One thing that comes with owning a cat is making a place for it to do its business. Cats are often picky and each one is different in the method. Some are sprayers or kickers and can leave quite the mess when done. Others are sensitive to smell or sharing their litter box with another pet. The personality of the pet will have a lot to do with what type you purchase.
One is not enough. Even if you have only one cat, you need a second place for them to go in case the first gets dirtier than they want. With more than one cat, you should have one for each cat, plus one more. This allows you to nearly always have an extra that is clean for them to use if you don't get around to cleaning the others fast enough.
The size matters. Kittens obviously do not need a huge spot, but as the cat grows it will get to a point where a smaller one will not be big enough. They should be able to comfortably fit in the box and have room to step around and find the right spot. If they're too big, they will stop using it and find another place to go in your home.
The sides should be tall enough to keep sprayers and kickers from making a mess. Three of the sides should be fairly tall if your cat is not good at keeping things in the spot. The front should be low enough that they can get in and out. This will keep all the materials inside and let them be wild about their business without getting it all over the floor.
Should it be covered or uncovered? This greatly depends on the personality of the cat. Some may not like going into a cave-like space to do their business. Some covers are translucent so they will have plenty of light. A big thing to remember is that a covered one will trap the smells and ammonia inside. This can quickly cause irritations and make your cat sick. You will need to clean a covered box every day to avoid this.
Self-cleaning containers can scare the cat. This is especially true if it starts working while the cat is using it. If it scares the cat, it may stop using the box. Some have a pressure plate to know when the animal is inside and will not start until a few minutes after they leave. The other issue is if they are having health issues, this is most easily noticed by observing their feces as you clean the box.
Older cats may need help. The front should be lower or have some sort of ramp so they can easily climb in when needed. As cats age, some lose the ability to jump or climb over things and if they develop arthritis they will have a hard time getting in and out. Finding the right container or adjusting it to make it lower to the ground will help them do their business easily.
Having a cat is a great way to have love and companionship at home. But, with this comes responsibility and making sure they have what they need. The best way to start is by getting a general box and see what their personality is like. This will help you figure out what type you can get that fits their personality and your lifestyle.
One is not enough. Even if you have only one cat, you need a second place for them to go in case the first gets dirtier than they want. With more than one cat, you should have one for each cat, plus one more. This allows you to nearly always have an extra that is clean for them to use if you don't get around to cleaning the others fast enough.
The size matters. Kittens obviously do not need a huge spot, but as the cat grows it will get to a point where a smaller one will not be big enough. They should be able to comfortably fit in the box and have room to step around and find the right spot. If they're too big, they will stop using it and find another place to go in your home.
The sides should be tall enough to keep sprayers and kickers from making a mess. Three of the sides should be fairly tall if your cat is not good at keeping things in the spot. The front should be low enough that they can get in and out. This will keep all the materials inside and let them be wild about their business without getting it all over the floor.
Should it be covered or uncovered? This greatly depends on the personality of the cat. Some may not like going into a cave-like space to do their business. Some covers are translucent so they will have plenty of light. A big thing to remember is that a covered one will trap the smells and ammonia inside. This can quickly cause irritations and make your cat sick. You will need to clean a covered box every day to avoid this.
Self-cleaning containers can scare the cat. This is especially true if it starts working while the cat is using it. If it scares the cat, it may stop using the box. Some have a pressure plate to know when the animal is inside and will not start until a few minutes after they leave. The other issue is if they are having health issues, this is most easily noticed by observing their feces as you clean the box.
Older cats may need help. The front should be lower or have some sort of ramp so they can easily climb in when needed. As cats age, some lose the ability to jump or climb over things and if they develop arthritis they will have a hard time getting in and out. Finding the right container or adjusting it to make it lower to the ground will help them do their business easily.
Having a cat is a great way to have love and companionship at home. But, with this comes responsibility and making sure they have what they need. The best way to start is by getting a general box and see what their personality is like. This will help you figure out what type you can get that fits their personality and your lifestyle.
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You can get a summary of the things to keep in mind when buying a litter box at http://www.tensecondlitterbox.com right now.
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