Copyright 2000. Dumb Friends
League. All rights reserved.
Most cats have a specific
preference about where they want to eliminate. By following the
suggestions outlined in this handout, you’ll be able to start off on the
right foot with your new cat.
Location
Most people are inclined to
place the litter box in an out-of-the-way spot in order to minimize odor
and loose particles of cat litter in the house. Often, the litter box ends
up in the basement, sometimes next to an appliance and/or on a cold cement
floor. This type of location can be undesirable from your cat's point of
view for several reasons.
If you have a kitten or an older
cat, she may not be able to get down a long flight of stairs in time to
get to the litter box. Since she is new to the household, she may not
remember where the litter box is if it’s located in an area she seldom
frequents. Your cat may be startled while using the litter box if a
furnace, washer or dryer suddenly comes on and that may be the last time
she’ll risk such a frightening experience! If your cat likes to scratch
the surface surrounding her litter box, she may find a cold cement floor
unappealing.
Therefore, you may have to
compromise. The litter box should be kept in a location that affords your
cat some privacy, but is also conveniently located. If you place the
litter box in a closet or a bathroom, be sure the door is wedged open from
both sides, in order to prevent her from being trapped in or out.
Depending on where it’s located, you might consider cutting a hole in a
closet door and adding a swinging door. If the litter box sits on a
smooth, slick or cold surface, put a small throw rug underneath the litter
box.
Type Of Litter
Research has shown that most cats
prefer fine-grained litters, presumably because they have a softer feel.
The new scoopable litters usually have finer grains than the typical clay
litter. However, high-quality, dust-free, clay litters are relatively
small-grained and may be perfectly acceptable to your cat. Potting soil
also has a very soft texture, but is not very absorbent. If you suspect
your cat has a history of spending time outdoors and is likely to
eliminate in your houseplants, you can try mixing some potting soil with
your regular litter. Pellet-type litters or those made from citrus peels
are not recommended. Once you find a litter your cat likes, don't change
types or brands. Buying the least expensive litter or whatever brand
happens to be on sale, could result in your cat not using the litter box.
Many cats are put off by the odor
of scented or deodorant litters. For the same reason, it’s not a good idea
to place a room deodorizer or air freshener near the litter box. A thin
layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb
odors without repelling your cat. Odor shouldn’t be a problem if the
litter box is kept clean. If you find the litter box odor offensive, your
cat probably finds it even more offensive and won’t want to eliminate
there.
Number Of Litter Boxes
You should have at least as many
litter boxes as you have cats. That way, none of them will ever be
prevented from eliminating in the litter box because it’s already
occupied. You might also consider placing them in several locations around
the house, so that no one cat can "guard" the litter box area and prevent
the other cats from accessing it. We also recommend that you place at
least one litter box on each level of your
house. It’s not possible to designate a personal litter box for each cat
in your household, as cats will use any litter box that’s available.
Occasionally, a cat may refuse to use the litter box after another cat has
used it. In this case, all of the litter boxes will need to be kept
extremely clean and additional boxes may be needed.
To Cover Or Not To Cover
Some people prefer to use a
covered litter box, however, there are some potential problems with using
this type of box. You may want to experiment by offering both types at
first, to discover what your cat prefers.
Potential Problems:
- You may forget to clean the
litter box as frequently as you should because the dirty litter is "out
of sight – out of mind."
- A covered litter box traps
odors inside, so it will need to be cleaned more often than an open one.
- A covered litter box may not
allow a large cat sufficient room to turn around, scratch, dig or
position herself in the way she wants.
- A covered litter box may also
make it easier for another cat to lay in wait and "ambush" the user as
she exits the box. On the other hand, a covered litter box may feel more
private and may be preferred by timid cats.
Cleaning The Box
To meet the needs of the
most discriminating cat, feces should be scooped out of the litter box
daily. How often you change the litter depends on the number of cats you
have, the number of litter boxes, and the type of litter you use. Twice a
week is a general guideline for clay litter, but depending on the
circumstances, you may need to change it every other day or once a week.
If you scoop the litter daily, scoopable litter can go two to three weeks
before the litter needs to be changed. If you notice an odor or if much of
the litter is wet or clumped, it's time for a change. Don’t use strong
smelling chemicals or cleaning products when washing the litter box, as it
may cause your cat to avoid it. Washing with soap and water should be
sufficient.
Liners
Some cats don't mind having a
liner in the litter box, while others do. Again, you may want to
experiment to see if your cat is bothered by a liner in the box. If you do
use a liner, make sure it’s anchored in place, so it can’t easily catch
your cat's claws or be pulled out of place.
Depth Of Litter
Some people think that the more
litter they put in the box, the less often they will have to clean it.
This is not true. Most cats won’t use litter that’s more than about two
inches deep. In fact, some long-haired cats, actually prefer less litter
and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the litter box. The
litter box needs to be cleaned on a regular basis and adding extra litter
is not a way around that chore.
"Litter-Training" Cats
There’s really no such thing as
"litter-training" a cat in the same way one would house-train a dog. A cat
doesn’t need to be taught what to do with a litterbox. The only thing you
need to do is provide an acceptable, accessible litter box, using the
suggestions above. It’s not necessary to take your cat to the litter box
and move her paws back and forth in the litter, in fact, we don’t
recommend it. This may actually be an unpleasant experience for your cat
and is likely to initiate a negative association with the litter box.
If Problems Develop
If your cat begins to eliminate in areas other than the
litterbox, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many
medical conditions can cause a change in a cat’s litter box habits. If
your veterinarian determines that your cat is healthy, the cause may be
behavioral. Most litterbox behavior problems can be resolved by using
behavior modification techniques. Punishment is not the answer. For
long-standing or complex situations, contact an animal behavior specialist
who has experience working with cats. |
