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Junior Member
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Last Login: 6/15/2008 1:43:23 AM
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I grew up with cats and have had cats around as long as I can remember. My wife grew up with a cat too, but now that we have kids (18month old and a newborn), she wants the cats to go. She likes the cats, but her concern is the litter that they drag throughout the house.
We keep the litter box in our laundry room (cement floor) which is off the kitchen. I tried one of the plastic mats right in front of the litter box to help get litter off their paws, but they still manage to get it into the carpets and other places.
What are some things I can do to try and keep the amount of litter that is tracked through the house down? And are there any articles on the health impacts of litter tracked through the house on young children that will be crawling around on the floor?
Nick
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 4:41:01 PM
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| You could try putting the litterbox inside a bigger box so they would have to jump to get out - that would knock some of the litter off of their feet -- they also sell litter attracting mats in pet stores. What kind of litter do you use? The clumping scoopable doesn't seem to stick to their feet as much. You might end up having to work a little harder keeping the area swept up == or vacuum the area frequently. Our litterboxes are in the basement and I use scoopable litter and have 4 cats. We don't get any litter tracked upstairs in the house but around the litter boxes I have to sweep up everyday. I'm pretty sure litter is non-toxic -- to make sure, read the label on your box or bag of litter. When our kids were babies and little we had 2 huge dogs and 3 cats. Good luck! Come Visit me (Rusty): http://www.catchannel.com/blog/viewbio.aspx?apid=66161
SuperCat
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 9/13/2008 7:11:26 PM
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| I put my litter boxes on one of the large plastic mats that they use in offices to allow the desk chair to roll more easily on carpet. This makes cleanup easier, because I can sweep instead of vaccuuming when I change the boxes, and they get the litter off of their feet before they hit the carpet. You can buy these in office supply stores, and they come in various sizes and shapes. I've known a number of people over the years who have raised children with cats and litterboxes, and none of them had any troubles.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:51:27 AM
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LOL you could do this, but I don't reccomend it  
The worst thing that could happen to a baby is toxoplasmosis (which i believe is treatable), cat/human diseases do exist, but are just as easily transmitted person to person. The benefits of raising a child with pets far outweighs any dangers. Fewer allergies, more health benefits, and kids learn responsibility, love, and usually death in healthier ways with pets than without. It's odd that your wife is saying the cats have to go, it's usually the wife who'd be more willing to give up the husband than the cat! 
My cats own my house they just permit me to live there. Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur-coated, musical hot water bottles that never go cold."
- Susanne Millen 
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 4:41:01 PM
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| PeaLokiGabe: ROTFL -- great idea - shoes on cats, you could train them to take the shoes off before going in the litter box and then putting them back on to walk through the house! Works for me! Come Visit me (Rusty): http://www.catchannel.com/blog/viewbio.aspx?apid=66161
SuperCat
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 6/15/2008 1:43:23 AM
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All good ideas. We had been living where there were no basements, but we are moving back to the mid-west so that should help but putting some distance between the litter box and the upstairs carpets. By the way, I use Fresh Step.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:51:27 AM
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| Booda dome litterbox, is round and kind of looks like an igloo, with its own stairs, and a top entry litterbox maybe good solutions for you. The booda dome because it's round and itwill cause them to walk or leap enough to shake the litter of their paws, and the top entry litterbox, because of gravity, and the angle of entry.
My cats own my house they just permit me to live there. Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur-coated, musical hot water bottles that never go cold."
- Susanne Millen
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