Cat Litter Box

[Sweety]

The Perfect Kitty Commode

Bathroom facilities for your cat require special attention, since hit-or-miss litter box behavior is the number one complaint of cat owners. When you have a new kitten, he won’t automatically know what to do—or where to do it.

You can help the kitten make the right choices by offering him the proper equipment from the beginning. When you have an adult cat, you can reduce or eliminate problems by giving him better potty options. There are three components to the kitty commode: the pan, the filler, and accessories like the scoop.

Litter Pans, Plain and Fancy

The prime consideration when choosing the baby’s first bathroom is that he is able to climb inside the Cat litter box. When he is very small, it may be best to use a temporary facility until he grows up enough to manage commercial-size products.

The cardboard lid from a boot box or even a disposable foil cookie sheet from the grocery store may work fine. Don’t invest in a nice but small commercial pan that he’ll outgrow within several months. A too-small cat litter box is at the root of most kitty bathroom misbehavior.

A litter box with short sides also works well for arthritic older cats that have trouble climbing into and out of the cat litter box. Think about giving your cat many opportunities to make good choices, and you’ll reduce the potential for accidents.

 

How Many Pans Do You Need?

 

The rule of thumb—or “paw”—is to have one pan per cat, plus one. That’s because often cats don’t want to share bathroom facilities, or may prefer to use one for urine and the other for feces. Also, tiny kittens need extra help to reach a distant box, so two located in both ends of the house helps prevent accidents.

 

Of course, when you have many cats in a small space, it could be difficult to find places for lots of boxes. When your cats willingly sleep together and groom each other (that demonstrates friendship), they’re more likely to share potty facilities. So for instance, a home with six cats that typically sleep in two or three groups may do well sharing three extra-large litter boxes.

 

What Kind of Cat Litter Box is the Best?

 

Several commercial litter box styles are available. The standard plain-and-simple litter box measures about 5 x 12 x 18 inches and is made of an easily cleaned plastic. Larger litter pans are available—but most commercial boxes frankly are too small! So unless your kitty is a breed that remains quite petite, like the Singapura, it’s a good idea to go with the largest size cat litter box available. See this cat litter video.

When you have a kitten, plan for when your baby grows to full size. Average to large cats may have trouble maneuvering in the smallest boxes. Your cat won’t want to stand on top of his “creativity” in order to cover up the deposit, so he needs enough room to turn around.

A covered model helps keep them from “hanging out” over the side or “spraying” over the edge. Covered boxes also keeps litter from being flung out of the box during enthusiastic excavations, and can deter dogs that get nosy around the cat’s toilet.

But covered boxes also concentrates odor inside (cats hate that!) and many cats feel trapped inside and refuse to use covered boxes. Large transparent containers Kitty can see out, with high sides that contain the mess may be the ideal solution.

Cat Litter Box Filler

Once you choose your litter pan, decide what to put in the box. When choosing the cat litter, remember that kittens and cats prefer soft, soil-like textures for easy digging, and strong perfumes or dust may turn them off.

Clumping litters are composed of finer granules that are less abrasive on tender paws. They congeal liquid waste into a solid ball for easy removal. That prolongs the life of the rest of the litter. Clumping litters are one of the most convenient, popular products available. Perfect Litter combines the convenience of clumping and great odor control with “green” technology.

Once you’ve found a product Kitty likes, don’t change it! That might turn him off to the litter box. You can transition your cat as an adult, but it’s easiest when he’s still a clueless baby.

You’ll need to clean out solid waste (and liquid, as much as possible) at least once a day. Once a month change out the entire contents with fresh litter—do this more often if multiple cats share the same potty.

 

 

WARNING! Small amounts aren’t likely to be a problem with adult-size cats, but concerns have been raised that very young tiny kittens who taste everything could have problems if they swallow any amount of a clay clumping litter. Monitor your kittens to be sure they don’t eat any litter—noneof it is good for them. Litter made from biodegradable or digestible products are less likely to cause problems if they are eaten. However, strong-scented “natural” litters (pine, cedar and citrus are common) may be off-putting to cats—and potentially aggravate asthma or other respiratory issues.