Litterbox Use and Maintenance

Unlike dogs, cats do not need to be trained to use a litter-box, nor do they need to be housebroken. Cats will know exactly what to do from instinct. They just need to be shown where the litter-box is. You do not need to place them in the box, or move their feet in the kitty litter. In fact, this could actually be traumatizing to a cat, and could prevent them from using the litter-box. It is best to let them explore the litter-box on their own.

There are a number of reasons why a cat might not use the litter-box, and it is important to rule out any medical conditions before proceeding with the suggestions in this article. If after you've taken your cat to a Veterinarian and he/she has received a clean bill of health, PetAmore.com suggests evaluating the maintenance, number and condition of the litter-box, as well as its placement. The article below will give specific instructions on how to properly maintain your cat's litter-box, and will provide general rules of thumb for proper placement, etc.

How Many Litter-boxes Should I Have?

You should have at least one litter-box per cat, and one for each floor of your home. For example, if you have 2 cats in an apartment, you should have 2 litter-boxes. Or, if you have 1 cat in a house with 3 levels, i.e., Basement, Main Floor, and 2nd Floor, you should have 3 litter-boxes - one on each floor. If your cat limits him/herself to the main and second floors of your home, then you only need two. This will ensure that your cat(s) can easily access the litter-box, and that in a multi-cat home the litter-box won't be occupied. It is also important to note that some cats can be a bit territorial about the litter-box, and will block other cats from accessing it. Having multiple litter-boxes is also very effective at preventing this problem in multi-cat homes.

Where Should I put the Litterbox?

Most folks are inclined to put the litter-box in an out-of-the-way spot in the home because a litter-box isn't exactly considered attractive decor, can have an odor, and people also want to limit the amount of litter trafficked in their house. This usually means the litter-box winds up in a basement, garage, laundry room, spare bathroom, or closet.  While this may be a good solution for you, it might not work very well for your cat, or kitten, and could be the reason why they are not using the litter-box in the first place. Some things to consider when placing a litter-box:

1. If you place the litterbox in your basement's utility room, or in your laundry room your cat could be startled by the noises that the boiler, or washer/dryer makes. Cats can be easily startled by loud, or unexpected noises, and one negative experience could deter them from using a litterbox placed in an area that they associate with a bad experience.
2. It can be difficult for a kitten or older cat to go down the stairs, and it is highly recommended to have at least one litterbox per floor of your home.
3. A kitten or new cat can easily forget where a litterbox is in a large home. Imagine, they are upstairs lounging in the bedroom with you and the urge to go strikes - they now have to climb down two flights of stairs to get to the basement, and a new cat might not be familiar enough with your home to remember how to get there.
4. Many cats like to scratch around the area of the litter-box, and some cats will not use a litterbox that is placed on a cold concrete floor. An easy solution is to place a throw rug under the litterbox allowing enough of the rug to be used as a scratching, or digging area.
5. If you place the litterbox in a bathroom or closet and the cat has ever gotten trapped inside, or out this can also deter the cat from using the litterbox out of fear of getting locked in, or out of the room. A solution to this is to install a pet door in a bathroom, or closet door. This way the cat no longer fears being locked in.
6. Cats, especially timid ones, like some privacy, and may not feel comfortable using a litterbox if it is placed in a room that does not allow them to be modest. For example - it might not be wise to place the litterbox in the family room if that is where everyone is usually gathered.
7. Placing a litterbox in an area the cat never frequents can also be confusing for the cat, and could deter them from using the litterbox as well.

When deciding where to place the litterbox keep the above in mind, as well as trying to accommodate both the cat's and your needs.

What Type of Litterbox Should I Use?

There are many different size litterboxes, some covered, some uncovered, some that automatically clean the litter, etc. Determining what kind of litterbox is right for your cat will take a bit of thought, and you should keep in mind what kind of cat you have.

Firstly, do you have a large cat? If so, you should buy a larger litterbox, as cats like to stretch, dig and turn in their box. If the litterbox is too small, your cat might find it uncomfortable, and it could be a deterrent. If you have an average size, or small cat a medium size litterbox will be fine.

Is your cat very shy, or timid? If so, you might want to consider a litterbox that is covered. If you are not sure if your cat will like that or not, look for a litterbox that has a removable cover, this way you haven't wasted any money if the covered box doesn't work out.

Now, I can honestly say that very few of us like cleaning cat litter. However, this is one of the responsibilities that go along with owning a cat. Luckily there are several different kinds of self-cleaning litterboxes on the market. While they will not entirely eliminate the need to clean the litterbox, they will certainly cut down on the frequency, and time spent doing so. If you can afford it, this might be a good option for you. I will stress - that if you have a particularly skittish cat, they might not use this litterbox at all, as they could be frighten-end by the noises it makes when cleaning itself.

What Type of Kitty Litter Should I Use?

Most cats prefer fine-grained kitty litters because of their softer feel, vs. clay based kitty litters. There are a number of kitty litters on the market, and you may have to try several types before you find one that your cat prefers. Unfortunately, PetAmore.com can not recommend one particular brand or type because cats seem to have very specific preferences on an individual basis, and we were not able to recognize a particular pattern. One thing we can say is, once you find a brand that your cat likes, do not switch it. Buying what is on sale, or is cheapest is not a good strategy once you find a litter your cat likes, don't change it.