With so many choices available on the market, how are you aware which form of litter field is correct to your cat? From lined to digital to top-opening, there are a lot of totally different varieties to select from. However not all of them are designed with cats in thoughts. When selecting a brand new litter field and the place to place it, be sure to think about its dimension, form, and materials in addition to your cat’s age, the place you’ll put it, and the variety of cats within the house.
There are two normal guidelines when selecting a litter field:
One rule is that the field ought to be at the least 1.5 instances the size of your cat. Cats need to have the ability to comfortably match contained in the field, flip round, do their enterprise, and bury their poop. A too small field received’t be comfy for them to make use of they usually could keep away from it.
The second rule is that you must have one litter field per cat within the house plus one further. So if in case you have one cat, you want two litter containers. You probably have two cats, you must have three, and so on. It is because cats wish to poop and pee in several areas and they also aren’t competing for sources. If one cat is useful resource guarding a field, the second cat has different choices. The extra litter containers you present, the much less possible it’s for one cat to forestall the others from having the ability to entry the containers when wanted.
There are various different issues to think about, however these are far and away a very powerful.
Coated vs. Uncovered
Most cats want an uncovered field. Some could want the privateness a lined field presents, however they will additionally really feel too trapped or claustrophobic, particularly if the field is roofed and too small for them or if it has a door flap. They might really feel extra susceptible when utilizing lined containers since they will’t see what is going on exterior of them.
Since cats are each predators and prey, they innately like to have the ability to survey their areas and see what’s taking place throughout them, particularly if there are different pets within the house. They don’t wish to be startled once they’re utilizing the litter field. If you happen to actually wish to get a lined litter field, attempt to get one with a transparent cowl and with no flap so your cat can go searching them and really feel secure and safe.
The covers may also lure odors, which many cats don’t recognize. If you happen to go for a lined litter field, you must be sure to scoop and clear them usually.
Most cats don’t like top-opening litter containers. They’re utterly surrounded, which leaves them feeling very susceptible. They will’t see what is going on exterior the field in any respect. Having to leap down into their litter field might be very tense. They might not have the ability to see who’s inside it once they’re on the skin and once they’re utilizing it, they will’t see if a predator is lurking exterior.
Excessive-Sided vs. Low Entry
Excessive-sided containers are nice for decreasing the quantity of litter that will get strewn about. They’re additionally useful for cats who wish to dig or those that spray. Clear containers, once more, could be splendid so your cat can watch what’s occurring round them and they also don’t really feel like they’re trapped. For messy cats who wish to dig, you too can place a litter mat exterior the field to catch stray litter and forestall them from monitoring it round the home.
Low-entry containers are good for kittens, seniors, or cats with well being and mobility points. If the field is difficult to get into, a cat could keep away from utilizing it and choose to go elsewhere so it’s vital they will simply and comfortably use their litter field. Some containers have one facet that’s a lot decrease than the opposite three so cats can simply stroll in with out having to step over a wall.
Computerized vs. Guide
Computerized containers are nice for house owners, however not nice for cats. In the event that they activate whereas your cat is utilizing them they will get startled or harm. They’re noisy, which might be scary and deter your cat from utilizing them. They’re additionally costly and take up a number of area. Since they sift and clear routinely, additionally they make it troublesome to observe your cat’s utilization. It’s vital to have the ability to see your cat’s output to make sure they’re wholesome.
Materials
Stainless-steel litter containers have turn into very fashionable currently. They’re simple to scrub and sterilize they usually final a very long time. Plastic containers are the most typical, however ought to be changed yearly or in order the plastic finally can lure odors and urine can break down the plastic.
Location
Cats usually want utilizing litter containers that present a superb view of their environment whereas sustaining their privateness. Select a quiet location, away from noisy home equipment like washers, dryers, and air conditioners. Keep away from high-traffic areas, but additionally don’t put the litter field so far-off that it deters your cat from utilizing it. Whereas it might be handy for you to not see or odor the field, keep away from placing the field in basements, garages, closets, or laundry rooms. These are inconvenient and scary to your cat. Cats additionally want to go away their odor the place your scent is robust, not in an space the place you spend the least period of time.
You probably have a multi-story house, put one field on every flooring.
Preserve the litter containers away out of your cat’s meals and water bowls. They don’t wish to eradicate the place they eat and would by no means achieve this within the wild.
Be sure that your cat has easy accessibility to enter and exit the litter field from a number of angles. They don’t wish to really feel trapped once they’re of their most susceptible place.
Put the field far-off from the doorway to the room. It will give your cat a second to react if somebody seems. They don’t wish to be stunned whereas they’re going to the toilet.
Kind of Litter
There are various kinds of litter to select from – clay, wheat, corn, crystal, pellets, and even tofu. Most cats want normal unscented, clumping clay litter.
For kittens, it’s vital to make use of a non-clumping litter in case they ingest it.
There ought to be between two and 4 inches of litter within the field always. As you scoop, add extra litter to take care of a relentless depth.
Keep away from utilizing scented litters as cats is not going to like them.
Scooping the Litter Field
Cats are extremely clear animals. They by no means wish to be compelled to make use of a grimy litter field. You need to scoop the litter field at the least twice a day to maintain your cat clear and cozy.
Scooping their output may even allow you to to observe their well being. Discover any modifications in frequency, coloration, odor, or consistency. If you happen to discover something regarding, contact your veterinarian.
Cleansing the Litter Field
Each two to 4 weeks, you must deep clear the precise litter field utilizing scorching water and dish cleaning soap. Keep away from utilizing bleach as cats don’t just like the odor and should keep away from utilizing the field afterward.
Since cats scratch once they use the field, should you use plastic litter containers, odors will finally seep into the plastic, and also you received’t have the ability to do away with the odor. Be sure that to switch the litter field if the odor stays after cleansing it or whether it is excessively scratched up.
Additional Ideas
Keep away from utilizing perfume sprays and air fresheners close to litter containers because the odor could deter your cat from utilizing their field.
Keep away from utilizing plastic litter liners as most cats dislike them. They might discover them uncomfortable on their paws or not just like the noise they make. The liners usually don’t match the field correctly, which may trigger urine to pool as a substitute of clump. They will make odors worse and in case your cat scratches them whereas digging or chews them, holes are created and their objective is defeated.
There are various issues when selecting a litter field. If you happen to take note of your cat’s conduct, you’ll study what they like and dislike and how one can make their rest room expertise the perfect it will possibly presumably be.
Love, Nala
