Litter Box Information and Tips

For obvious reasons you'll need a litter box.  If you have more then one cat you will want multiple litter boxes.  Some cats will share a litter box nicely and then later stop sharing.  So it's always best to have at least one box per cat.  If your new cat is an adult it most likely will be litter box trained.  Most kittens that are adopted have been around their mother long enough to learn this skill as well.  However if you need to box train your cat or kitten, see the Kitten Care page.

Where to Put a Litter Box:  No matter what type of litter box you use there will be some litter spill over, as well as the occasional waste spill, so take care to put it on a type of floor (linoleum, vinyl, tile, etc.) that is easy to clean. 

You'll want to put it in a room that doesn't have a lot of foot traffic, like a bathroom or laundry room, to help with odors in the house.  Bathrooms are idea because when it comes to sifting the solid waste the toilet is nice and convenient.  

Types of Litter Boxes:  The first thing you'll want to consider when you purchase a litter box is can your cat or kitten get into the box.  If it's too deep your little one may not be able to get inside.  If it's too small your bigger cat may not fit comfortably.  After that it's really up to your preference, well to a point anyway.

Litter boxes with a lid can help control odors but not all cats are accepting of them, however it's easy enough to just remove the lid if the cat doesn't like it.  Some boxes with lids have swing open doors on them.  Again, not all cats are accepting of this but it's an easy fix if not liked by your cat.

Boxes with out lids are messier then those with lids but even those with lids will still have litter spillover so make sure to put the box somewhere that cleanup is easy.

Types of Litter:  If your new cat is an adult it's best to use the same type of litter that it has used in the past.  Otherwise this tends to be a choice of preference, however some cats will reject certain litter types for no apparent reason.  Some cats will even be accustom to a certain brand and later reject it, again for no apparent reason.

There are two general types of litter available.  The first is a clumping litter that is scooped out as clumps appear for both liquid and solid wastes.  The other is a non-clumping litter that only accommodates sifting of solid waste while liquid waste is soaked up by the litter.  If you'd rather perform little or no maintenance on the box and completely dump the litter regularly then a non-clumping litter is your best choice.  If you'd rather scoop out the liquid and solid waste clumps to prolong the life of the litter then choose a clumping litter.

Non-clumping litters also come in recycled paper, crystals, and pine as well as the standard clay types.

Litter Box Bags:  These are bags that are used as a liner to the litter box.  They make for easy disposal of used litter and help keep plastic litter boxes from absorbing liquid waste.  They come in different sizes so make sure to purchase ones that are sized accordingly.  One downfall to litter box bags are that cats with claws will make holes in the bags and while digging to bury their waste they can pull the bag off the corner.  Another downfall is sifting litter can be a little harder as the litter scoop can catch easily on the bag.

Keeping a Litter Box Clean:  It's important to keep your cat's litter box clean.  Not only by removing solid waste and used litter but also to clean the plastic box.  As plastic harbors smells and bacteria it's a good idea to give the box a thorough cleaning weekly.  You can use bleach, spray cleaners (409 etc.), antibacterial wipes, or any general household cleaner.