Many people love cats but hate the litter box. Sound familiar? As a breeder of pedigreed Maine Coon Cats, and owner of a professional pet sitting business, I am often asked about litter box issues. If done right, litter boxes are not so bad. Here are some frequently asked questions…

Q. I’m adopting a cat. What litter should I use?

A. If you adopted your cat from a shelter, foster home, or breeder, use the exact same litter they use so your cat will have a smooth transition to your home. If you decide to change the litter, do so gradually by placing the new litter on the bottom of the box and spreading the old litter on top. Allow your cat to mix it. Over the next two weeks add more of the new and less of the old until the cat is only using the new litter.

Q. Are some litters better than others?

A. Yes. Avoid inexpensive clay litters that are very dusty. This dust is not healthy for you or your cat. Avoid all scented litters – cats do not like perfumes. Other than that, most cats like a sandy or soft texture.

Q. What type of litter box should I buy?

A. Most people have litter boxes that are too small. Kittens need a large litter box with short sides so they can easily get in and out. Adult cats need a large litter box with tall sides so they do not spread litter all over the floor. Pet supply stores offer a variety of styles, but a more affordable solution may be a large plastic storage box. Some cats do not like a hood on the box. If the cat refuses to use the box, remove the hood.

Q. Should I get a Self-Cleaning Litter Box?

A. There is no such thing as a self cleaning litter box, no matter what this year’s new gadget claims! Mechanical litter boxes are loud and if your second cat jumps in just as the mechanical rake begins to clean up the first cat’s deposit, this can scare the cat. In addition, the rake tends to clog up with wet litter and dry litter tends to scatter into the grooves of the machine and under the machine. Wet clay sticks to the bottom, which requires daily scraping. In my experience, they take much longer to clean than a normal litter box. Use a normal litter box, and scoop the litter box daily. Once a week dump out all litter, disinfect the box, rinse well (to remove the disinfectant smell) and add new litter.

Q. Is one litter box enough?

A. If you have a large home with 2-3 floors, I recommend a 2^nd litter box.

Q. What do you recommend for multiple cats?

A. You should have one litter box for every cat plus one extra. I recommend placing the litter boxes in at least 2 different locations. Many cats like privacy and do not want to be bullied by other cats or distracted by household noises. You can buy litter designed for multiple cat households. To eliminate odors, I recommend pine pellet litter or silica crystal litter because they absorb odors much better than clay. If your cat does not like the texture of pellets or crystals, just place a ½ inch layer at the bottom of your boxes, and fill the rest of the box with the litter your cat prefers.

Q. My cat gets hard clumps of clay litter stuck to her paws. What should I do?

A. Add more litter to the box. If the litter is too shallow, the urine will not clump effectively and cause a soggy mess on the bottom of the box. Scoop daily!

Q. My cat is urinating (or defecating) outside the litter box. Why?

A. There are a number of medical reasons that could cause this. You need to rule out health problems first. Bring your cat and a stool sample to the Vet. Your Vet may do urine and blood test as well. If your cat has no illnesses, try the following steps:

1. Clean all soiled areas with an enzyme cleaner designed specifically for cat urine or feces. If you do not completely clean all areas, the cat will continue to soil in the areas that smell. You can run a black light all over your walls, carpet, and base boards to find cat urine stains, because it glows under a black light.

2. Purchase Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter and follow the directions on the bag. It is guaranteed to get your cat back to the litter box.

3. If you are using a box with a hood, try removing the hood.

4. If the litter box is in a high traffic area, place it in a quieter area.

5. If the litter box was moved recently, try moving it back to the original location.

6. Keep the box clean!

Some cats become highly stressed whenever there are major changes in the household, and will act out by refusing to use the litter box. Changes such as moving, adding a new pet, or owners being on an extended vacation may add stress to a cat. Observe your cat and try removing any other sources of stress. Try using the product Feliway which contains pheromones designed to decrease anxiety in felines.

If none of the above ideas help, your Vet can suggest a Feline Behaviorist to contact for further assistance.

Happy Scooping!

Tina operates Fogcity Maine Coon Cattery and owns For The Love of Paws pet sitting services.

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