Litter Boxes

About Cat Litter Boxes

Litter boxes are your cat's personal bathroom space, and the only acceptable place to leave his eliminations inside your home.

In nature, cats typically look for a spot with loose sand, soil, gravel, etc. to leave their urine and feces. After taking care of business, they will attempt to bury their eliminations with the loose materials before moving on. The average cat box mimics the conditions found in nature, so your pet is naturally drawn to using one in your home.

Litter boxes can be divided into a few basic styles, although much like the mousetrap, people are always trying to build a better one, and there are even self-cleaning models on the market.

Open Boxes

An open cat box is basically a tray meant to hold a deep layer of litter material for your cat to relieve himself in. This model is definitely no-frills, but it does get the job done, and most cats will readily use one.

Covered Boxes

Covered cat boxes have a basic tray bottom and an additional hood with an open doorway for your cat.

Hooded litter boxes present both advantages and disadvantages, which can make them the proverbial double-edged sword.

Advantages include:

• Cat urine is prevented from being sprayed outside of the box onto floors and walls.
• Litter material is less likely to be tossed out of the box as your cat creates the perfect pottying spot.
• Odors are kept a bit more contained within the box, and the litter is hidden from view.
• Shy cats can have a bit more privacy, and may be more willing to use a covered box rather than an open one.

Disadvantages include:

• Odors may build up inside of the hood, creating an unpleasant place your cat may choose to avoid instead of using.
• Some cats actually seem to feel a bit claustrophobic about using a covered box, and will avoid one altogether. This can create a host of problems around the house as your cat seeks a better place, at least in his mind, to relieve himself.
• Out of sight, out of mind. If you can't see the litter, you may not realize it needs to be cleaned.

Self-Cleaning Boxes

Self-cleaning cat boxes typically employ a motion sensor, and a time-activated automatic raking system to drag soiled/clumped litter into a receptacle after your cat has left the box.

Some models seem to work better than others, and while they do remove basic eliminations from the litter, you will still need to completely wash the box on a regular basis.

Size

If you think the size of cat's litter box doesn't matter, think again. A nice roomy box provides your pet with plenty of space to find a fresh spot. A cramped box forces your pet to step around old eliminations, and unless you scoop frequently, this may become so unpleasant that your cat avoids its box altogether and looks for a new soiling spot someplace else in your home.

Try to give your pet the largest box you can possibly accommodate.

Number

Do you have more than one cat? Then you just might need more than one cat box.

Some cats will absolutely refuse to use a particular box if they smell another cat's scent there. This can lead to mishaps around the house. If your pets show a reluctance to share, try providing each with their own litter box in separate areas of the house.

Cleaning

Litter is best scooped on a daily basis, with a thorough cleaning carried out once a week.

To do this:

1. Throw away the soiled litter, reserving about a half a cup of it to add back to the new litter. This will scent the box enough for your cat to be drawn back to using it.
2. Scrub the box with hot soapy water and rinse, paying attention to the outside of the box as well as the inside.
3. Dry thoroughly and fill half full with fresh litter and the reserved soiled litter.
4. Mop the floor beneath the box's location with a mild bleach solution, replace the box and you're finished.

Other Accessories

There are a few key accessories that make dealing with Kitty's box easier for all involved.

Scoops

Don't skimp on the scoop. Purchase the sturdiest one you can find. Lightweight plastic scoops tend to snap at the handle, which can send litter flying in mid-scoop.

Litter Mats

Consider placing a litter mat in front of the box. Clay litter can easily become trapped in the pads of your cat's foot, only to be tracked across the floor. A good litter mat helps spread Kitty's paws when it steps out of the box, allowing the litter pellets to fall out onto the mat. Simply pick up the mat and pour the particles back into the box.

Pan Liners

Some cat boxes require a special plastic liner beneath the litter that makes clean up easier than ever. However, you can take the do-it-yourself route and use a thirteen gallon plastic trash liner to line the box. Simply cut down the length until you have just enough to line the bottom of the pans and fold the excess completely over the sides. At clean up time, pull up the sides and use a twist-tie to close.

Conclusion

At best, litter boxes should be enticing to our felines, yet still relatively easy for pet owners to maintain. Follow the guidelines laid out for choosing an appropriate litter box for you pet, and you'll have half the problem licked.

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