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 Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:43 pm
Why a Litter Box? Litter boxes are what seperates cats from most mammals. Their abilty to seek out sand, use it as a potty, and do this instinctively is rather amazing yes? Litterboxes serve one purpose: the cats bathroom. It should be respected as such. How many boxes you have depends normally on the number of cats owned (+ one!) as well as placement. smile Having a litter box for your cat also allows you to monitor their waste. A cat that isnt using the potty is usually the first sign of illness. Even if your cat is a strictly outdoor feline, or one that comes and goes, its a good idea to still have at least one box and that he knows how to use it. It could be used in times of bad weather or illness.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:38 pm
Types of Boxes There are so many types of boxes on the market and it completely depends on the cat. What they need is more important than "out of sight out of mind". Essentially a good box is a one your cat fits in (and turns around comfortably in), one that meets his needs (lowered, covered etc), and one that he will use. The Basic Box comes in all shapes and colors and is relitively cheap. They come in xs, sm, med, L, XL, and Jumbo sizes. The High Sided Litter Box is a great option for those pesky diggers. They come in all sized and are easy to clean out. smile Another digger solution is putting a basic box into a large stealite or rubbermaid container. The Covered Box is also an option. Some cats enjoy the privacy of having their own area. Often times, in a multi cat house hold, covered boxes arent ideal as the cat can get "trapped" and will be averted from using the litter box. There are all types of boxes ranging from styles and sizes, comfort level, human comfort level, etc. smile
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:57 pm
Types of Litter Theres also alot of litter on the market as well. They have perfumey, clumping, non clumping, organic....It varies on price, quality, and what your kitty needs. Non Clumping litter:This is low tracking gravel. Pros: not as much grit on the floor Cons: Not as scoopable. Clumping LitterOne of the more popular types out there, this one creates clumps for easy scooping. It comes in a variety of types and smells. Just remeber, your kittys nose is alot more sensitive than our own. Pros: Easy Cleaning Cons: Grit on the floor, dusty, often causes problems for cats Organic LitterThese vary by brand, such as Sweat Scoop and Worlds Best Litter, and Feline Pine. It is recomended that you use one of these litters for a recently declawed cat, or a cat that has problems with its nails. These can come in non clumping, clumping and most of the time are flushable, and safe for kitty to use. Pros: Green, better for kitty Cons: Sometimes not clumping, a little pricier. When choosing a litter, try to avoid ones that have overwhelming scents. This can cause respiritory allergies in cats, allergies in humans, and box avoidance. Also, kittens when being trained to use a litter box, it is recomended to use a non clumping litter, as sometimes they can ingest it. Petco Litter Guide
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:40 pm
Litter Box Placement Where you place your litter box is very vital clue to if your cat uses it or not. Proper placement of the box is key in getting her to use it, avoid box problems and makes sure the cat has a healthy relationship with the bathroom. The DONTS of Litterbox Placement:*DO NOT place in a high traffic area *DO NOT put it in a place thats not easily accessible to the cat *DO NOT put the box near the feeding/bedding station. The only time this should be broken is if the cat is in confinment. Even then place the box as far away from the food as possible. *DO NOT put in a place that is accessible to dogs or small sticky humans. *DO NOT put it in a place where it is easily forgotten. Cats like clean boxes. smile Most common areas are the laundry room or in the human bathroom. If placed in the laundry room, make sure your cat wouldnt be startled by the washing machine or the dryer cycles. Nothing like going potty and being startled sensless by loud aggrivated sounds. This could promote box aversion and a timid feline. Ideally, place a box on a surface that isnt carpeted. Litter granules are harder to clean when in the carpet. Linolium, wood floors, tiles... Place the box so that it is accessible to the cat and the cat has a good escape route. If living in a multicat home, cats will often gaurd the box, scare the box using feline, and they need a good place to get out quick. Covered boxes are nice, but more for us humans. A covered box in a multicat home is generally a bad idea because the box using feline could be cornerd and attacked and have it lead to box aversion.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:40 pm
Litter Box Aversion Covered more in the behavioral section of the forums, there are some general rules when regarding litter box aversion. If kitty decides to not want to use the box for what its for, try answering the following questions: Is it clean? Is it in a good spot? Is he/she being harrased by one of the other cats? Was there changes in routine? Lifestyle? Home life? Was he/she traumitized when in the box? (startled?) Not all litterbox problems are behavioral. If concered about a possible medical issue, ask yourself: Increase/decrease liquid intake? Peeing on softer objects? (clothes, bed, carpet) These could be signs that there is a UTI (urinary tract infection.) or diabetes. If at all concerned with ANY box problems, its best to go to the vet and rule out a medical issue.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Keep it CLEAN!! Cats have an amazing sense of smell. Quote: A domestic cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times as strong as a human's.[9] Cats have twice as many[citation needed] receptors in the olfactory epithelium (i.e. smell-sensitive cells in their noses) as people do, meaning that cats have a more acute sense of smell than humans. Cats also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal (or Jacobson's) organ. When a cat wrinkles its muzzle, lowers its chin, and lets its tongue hang a bit, it is opening the passage to the vomeronasal. This is called gaping, "sneering", "snake mouth", or "Flemming". Gaping is the equivalent of the Flehmen response in other animals, such as dogs, horses and big cats Basically, they can pick up on things on a microbial level, somthing us petty humans with our large noses cant see/smell. They use smell to determine if their food is good to eat, depict a smell out of curiosity, and be notified of other cats that have been poking around. Keeping a box clean is vital. Cats are naturally clean creatures, and their bathroom is one of those places thats up to us humans to take care of. General rules for keeping a box clean:*Scoop once to twice a day, removing all waste from the box. *Do full box changes every other week to once a month *When cleaning the box, you can use a highly diluted bleach, vinegar, or dish soap. Make sure that whatever you do clean it with that it doesnt leave a risidual smell behind. Never use ammonia to clean it as it reminds cats of old cat pee.
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