Puku of the Kankodori General Store: A Spring Afternoon with a Concerning Odor, Running Out of the Cat Litter Box
It was an afternoon where the smell was concerning.
Of all days, it had to be when I had customers.
And then the cat ran out of the litter box.
When you live with a cat, there are days when you become sensitive to smells.
Today was one of those days.
A faint presence drifting from the back of the shop.
That realistic smell that I couldn't just dismiss as my imagination.
Puku is lying on the rug with his belly exposed.
He has a face that is convinced the world is peaceful again today.
He is probably the culprit,
and it is almost always me who cleans it up.
Even when it comes to dealing with cat litter box odors, I don't do anything special.
I use a system litter box and rely on deodorizing pellets and absorbent sheets.
The mechanism is well-designed, and it suppresses odors quite well.
However, if you leave it alone, it will definitely make its presence known.
For a brief moment, I thought about pretending not to notice.
On days when sales are slow, for some reason, I become hypersensitive to things like this.
I feel like people think this is a 'sloppy shop,' and I end up feeling down on my own.
How much easier would it be if I could blame it on having a cat?
I seriously thought that, and immediately hated myself for it.
I open the lid and stir the pellets.
With a dry rustling sound, I know it's time to change them.
When I roll up the old sheet, it feels heavy.
Even though it's proof of life, today it makes me sigh just a little.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
I called out, "Welcome," while trying to read the room.
The customer was looking slowly at the shelves. They didn't seem to notice me.
Even so, I suddenly became worried about the smell of my shop.
Behind me, Puku entered the litter box. Of all times, I thought.
The sound of scratching echoed.
And the next moment, he dashed out with great force.
He crossed the rug, brushed past the shelf legs, and kicked out a few pieces of litter that hadn't quite dried yet.
Small grains scattered across the floor.
I stood frozen for a moment,
and let out a voiceless, "Hey..."
I immediately crouched down to pick up the grains from the floor.
The customer looked at me once. Without saying a word, they returned their gaze to the shelves.
That stung just a little.
Puku turned around in the back of the shop and began grooming himself with a face that suggested nothing had happened.
I think dealing with cat litter box odors is more about consistency than dramatic methods.
Sticking to the schedule for full replacements. Not letting the sheets pile up. Not turning a blind eye.
Even so, it never becomes perfect.
I crouched down and picked up the remaining litter pellets one or two at a time with my fingertips.
The sound of them dropping into the trash can echoed softly.
I stood up and closed the lid of the litter box once more.
Puku returned to the rug with a face that suggested nothing had happened.
I headed to the back of the shop to get a broom.
For days when the smell bothers me,
I chose a 'system that I can keep up with'.
What I am using now is
a system litter box supervised by a deodorizing expert.
It is a dome type that prevents odors from getting trapped,
and the white sheets make it easy to check the condition.
The peace of mind that comes with 'it's okay not to change it for a week'
is honestly what helps me the most.
What I have in the shop isthis one.
It is not perfect.
But the time I spend wearing myself out over the smell has definitely decreased.
If you prioritize 'being able to keep it up',
I think this type is a very realistic choice.
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