<p>Once again, I need some advice from the thoughtful parents here.</p>
<p>My friend and I share a house; he pays the mortgage while I pay him rent. He recently got a cat and put the litter box in the kitchen; the litter box would smell a little whenever the cat just “went”. </p>
<p>I feel the idea of having that thing in the kitchen is kinda gross. Since it’s in the kitchen, he naturally would sometime wash the litter box scoop in the kitchen sink and not far from the sink are few kitchen knives and dish drying tray! Fortunately, I usually eat out so it’s not a huge issue but I still feel like I want to suggest an alternative location (e.g. somewhere upstairs in his master bedroom and office den).</p>
<p>I’d like to know what your thoughts are. Is there any legitimate health concern after all, especially considering he does make meals at home?</p>
<p>I have my litterbox in a closet right off of the kitchen, but I literally have nowhere else to put it (the joy of studios). That said, I would never wash anything related to the litterbox in my kitchen sink. I always take it to the bathroom. That’s disgusting.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s a health concern with the location, but smelling that while you’re eating and preparing food is certainly off-putting. Is your friend’s litterbox the kind with a cover? Has he tried different kinds of litter (I’ve found that some work much better than others).</p>
<p>That said, like I said my kitchen is really my only option, but it sounds like you have others. When I had roommates, my litterbox was either in my bedroom or the bathroom when we had an apartment with a big bathroom. You shouldn’t have to smell that while you’re preparing food. I think the kitchen should be a last resort.</p>
<p>I have a cat and can help you. First off. That is gross that its in the kitchen. Here is why. When they get out of the litter box some of the cat litter sticks and goes on the floor. So now you have cat stuff on the floor. And some cats (like mine does) like to play in the litter more then others. He tosses it all over. So I got a huge box and put the litter box in it and cut a small slot in it so he doesn’t have to jump all the way to get in the box. But still the litter gets on the floor. And the reason cats are clean is they leave their stuff all over. They clean contiually and pull out hair and shed it all over. Then they roll around in it, then lick it off.</p>
<p>eireann,
The litter box has a cover. Usually it doesn’t stink; it stinks a bit when the cat just went. It’s probably because it takes a while for the absorbents to complete the process. He does have space upstairs. The whole third floor is his with a masters bedroom and an office den. </p>
<p>zapfino,
That’s kinda scary! The cat is very cute and all; but now I may not want to interact with him as much. :)</p>
<p>Can you put the litter box in your bathroom? </p>
<p>And I wouldn’t worry that much about toxoplasmosis. According to the Cornell University site, cat to human transfer is rare and that most people get infected by eating raw meat and eating unwashed veggies and fruit. Pregnant women need to take more care and should not clean the litter. Supposedly, more than 60 million Americans have been infected with toxoplasmosis, which I found interesting.</p>
<p>^LOL! I haven’t been as grossed out, partly because I wasn’t sure if it’s factually unhealthy and unhygenic. But maybe I should be now! </p>
<p>Onward,
It’s not my cat so I don’t consider putting it in my bathroom. But I am going to suggest my friend to put it in his bedroom, bathroom, or den on the 3rd floor.</p>
<p>I love cats, but who likes a litter box? In the kitchen? Never. It needs to go in some out of the way spot - cats like their “privacy” too. I personally like a little to never used bathtub, if there is one available. That keeps the litter from getting out into general traffic, and it can be cleaned with bleach etc. (the tub that is) if need be. If not, a back hallway or other similar spot. My own cat is somewhat at a disadvantage in that the litter box must be inaccessible to the dogs, who will mess with it if they can.</p>
<p>Yewwwww…and I am a vet witha very high “gross out level”. I would not have the litterbox near the kitchen. The cat will use the litterbox, take a few steps and up on the counter we go taking litter/fecal remnants with us. Toxo may not be big concern but read up on roundworms (typically 12 hour flu signs in people, but possible cysts in the brain or eye) and giardia (diarrhea). Also, awful high traffic area-most cats like some privacy.</p>
<p>The third floor sounds perfect. Cats prefer to use their litterbox, so once he shows the cat the new location, he will use it immediately. Tell your room mate that cats don’t care about convenience the way we do - a walk to the third floor is no problem for a cat! Our cat’s litterbox is tucked away in a closet in a basement bathroom that no one else uses. He has no problem making the journey down there when he needs to do his business. I agree with the other posters that cats do seem to prefer their litter to be away from activity because they like privacy.</p>