BEST CAT LITTER
Growing up, I spent most of my life with cats for pets and boy did I love it. A cat is that feline friend that has the ability to not only blend in your family, but also provide you with a level of happiness, calmness and companionship in this journey of life.
My mom loved cats and she was big on that, even though she only entertained keeping one cat at a go. For this reason, our close friends and relatives had a good one receiving healthy, lovely looking kittens as gifts. As a result, I naturally grew in love with cats and being the youngest in the family of six, it went without saying that it was my primary responsibility to design, craft a litter box and clean it every day. While this responsibility wasn’t fun, with time I developed a high level of understanding on how to take care of a cats, their bathroom issues and their health in general. One good look at a cat or its poop, and I could tell that something was wrong.
Cats when they are about to eliminate, start by sniffing an area and scratching at the surface with a front paw, as if digging a hole. She then moves around in circles, squats and urinates or defecates on the scratched surface.
When the cat is finished, she will stand, turn, smell the soiled area and scratch the litter again in an attempt to bury the deposits. Some will repeat this sniff and scratch procedure more than once before leaving the site.
The intensity of scratching and digging varies among cats, with some barely burying their waste while others creating a huge mound on top of the waste.
For these reasons, different cats needed differently designed litter boxes due to various factors which we will dig deeper into later. These adjustments and considerations are important while choosing the best cat litter box for your cat. They determine eventually what you will settle for.
Figuring out which is the best cat litter box to choose can be quite confusing. Knowing what will best suite your cat’s size, age, health, comfort, your home and taste can be challenging. These are key questions you should consider:
- What type and size of litter box best suits your cat?
- What type of litter is best?
- How much litter should the box contain?
- How many litter pans do you need?
- What make sense for your type of house?
- How often are you willing to empty and scrub the litter box?
- How often can you scoop the poop?
Pro tip: Remember that you are choosing the best cat litter box suitable for your cat, not you. It is impossible to train a cat to use a litter box that he finds uncomfortable or annoying.
Homemade litter pan vs purchasing a ready-made cat litter box
A litter box is a container that holds your cat’s absorbent litter, where your cat eliminates. With time, litter boxes have evolved from plain looking basic pans to all manner of complexities in design and shape.
Your litter box of choice should be made of non-absorbent, stain and odor-resistant material, that’s easy to clean with a mild detergent and warm water. Plastic falls under this category easily.
While to most people this may seem like an obvious choice, there are some benefits to choosing one over the other. Let’s go through them quickly and see what this entails:
Benefits of a homemade litter tray:
- You can save money by using DIY skills to design and craft a comfortable large cat litter box.
- By creating one yourself, you reduce the environmental impact by plastics as in the case of a ready-made cat box.
Benefits of a ready-made litter box:
- Easily accessible and set up in the house
- Variety of designs based on the need of the cat.
Cons of a homemade litter tray:
- You may have to source for lots of material even from friends to get enough to develop your fully functional litter pan.
- It’s tedious and time consuming
- Some litter may not musk the odor as needed e.g. sand
Cons of a ready-made litter box:
- Expensive to buy and may need replacing depending on wear and tear or increase in the number of cats.
- Clay based litter boxes have been said to contain a carcinogen in them which may cause allergies.
- Malfunctions
- Training may be needed
Conclusion:
Your choice for the best cat litter box is purely dependent on:
- The setting at your home
- The type of cat you have
- Availability of time on your hands
- Personal preference.
Go forth and get your litter box.
Factors to consider before selecting your cat litter box
- What does your cat prefer?
Cats can be picky and reject constant changing of litter box types. It’s best to stick with one consistent design unless you are willing to put in time to retrain your cat. If a cat values privacy, a covered litter box will be ideal.
If you’re considering an unusually shaped or high-tech box, such as the self-cleaning litter box, bear in mind that while some cats willingly accept them, other cats find them unacceptable. The sound and movement within the box, even if it starts up long after the cat has exited, can make some cats nervous about getting into the box. If you want to introduce a high-tech box, alwaysgive your cat a low-tech alternative.
- How many cats do you own?
Cats can be territorial and in case you own more than one cat, having an extra litter pan will be beneficial. This will make sure they can help themselves with ease since cleaning them can be tasking and make them go and poop elsewhere.
- The size of your cat:
The litter box should be large enough to enable your cat to comfortably relieve herself and turn without stepping outside the box. If the cat box is tiny, she may end up using another corner in the house since she doesn’t want to step on her own poop.
Kittens require a small, low-sided box since they are too tiny to climb into a larger one. A shallow litter pan, something similar to an aluminum baking pan, comes in handy until the cat is about 12 weeks of age when they can get in and out of a typical litter box. Once the kitten grows bigger, automatically transition into a larger one.
When dealing with a larger cat, select a litter box that has enough room for him to urinate and poop in several spots and still have some clean space to stand on. Ensure that the box is large enough so that your cat’s rear end doesn’t hang over the side and misses the litter when he eliminates.
If you have a bigger bodied cat, you will automatically select a bigger box that will accommodate your cat while turning around and still find a good spot to eliminate.
Whatever size you choose for your adult cat, the bottom of the litter box should be deep enough (four to five inches) to give him enough burying room without spilling the litter outside.
- What type of cat litter box?
A covered, self-cleaning or uncovered
litter box is ideal. Each has its pros and cons and this is something you want
to look into deeply to understand which is best suited for your unique
position.
Some cats like the privacy and security of a covered litter box, while others
prefer an open box where they can observe everything that’s going on in the
area.
You may decide to experiment at first and provide both types to learn which your cat prefers.
Here are some factors to consider:
A cat who is especially shy or reserved may prefer a covered box.
Hooded boxes are good choices for cats who like to dig and kick a lot of litter outside the box.
A covered box can be helpful in isolating your cat’s feces from any resident dogs. Lots of dogs enjoy eating cat poop because they are attracted to its high protein content. While this may gross you out, it poses no health hazard to your dog.
The hoods on the box tend to reduce air circulation. Soiled litter takes longer to dry, creating a perfect environment for odor-causing bacteria to grow.
The reduced air circulation can also be aggravating for cats with asthma and other chronic respiratory ailments.
Cats who object to covered boxes can sometimes be retrained. Simply take off the lid and let the cat use the bottom tray until he gets used to it and then replace the lid. But remember, you cannot force your cat to use a box he dislikes.
If you choose a covered box, ensure that the opening is large enough for your cat to enter and exit comfortably. The box also should have a deep bottom and be roomy enough for your cat to turn around, scratch, dig and position himself comfortably before he eliminates.
Pro tip: In a multiple-cat household, a covered box may make it easy for an aggressive cat to lie in wait and ambush a timid one as he leaves the box. You may find it hard to believe that your favorite pet is a bully, but just know that you are blind to a reality that happens so often.
- The condition of your cat:
Is your cat a sprayer, a young kitten, an old cat or has a physical impairment or even arthritis. All these put into consideration will help you determine the height of your litter box. Sprayers will need a cat box with taller walls while kittens and the cat with mobility issues will need a litter box with a low entry wall.
- Durability of the box material:
The best material for a litter box should be a heavy and durable plastic. This will be easy to clean and will endure the test of time. A weak material will break down easily and need to be replaced regularly which can be expensive.
- Consider the age of your cat:
Older cats need a box with lower sides. An older cat may have an injury or suffer from arthritis and experience loss of mobility making it difficult for him to enter and leave the litter box. If your older cat is suddenly “missing” the box, try providing one with lower sides.
What you never knew about Hidden cat litter boxes
Cats generally like to feel safe and enjoy their privacy while relieving themselves. This translates into ensuring that the litter box is in a low traffic area, may be covered or in this case hidden. This is a perfect hiding place since it’s designed to blend in with your living space and remain unseen by visitors.
A hidden litter box is usually stays hidden in plain sight by being hidden in an enclosure. This makes it an ideal resting area and comfort zone for your cat. These enclosures come in the form of a cabinet, a table or a night stand since they are part of the basic furniture in the house and they don’t alter anything. They provide much more space for your feline friends unlike a typical standalone litter box while having ventilation systems that keep odors at bay and leakage avoidance features.
To create your own unique and top notch hidden cat litter box, ensure at least most of these features are in place:
- Contains ventilation holes that enable air circulation
- Comes with a plant and decorative moss
- Contains vented system that keeps dust and odors at bay
- Contains hydraulic safety hinge for easier cleaning
- Keeps dogs away from the litter
Should you buy your first litter box at Walmart?
There are lots of options available from where you can source your favorite litter boxes. These include:
- Walmart
- Amazon
- Other online stores
- Your local store
The choice of store will be influenced by factors such as:
- The cost of the litter box at the store
- Ease of accessibility and convenience
- Shopping habits
- Brand loyalty
Best Cat Litter:
Different types of cat litter exist such as:
- Non-clumping litter
- Clumping litter
- Pelleted litter
- Flaked litter
- Granulated litter
- Dust-free litter
- Dust-reduced litter
- Chemical-free litter
- Deodorizing litter
- Scented litter
- Unscented litter
- Low-tracking litter
- Treated with catnip litter
With so many choices facing you as a cat owner, it can be confusing on which is the best cat litter to settle for. Basically, the requirements for any litter you choose are the same:
- It should remind the cat of his natural environment.
- Should be absorbent.
- It should be fragrance-free.
- Not too dusty.
An in-depth analysis of these will be tackled in a later blog so keep a lookout for that.
Pro tip: When acquiring your cat, kitten or adult, ask the owner, breeder or shelter about the brand and type of litter that the pet is accustomed to. Don’t change it! When you switch cat litters suddenly, this can bring about confusion and elimination problems, especially with a cat that’s just adjusting to a new environment. Don’t buy a new type of litter just because it’s on sale!
Litter Box Accessories
When it comes to choosing litter box accessories, the most fundamental piece that you a need is a scooper. Everything else is optional.
Other items include:
- Litter box liners
- Cat litter deodorizer
Conclusion:
Your cat’s needs are unique and with this guide, you will be able to quickly settle on the best litter box ideal for your cat. There is no one size fits all option. Follow the steps given and you will find your ideal cat box!
