Battle of the Boxes
After having lost my two dogs, one after the other due to illness I found myself getting a kitten. A friend’s cat had a litter and I fell for Martin, the only boy cat in the bunch. I was advised my Vet to keep him indoors. He said it would be better for his health on many levels. I have since found out that most experts agree with this. Indoor cats live longer because they are not exposed to a lot of diseases, cat fights and accidents.
One of the first things that delighted me was how low maintenance he was. I got him bowls for his food and water plus some really cool cat toys and an uncovered litter box. No more potty walks twice a day rain or shine, sick or well! I was fortunate because my friend had litter box trained the kittens, so there was no learning curve for me to deal with.
Reality set in about the day after he arrived. Where should I place the litter box? I needed to find a place that was out of the way and quiet, which I did. Martin grew bigger and the odor factor also increased so I changed from the uncovered litter box to a big covered litter box with a filter. Those unpleasant odors are not only caused by the waste material but the bacteria they create.
Litter boxes come in heavy plastic, metal, steel, self cleaning and even cardboard, which is good for traveling. They can be plain and some are quite fancy, I’ve seen some look like furniture!
After a year passed, we felt he was getting fat and needed company so we rescued a girl cat. We soon found that we needed to get another litter box. It is recommended that you have one litter box for each cat and if you have a two story house you should have litter boxes on each floor.
Next I had to decide on what kind of litter to use, here are the basic types:
Non- clumping – Made of Natural clay, easy to find because it’s sold everywhere. Clay litter comes in a variety of scents or even non-scented. The main problem is that when it loses it’s absorbency the liquid seeps to the bottom and the pan needs to be emptied and washed.
Clumping - Waste forms solid clumps which are easy to spot and scoop up. Just add more litter when it gets low. The problem is that it can be harmful if the cat swallows it while cleaning its paw. The absorbing agent can cause intestinal problems. My boy cat became diabetic and the litter was sticking to his foot so I had to change to the non-clumping kind.
Pellets - Biodegradable, reduces to sawdust as it absorbs liquid. The odor control is debatable and some cats just don’t like it.
You may have to compromise with your cat on your chose of litter. Their preferences vs. your need for odor control and ease of use. The bottom line is what will they use?
A cat that has been using using the litter box and then starts to go outside of it may be a sign or several things:
- Changes in your household such as a new cat or dog.
- Illness
- A New Litter Box
- Change of litter
Before you get upset with your cat do some investigation and see what he or she is trying to tell you. The litter box challenge is really a small part of having an indoor cat. Once everybody is on board, you’ll love having your kitty indoors and have the comfort of knowing that they are safe and healthy with you.
Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!
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