Litter Box Etiquette

Pick a place for the litter box away from the food bowls. Most people use the laundry room, basement, or bathroom for the litter box. Remember that cats are very particular about where they go to the bathroom, and they do not like to use a litter box that is near anything noisy or disruptive. So do not put it right next to the washer or dryer, for example, or by the furnace or beneath a frequently used staircase.

Select a quiet spot where your kitten can go in peace. Litter boxes come in several types: flat trays, deep dish, covered, and potty seats for the toilet. The best is the uncovered tray, at least two inches deep. Your kitten can easily hop into such a box, and he kicks minimal litter out on the floor. There are three basic types of litter on the market: some clay litter comes with deodorizers, while some does not; some clay litter brands are dust free. Clumping litters are so named because they clump with moisture so that you can scoop out the soiled litter but leave the rest.

Basically, all the litter has to do is able to absorb moisture from the urine and stool and give the kitten something to scratch in. Additional properties that litter can feature include deodorizers, fresh scents, dust free formulas, and environmentally friendly litter.

Do not use litters heavy in deodorants-some cats are allergic to them. The same goes for dusty litter you use. It makes many kittens sneeze.

Whatever type of litter you use, keep the litter box clean. That means that if you use a clay or paper litter, change the entire box daily. Use a disinfectant to wash the box out, then dry it, and refill it with about one to two inches of fresh litter. Do not let stool or soiled litter sit in the box-it can increase your kitten's likelihood of getting an infection. If you use the clumping litter, scoop out the soiled clumps daily, then change the litter and wash the box weekly.

If you have more than one cat in your household, you might need two litter boxes. Some cats are so fastidious that they will not use a box if another cat(especially a new kitten) has soiled it. Many of my clients have told me, "Once I got the new kitten, my other cat would not use the box and is going on the floor next to it!".