The Dreaded Litter Box…
Let’s be real…. no one LIKES having a litter box in their home. It’s ugly, it’s stinky, it’s dirty, it’s just gross.
BUT if we want to have our purrfect angel friends living in our homes, the dreaded litter box is a necessary evil. As a lifelong cat mom and foster cat mom, I have encountered some products that I believe to be both helpful to me, and cat-friendly.
Considerations from kitty purrspective….
· Some cats do not like covered litter boxes
· Some cats are particular about the type of litter used
· Cats are sensitive to odors
· Cats are in a vulnerable position when using the box, and some may perceive it as an unsafe place if it is tucked away
· Convenience is key… some kitties with physical limitations/struggles may not be able to quickly navigate stairs or other obstacles
Considerations from human perspective….
· Odor control
· Cleanliness
· Appearance
· Protection of walls/flooring
Suggestions from experts…
· The number of litter boxes in the home should be the number of cats plus one (i.e. 2 cats = 3 boxes)
· Litter boxes should not all be right next to each other – cats perceive this as one giant box. There should be multiple locations, with more than one place for cats to enter/exit (especially in multi-cat homes)
· There should be a litter box on each floor of the home - and in the room where kitty spends most of their time
· Litter boxes should be 1.5 times the length of the cat
My thoughts…
· Every cat is different. Every cat-cat interaction is different
· Start with the above guidelines and see what makes sense in your home
· If you want to chat about your situation and how to best set things up, please reach out!
· It is MUCH easier and more desirable to provide appropriate litter box set-ups than it is to reverse an inappropriate soiling behavior!
What I Do… And Product Links
I have had multiple cats in apartments for my entire adult life. I have always had to have more than one litter box, and I have had to get creative with where they are located and the products I use. Here is how I have litter boxes set up in my home, with links to my preferred products (I do not get paid for endorsing these – they are simply what I have found to make my life easier!)
First, I select locations. I have litter boxes in more than one room (currently in living room and office). This prevents one cat from being able to block others from all of the litter boxes.
I begin with lining the floor and molding with a contractor bag / heavy duty trash bag – this provides a waterproof barrier if anyone has an accident / misses the box / has elevator butt (you know when they start peeing in a squat but then gradually lift their butt?)
Next, I layer some puppy pee pads / an absorbent disposable product (just search Amazon or Chewy for puppy pee pads)
On top of that, at the entrance to the box, goes a litter-catching mat ( https://www.chewy.com/iprimio-cat-litter-trapper-ez-clean/dp/134598 )with a pee pad in between the layers. [I use this style, not necessarily this exact one]
I use an extra large, high-sided, open litter box ( https://www.chewy.com/frisco-high-sided-cat-litter-box/dp/168284 )
I have a small table over the top of each box, which helps disguise them. I have a tablecloth draped over which covers the sides and the tops of the tables decorated like end tables with picture frames/home décor. This set up allows air flow and enough openness for kitty (they can see/hear another cat approaching or other possible threats when in a vulnerable position – so it feels safer to them), and the appearance of the boxes to be less off-putting and obvious.
Depending on the purrsonalities and litter box behaviors of your kitties, you may also want to add a “shield” around the sides to prevent additional litter from being kicked out of the box / accidents from spreading. I have this - https://a.co/d/7H0JkKD
I use Arm & Hammer Clump and Seal Multi-Cat Litter. It is a fine clay litter, so it is soft on kitty paws. I find that it does not have much of an odor to the litter itself (litter itself tends to smell offensive to me, even when it is clean). I do not like the light-weight litter, as it tends to track more when my long-haired kitties leave the box (the heavier stuff isn’t carried by their hair as well). Easy to scoop, traps in odor…. I like it. ( https://www.chewy.com/arm-hammer-litter-clump-seal-multi/dp/105865 )
When it comes to scooping, I like it to be as easy and quick of a job as possible. No one wants to go into a dirty bathroom!! Ideally, we would be able to scoop the box every time our kitty used it – but I think aiming for twice per day is much more realistic (and if we TRY for twice, we should be able to do it at least once, right?) I have the luxury(?) of having tested a LOT of types of scoops. The “Litter Lifter” one is BY FAR my favorite, and I have replaced all of the scoops in my home with it. It is not heavy, so does not add much weight to each scoop like some metal ones do. It allows litter to fall through easily, and it is sturdy so it does not bend when it encounters a pee clump that is stuck to the bottom of the box. I put off buying it for a while because why would I spend $12 on something when I can get one for $2? But I am here to tell you it is WORTH it, my friends! This is something I use every day and has drastically reduced my frustration and time spent scooping litter boxes! (If it was less gross, I would have a travel one to bring to every one of my client’s houses so I could use it there too!) ….Wow, even I am a little surprised by how much I have to say about a litter scoop…(https://a.co/d/5ZkZCeg )
I could talk about this basically all day… please reach out to me (Jess) if you would like to chat about how to best set up your cat’s potty spots!
