for no apparent reason, all 3 of your cats realized their lives got better. They now have multiple places to use the bathroom and their food is making them feel wonderful. You changed their lives for the better and they love you for it!
What are litter box caties?
Love, love, LOVE this! Everything Jackson says is spot on!! The statement "we are asking them to go in a box and they are doing us a favor" is revolutionary! Thank you for this video. Meeeow! ❤️
I love how you said we set them up for failure IN OUR EYES.
My cat is 2 month old now and since I adopted him he has never had a pee outside of his litterbox. He was soo adorable when he was 1 month old peeing in his litterbox. I was watching him hustling to just walk and go to pee in his litterbox by himself and it was so cute. I REALLY am proud of my baby.
How/why do you have a cat that young? Surely should stay with their mother until 12 weeks. That’s how they learn to be a cat.
@@dilyssewell1907 maybe they had a cat that gave birth?
I have been using wheat bran for years and it is perfect: it clumps, it is flushable and compostable and it is cheap (40# bag for 15$). It is soft and smells good, good emergency food too! It is technically cow feed and they carry it at ranch supplies stores. Will never go back to other litter!
My cat's totally mojito with having a litter box with a lid on it. I used to have an open one but my whole bathroom became a kitty litter beach. Girl goes to town in there. So I switched to one with a lid and she doesn't seem to mind. Then again, there are no kids or other animals in my home. Just us two. All the other stuff you mentioned though are just CRAZY. Bella is the most important one in my life and her happiness and comfort are paramount and guide everything I do. When she wakes me up at 5 am and wants breakfast, I give her breakfast. When she attacks my feet, I bring out the toys and play with her. She's my baby. Of course I'll clean up her business without complaining. Also you don't need crystals or perfume to counteract the smell. A good quality litter that your cat likes will do just fine.
Now it feels like I'm the one ranting 😅 I do take that part with the lid on the litter box with a grain of salt, but I'll keep it in mind if I get another cat, which I do consider. Bella likes watching me pee but DEFINATELY not the other way around (not that I seek her out when she's.. You know...). Anyway, I appreciate you and your videos! Give your kitties some love from Bella & me ❤️
I have two cats and like yours, they kick a lot ! It was incredibly messy ( and in a way, wasteful) so I had to get a lid box but! I keep it open ! So the door and 3/4 of the ceiling is always open ! This way they barely dirty the ground as the litter hits the walls around! 😌😌
I agree on you with taking the litter box thing with a grain of salt. I think the main takeaway is if your cat is giving you HUGE SIGNALS that they're uncomfortable or unhappy with something, you need to accommodate for their needs. If your cat is super chill and happy with whatever the heck you do with the litter box, that's awesome! But if that changes in the future, a responsible pet owner should adapt to those changes if they're able to, even if it's a little inconvenient.
I was never a fan of the covered boxes, until my current kitty. My kitty is a “hi pee-er”, I have to have it enclosed or she’ll pee on the wall!
FINALLY! Common sense talk. I've thought of those things as I tried different litters or boxes. I'm thinking "this feels like a waste of time"
So to have my thoughts validated by what you've said makes me feel better.
I now just use a simple litter box with clumping litter. Less stressful
SadButTrue: To take Jackson's rant a step further in a *practical* way, here is a video at Becky Marshall's channel titled "You're Doing Your Cat Litter Wrong" with a REAL sustainable and MUCH cheaper way that is cat friendly, sustainable, and smell free. Check out the comments there.
Have you noticed if you give your cat at least two litter boxes they will tend to pee in one more and poop more in the other one.
I got 4 boxes and my 5 cats use 2 for poop and 2 for pee. They are very smart lol
I have 3 boxes for 2 cats, two of them are side by side, and I have noticed this too.
yes lol, I have 4 litters they only poop in the one in the basement. And all hell breaks loose if you move that bsmt litter
Yes!
It's quite polite of them.
Yes!!!!! It is absolutely crazy. I have two kittens that use two litter boxes on the first floor and they use one for pee and the second for poop. Now my older cat just uses her own on the second floor. No one but her uses it. Even in that litter box she pees in the front and poops in the back of the litter box. They are very specific as to where they do their business.
Thanks!
I use medium size totes with a hole cut in the side. Large box for more room. My cats love it. Cleaned daily and a small carpet in front to catch litter. Vacuumed daily new carpet square every 6 months.
thank you for making me aware that my cats are doing something for me as a gift. I watch a lot of animal shows especially the big primates and realize how much effort their keepers go to make their life better and I put very little time and to making my cat's life better. I'm really negative about myself when I realize that I don't even want to take a little laser light and play. My attitude has changed Jackson. I want to do better for my cat because they have made my life at age 70 something worth having and enjoying and they deserve better. Thank you.
I love your videos!!! When I rescued a 2 week old abandoned kitten I watched hours of your videos learning how to properly care for him. He's the best cat ever with all the mojo. We recently got another cat, followed your videos on introducing slowly through the door with food etc worked amazingly!!! Thank you for showing us how to make amazing lives for our cats to show off their cat daddy mojo!!! Much love my friend!!!
Wow, for some reason I'm just now seeing this Jackson Galaxy video! My cat of 17 years has always used her litter box! This particular litter box is spectacular, she's only 10lbs. and it's huge! (& purple) I clean her litter box every single day! It makes her happy! Thank you all!
Baking soda in the area seems to help a lot with the smell! We put up some old food cans filled with baking soda around the area where the litter sits and it's helped immensely.
I put it directly into the litter, sprinkled on top now and again.
@@blissstreeks4035 cup cry
U.i
Are you sure it's not harmfull for the cat?If its not I'm gonna use it too😍
@@aniab4306 no its not harmful, google says its fine. A lot of litter brands use it already in their formula. :)
One of our kitties is about 90% blind, (he had 2 different bouts with an eye infection) so he relys on his sense of smell greatly. Our litter is definitely unscented!!
Love this advice! I would add that the litter box needs to be cleaned out frequently. I check twice a day. When people say cats leave a smell in the house - well clean the damn box!!!
Bermuda Bourne: To take Jackson's rant a step further in a *practical* way, here is a video at Becky Marshall's channel titled "You're Doing Your Cat Litter Wrong" with a REAL sustainable and MUCH cheaper way that is cat friendly, sustainable, and smell free. Check out the comments there.
I worked for a ceramic research company. The lab adjoining mine was headed by a scientist who found uses for "fly ash" (burnt coal). They tested & claimed it was the PERFECT kitty litter. My cat was the first cat to use it. Very light and granular, Buck would get a paw full and throw it up to 4ft. For me & my cats Pine Pellets is the ideal litter. Tractor Supply sells huge bags for horse bedding @ $7. Same as Feline Pine.
I consider doing this because I live in a rural area and some of my neighbors actually burn coal in the winter but from what I read online it can have some potential caustic stuff in the ash I'm trying to find a solution for my backyard outdoor Street cat litter box maybe I'll try the pine pellets