Need opinions...Shavings VS Blankets?

[EvenLater]

I clean his pen probably more than i need to because even though it's pretty big he poops a lot and being inside i want it to not smell like poo lol. And yes sky the things i'm thinking of are just like the mats for by cat boxes to catch litter only they come pretty big. I have a big one (80x35) by our bank patio door where the dogs go in and out. Cost $10 at home depot so i think I'm gonna grab one of those and cut it into two mats and give it a try. If it doesn't work im only out $10 and I'll try something else lol

 

[Skyfire]

The downside to using a bathtub is that it's not convenient for day use. I blocked off the living room and laid down a vinyl table cloth in the family room. On top of the table cloth I lay down a single layer of towels. I pick up solids. If she goes into squirt gun mode, I change out the towel. She is allowed full run of the kitchen, entry, laundry room. I run around a lot with paper towels and disinfectant, lol. She's pretty obedient when in the family room. She understands I don't want her off the table cloth when she's not wearing a diaper. It is carpeted; accidents are no fun to clean up on carpet. Sometimes her butt is the wrong position (poop goes over the edge of the mat) but she doesn't wander off so I haven't had to put the pen around her space.

I see a pattern to her pooping. She fires poops like a machine gun while and just after eating. It slows down in between feedings. I've had her on my lap a half hour without pooping. I read somewhere that they can go 2 hours as adults before their diaper needs changing. Looking forward to that!


She conveniently took that dump right before the photo, lol

 

[EvenLater]

Lol Sky, Cas LOVES to drop a bomb right as I grab my camera...Sigh...

I'm noticing a pattern with Cas too. Right before (and I mean literally seconds to react lol) he poops, he shakes his butt. It's both adorable, and now a frightening split second warning!

As for the mat idea I have, I'm thinking something like this?

They come in lots of sizes and are fairly cheap. Product details:

• Fashionable black textured surface scrapes shoes and absorbs water to help keep your floors clean
• 90% Recycled rubber backing with a durable synthetic top
• Machine made in the USA
• Slip resistant recycled rubber backing for safety
• Stain-resistant carpet surface cleans easily by shaking, sweeping or hosing off

I'm going to get the big one and cut it into 2 mats the right size for his pen and give it a try. I'll post how well, or not well, it works.

 

[GiddyGoose]

Firstly, I love you for that Supernatural reference. I have the anti-possession tattoo incorporated into some work on my arm!

Secondly, yes, they usually do a little tail wiggle prior to pooping, but it doesn't always mean poop. I've even observed this pre-poop wiggle behavior in wild geese, too.

We personally used discarded hotel sheets for no diaper time. My fiance worked as security at a hotel and you won't believe how many sheets they discard every day for the smallest of stains! It could of just been off color and they'd ditch it. Now that he's no longer there, we try to take good care of the giant sheets rather than ditching them after being pooped up.

 

[EvenLater]

Firstly, I love you for that Supernatural reference.

I have the anti-possession tattoo incorporated into some work on my arm!

Secondly, yes, they usually do a little tail wiggle prior to pooping, but it doesn't always mean poop. I've even observed this pre-poop wiggle behavior in wild geese, too.

We personally used discarded hotel sheets for no diaper time. My fiance worked as security at a hotel and you won't believe how many sheets they discard every day for the smallest of stains! It could of just been off color and they'd ditch it. Now that he's no longer there, we try to take good care of the giant sheets rather than ditching them after being pooped up.

Not many get the reference, but when someone does, it makes me Giddy! Pun intended! LOL I found a lovely lady who makes costumes for pet geese and she is busy working away on a beige trench coat with a shirt and tie for my Cas! I can't wait!!! I plan to dress him and put some pics on a few of the SN sites I'm on! If I feel bold enough, I'd love to send one to Misha, but I think I would just DIE if he replied!

As for his "pre pooping" I've noticed he's getting so much better. I had him out for 45 minutes last night before bed and he didn't mess once the entire time. I'll be going shopping tomorrow and will grab some mats (since I'm out of shavings now anyway after cleaning him out this morning). I also have to get him a new food and water set up and I think I'm going to get one of the raised ones they make for dogs, because his new "fun" thing is using a foot to purposely dump the water dish right after I fill it and put him into his pen! What a little brat! God I love him! Lol

 

[GiddyGoose]

Not many get the reference, but when someone does, it makes me Giddy! Pun intended! LOL I found a lovely lady who makes costumes for pet geese and she is busy working away on a beige trench coat with a shirt and tie for my Cas! I can't wait!!! I plan to dress him and put some pics on a few of the SN sites I'm on! If I feel bold enough, I'd love to send one to Misha, but I think I would just DIE if he replied! 

As for his "pre pooping" I've noticed he's getting so much better. I had him out for 45 minutes last night before bed and he didn't mess once the entire time. I'll be going shopping tomorrow and will grab some mats (since I'm out of shavings now anyway after cleaning him out this morning). I also have to get him a new food and water set up and I think I'm going to get one of the raised ones they make for dogs, because his new "fun" thing is using a foot to purposely dump the water dish right after I fill it and put him into his pen! What a little brat! God I love him! Lol

Oh my lawd, I may die of cuteness overload if I gaze upon such glory as a fully suited up Cas gosling! Personally, though, I love me some Crowley.

Don't worry, mine do that, too! Those dog bowls saved me from having soggy floors and floors covered in grass and feed. However, it doesn't protect my walls from having food slung everywhere. Angel frequently shakes his head while feeding, slinging bits if wet grain everywhere. It's not vomitting where the head is violently swayed/shaken, just more of, say, a gesture to get any stuck food from the bill.

 

[EvenLater]

Oh my lawd, I may die of cuteness overload if I gaze upon such glory as a fully suited up Cas gosling! Personally, though, I love me some Crowley.

Don't worry, mine do that, too! Those dog bowls saved me from having soggy floors and floors covered in grass and feed. However, it doesn't protect my walls from having food slung everywhere. Angel frequently shakes his head while feeding, slinging bits if wet grain everywhere. It's not vomitting where the head is violently swayed/shaken, just more of, say, a gesture to get any stuck food from the bill.

Ok, that settles it! If I get Cas a friend down the road, his name MUST be Crowley! Lol

I just did a full make over on his house today. I took all the shavings out (his itching had become unbearable, and he'd chewed on his little wing a bit to try and stop the itching

) and replaced it with a large mat, rubber on the bottom cloth on top. He LOVES it. I also switched out his dishes to elevated bowls and he no longer "swims" in the water but can still blow all kinds of bubbles

I'll see how switching them out goes tomorrow and post an updated review. Lol

 

[EvenLater]

Ok, here's my "review" on the new mat set up for Cas's house.


Pros:

*Even after a full night, there is NO odor. With the shavings, it would have smelled like a barn by morning.
*Cas is far more comfortable (stretched out, lounging, relaxing) on the mat VS when he had shavings.
*It's not dusty, and Cas is far less itchy seeming.
*The mat whisks away wetness (from splashing and from poop) so Cas is cleaner and drier this morning.
*Cas and his toys aren't covered with prickly shavings. No shavings tracked all over the house, or clogging up the washing machine. Not to mention, no more shavings in the water bowl sucking up all the water.


Cons:

*Cleaning took a tad more than with the shavings where you could just scoop, toss, and refill. Not nearly as complicated as I thought it would be though, and didn't take nearly as long. The ridged mat allowed the droppings to "dry up" and I literally just shook it outside then ran a vacuum over it, and viola done!
*It's not as 'soft' as shavings, so I'm considering putting blankets under it to 'pad' it more.


All in all, I'm glad I switched. He's happier, and I'm happier. While it's a bit more to clean, it actually takes less time and he stays cleaner and drier and seems overall more comfortable. The reduction in odor is nearly 100%. I feel much more like he is a pet in my house now, not a barn animal living as a pet in my house. I would house a puppy, kitten, or other pet in the set up he has now. I will post before cleaning and after cleaning photos shortly.

 

[Skyfire]

Consider me sold! I'm going to pick some of these up for the family room. My back is going to break if I do one more load of laundry. Ugh.

 

[EvenLater]

Consider me sold! I'm going to pick some of these up for the family room. My back is going to break if I do one more load of laundry. Ugh.

It almost seems to me that they are (to a degree anyway) scotch guarded? The way they whisk away moisture and the then solid can just be picked up or shook off amazes me. The pics of the mess from the night are to follow, and then after no more than 5 minutes of "cleaning" (a brisk shake shake shake outside, and a rough quick vacuum) and it's clean again pics to follow as well!