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Starting Out Right With Your New Cat And The Litter Box
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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 litter box. 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 litter box, 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 litter box 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.
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