Mary Allen
When it comes to their toilet, cats don’t show any mercy! The four-legged friends are clean animals, which is why they have high standards when it comes to litter boxes. Here you can find out everything you should consider as an owner.
Cats are known to be very clean. That’s exactly why they have clear rules when it comes to the hygiene of their toilet. Read here which litter box is suitable for your cat, how often you have to clean the litter box, and where it is best to put it.
The Right Place For the Litter Box
Proper placement of the litter box is extremely important. Many underestimate this and make one of the biggest mistakes when it comes to the litter box. Like humans, cats want a discreet place to do their business. A cat can’t stand the noise and the feeling of being watched at this moment.
It is best to put the litter box in a room where not much happens (e.g. not in the living room). Nevertheless, the room must always be freely accessible. A storage room is perfect in this case. You should also make sure that the toilet is not directly next to the cat’s feeding place. This could result in her refusing her toilet.
Cat food is best placed on a tiled floor: it is easy to clean it of debris and any excrement.
Lidded Litter Box: Yes or No?
Cats are extreme individualists. It is therefore not possible to say in general which litter box is better for your pet. Whether it should have a lid or not always depends on the cat. Some feel unobserved and protected in a hooded litter box. For others, on the other hand, it can happen that they feel imprisoned precisely because of this roof over their heads.
Whenever you get a new cat, try to start with a litter box model that she used in her previous home whenever possible. After acclimatization, you can then find out which litter box suits your cat best. You may have to try different litter boxes before you find the one that suits your cat best.
The rattan-look litter box looks beautiful and is also very practical. Thanks to a drawer system and a corresponding scoop, cleaning this litter box is very easy. A paw wiper prevents cat litter from being carried into the home.
The Right Size and Shape of the Litter Box
Kitten litter boxes shouldn’t have too high a rim so the kittens don’t have to become climbers to get in. This also takes them a few steps further in housebreaking. This also applies to old cats, for whom stepping over the edge of the lid can quickly become a painful affair.
A litter box should always be adapted to the size of the cat. The animals need a lot of freedom of movement in it: they must be able to turn around easily and have enough space to scratch. Only then will the litter box be the ideal size.
If the cat defecates or urinates over the edge of the litter box, this is a clear indication that the litter box is too small!
How Often Do You Need to Clean the Litter Box?
There is almost nothing worse for cats than a dirty toilet. If they could do it themselves, then cats would probably reach for the shovel several times a day and clean their toilet of dirt. As a cat owner, you need to clean the litter box at least once a day. Even better is cleaning the toilet twice a day.
In addition to daily cleaning, the litter box must also be completely cleaned at regular intervals. Remnants of feces can stubbornly remain inside despite the litter. Therefore, the bowl must be completely emptied once a week and washed thoroughly with hot water. After a few years, the toilet should be completely replaced.
Changing the Type of Cat Litter in the Litter Box
Our tip first: as soon as the cat gets used to its litter, it’s worth its weight in gold! If you decide to change the variety anyway, proceed with caution.
In this case, cats once again prove their stubbornness. They don’t like change – especially not with litter! So start with small steps. Gradually mix more and more new bedding into the old one. This allows your cat to get used to the new consistency. Be prepared for a protest from the cat. But this should settle down over time.
The Number of Litter Boxes Must Be Right
The rule of thumb is: x cats = x + 1 litter box. The formula is especially important in multi-cat households because not all cats like to share their toilet. Some cats will not go to toilets that have been used by other cats. Therefore, place the different litter boxes in different rooms.
If you buy another litter box afterward, you will probably have the problem that the new one will not be accepted immediately. Here it is recommended to mix some of the old litter into the new toilet so that it quickly takes on the cat smell.
Rather No Scents For the Litter Box
There are so many useful accessories for the litter box. But most things only make life easier for the owner. In order to bind the unpleasant odors of the toilet, odor binders are often used.
But beware! In these cases, the four-legged friends like to stand across. Their sensitive nose is often underestimated and so they refuse to continue using the litter box. To avoid an unnecessary protest, it is better to test beforehand whether your cat will accept the new smell.
If your cat refuses to use the litter box and becomes unclean, it is possible to use home remedies to remove the odor of cat urine instead of using deodorants.
If the cat refuses to go to the toilet, the cause must be found out and remedied as quickly as possible. For example, illness and stress can lead to uncleanliness.