The Best Place for a Cat Litter Box
Whether you have a new kitten or an older cat, you want them to exercise good toileting habits. If they live indoors, you will need a good strong litter box that is easy to clean, and cat litter to absorb the urine and the odour. But where should you put the cat litter box? Here’s our best advice on all things cat litter!
One of the first things you should know is that cats are very clean animals, and they like privacy when it comes to toileting. So, if you want your cat to use the litter box, you need to keep those two facts in mind.
Put your cat litter tray in a room that your cat uses and can easily and freely access whenever they want. It needs to be away from their food and water bowl, and in a quiet place where they feel safe. Cats feel vulnerable and they don’t like to be watched when they are doing their business.
It really depends on how confident your cat is, and factors like their age and health when you decide where to put their litter tray. If your cat doesn’t like the sound of the washing machine, you won’t want to put it in the laundry. Cats like convenience, so you might find they are reluctant to use the litter tray if you put it somewhere cold and dark.
Choosing a Cat Litter Box Your Cat Will Use
When choosing a cat litter box, it must be easy for them to get in and out of, and be able to turn around. There are a variety of different types of litter available including litter which is made from clay, recycled paper, silicone, wood pellets, corn, silica sand, waste plantation timber, softwood, even the lining of walnut shells. If your cat doesn’t like their litter tray, it can help to use a different type of substrate.
Tips for Success:
- Cats don’t like to use a dirty litter tray, so clean up after your cat and replace the litter at least once a week.
- Use enough litter for them to be able to cover their business.
- Some cats like a separate tray for urine, so you might need two litter trays for each cat in your family.
Training a Kitten to Use a Litter Tray
If you’re training your kitten to use the litter tray, after they’ve eaten, gently show them towards the litter tray and give them some privacy. If your kitten doesn’t toilet where you want them to, never punish them, just ignore them. When you clean up, you need to remove the smell so they don’t return to the same place the next time they need to go; use a non-ammonia based cleaning product.
Need cat litter? Explore our product range here.
Sources:
https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/pet-training/litter-box-training
https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/best-and-worst-spots-your-cats-litter-box
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/environment/litter
