Cat Litter Box Essentials
for Your Healthy Cat

"You say litter box. I say litter pan.
Let's just keep it clean!"

The right cat litter box is essential for your cat's good health (and for protecting your home!). Just like humans, cats have certain likes and dislikes in this area. You may need to experiment to see what makes your cat happy (and "regular"!). Your cat's happiness and preference in this matter are sure to make you happy, as well.

Things to consider about your cat's litter box are:

1) the type of box,

2) the type of cat litter, (see our Cat Litter Discussion)

3) the location of the box,

4) cleanliness, and

5) training.

Neglecting any one of these areas may lead to your cat taking his business elsewhere!

Types of Cat Litter Boxes

A litter box can generally be classified as either "covered" or "open."

Covered Litter Boxes

The covered litter box (one with a hood that covers the litter box) has advantages for both you and your cat or kitten. If your cat is "shy," then a cat litter box cover may help encourage her to use it.

The benefits to you of a covered litter box include a more aesthetically pleasing look and less mess, as the litter is more likely to stay in the box when your cat covers his waste.

On the down side, some cats find a covered litter box too confining and unappealing. Your cat may feel trapped and vulnerable. She may not like having only one escape route if startled by a loud noise or if another animal approaches.

The covered cat litter box may also be too small for some cats to feel comfortable.

And although many covered boxes come with a replaceable charcoal filter on the hood to help reduce odor, covered cat litter boxes do tend to hold more odor if not cleaned regularly. Many kitties find the odor too unappealing to enter the box. However, if you clean your cat's litter box often, you should be able to avoid an odor problem.

If you want a covered pan that is even more aesthetically pleasing, you can find decorative covers to blend in with your decor.

Open Litter Boxes

An open cat litter box allows your cat to keep an eye on her surroundings as she takes a bathroom break.

The open box will most likely mean more clean-up for you as many cats tend to kick some of the litter outside of the box as they cover their waste. You can avoid a little bit of the mess by using an open litter pan with a high back wall. This will catch most of the litter.

You can keep a whisk broom and dust pan handy to make clean-up a bit easier.

Which Does Your Cat Prefer?

Many cats will have a preference for what type of box they use. Most cats will use the cleanest box available. If possible, put out both a covered and an open cat litter box and see which one your cat prefers.

Giving your cat her preferred litter box will be beneficial to both you and your cat (and maybe even your carpet!).

Different Sizes of Cat Litter Boxes

Cat litter boxes also come in different sizes.

If you have more than one cat, you should probably consider more than one litter box (if your cats don't get along for some reason, this is a must!). If you plan to use only one litter box, then consider buying one of the larger boxes, especially if you aren't around to clean the box frequently.

If you are buying a litter box for a kitten, be careful that the sides are not too high so the little guy won't have any trouble getting in and out.

Special Cat Litter Boxes

There are some great self-cleaning boxes on the market. These can make your life a lot easier. However, you may want to approach their use as an experiment and not count on your cat thinking they are as great as you do. They are usually a little more expensive, so try to buy from a company that has a money-back guarantee.

If she likes it, great. If not, don't insist on its use, or your cat may take her business elsewhere.

Litter Box Liners

Plastic cat litter box liners can be used to help make your clean-up process easier. Theoretically, you can lift the liner out of the box, along with the used litter, and throw the whole thing away. This helps preserve the life of the box and makes cleaning easier.

One problem, though, is that your cat's claws are usually pretty sharp and she may tear through the plastic liner. This makes clean-up even more difficult. And some cats just don't like the feel of the plastic on their claws. This can be disastrous if your cat decides to take her business elsewhere.

If you choose to try a liner, be sure to choose the right size cat litter pan liner, and place it correctly and smoothly in the box. Correct placement will help prevent folds from occurring that can trap waste and lead to a smelly litter box. Proper placement may also prevent your cat's frustration from getting her nails caught while trying to cover her waste.

Location of the Litter Box

Place your cat's litter box in a location that is easily and always accessible to your cat. It should not be too close to your cat's eating or sleeping areas. Make sure that the cat litter box is in a location where your cat will not be interrupted or surprised by another animal, human, or sudden loud noises. If your cat feels stressed and unsafe when using the litter box, she will choose another place more suitable to her liking, but not necessarily yours.

If you have a large house or more than one floor, it's a good idea to have more than one cat litter box (one on each floor). This is especially important if you have an older cat who may find it hard to get around.

Not only is the location of the litter box an important choice for your cat, but it should be for you also. You will be more likely to keep the litter box clean if it's someplace that's easy for you go get to. Keeping your litter box cleaning supplies nearby will also help you to keep your cat's litter box clean.

Litter Box Hygiene (Keeping it Clean!)

Cats prefer to use a clean cat litter box. If it's not up to par, don't be surprised if your cat takes his business elsewhere. Your cat's litter box should be cleaned on a daily basis (at least) with a more thorough cleaning once a week. This is especially necessary if you choose a nonclumping litter. If you use a clumping litter, you can go longer than a week without a thorough cleaning and replacement of all the litter with fresh litter, but be sure to clean out the waste on a daily basis.

For daily cleanings, you'll need a few supplies. You'll need a cat litter box shovel/scooper (I call it a "pooper scooper"). Cat litter box shovels are usually made of plastic or metal. The shovels have slots so that you can take out the waste and allow the unused litter to remain in the box.

Another handy item for cat box cleaning is a metal paint scraper. You can use this to scrape and clean the sides of the litter box, as some litters tend to stick to the sides. Often, a metal litter box shovel can serve the same purpose. I use a metal shovel, as the plastic ones I've used tended to break too easily. I also keep a whisk broom and dust pan near the litter box to sweep up litter outside of the box. Keeping these daily cleaning supplies in a handy container near your cat's box will help you with this chore. I use an old shoebox to hold my litter box cleaning supplies.

For weekly cleanings of regular litter pans (as opposed to self-cleaning ones), throw out all the old litter, wash the litter box with soap and hot water and a little vinegar (this helps get rid of odor, but if it seems that your cat doesn't like the vinegar odor, then don’t use it!) and a sponge or brush. Don't use a disinfectant. Most cats don't like the smell and may not want to use the litter box if it has this strong smell. Rinse and dry the box thoroughly and fill with about two inches of fresh cat litter.

About "Flushable" Litter

A word about "flushable" cat litter is in order. I strongly recommend that you do not actually flush the litter in your toilet. Some plumbing just can't handle it, and even in sturdier toilets, parts of the litter will often stick to the insides of your toilet and not flush.

Instead, put the soiled litter in a small, covered trash can lined with a plastic bag, or you can use zip lock bags and dispose of them when they're full. You can also buy a litter disposal system to keep the soiled litter relatively odor-free while it's still in your home.

Litter Box Training

Make sure to show your cat or kitten where the litter box is as soon as you bring her home. You can gently lift your cat into her litter box (for training purposes, it's best to have an open--not hooded--litter box) and gently lift a paw and scratch at the litter just once or twice. For most cats, this will be all the training required, especially if you've taken care of choosing the "right" location, litter, and pan.

If your kitty is having trouble catching on, you can also put her in the box after she's eaten. When she uses the box, lots of praise and extra petting will help reinforce her good behavior. Be sure to keep the cat litter box clean, especially during training, to encourage her to use the box.

If your cat has always used her litter box with no problems, and all of a sudden she stops using it, you should consult your veterinarian immediately.

Search My Healthy Cat or the Internet for more information.

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