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.
Small boxes won't work well for long. Kittens won't care how big the box is, but a larger cat will not use one that is too small. They should not fill up the whole space when they want to go. Cats are generally clean animals and do not like having to step on their previous mess in order to go again. This will be enough reason for them to find another place to go.
If your cat kicks and sprays during or after their business you need taller sides. The front should, of course, be easy for them to get in and out. The sides should be tall enough that they can have their fun kicking the stuff around and not leave it all over your floors.
There is a debate about having a covered or uncovered one. The main thing you should know is that covered containers need to be cleaned daily. Having a cover keeps the smell of ammonia contained but this will quickly build up and irritate any cat. Every day there should be a clean space for the cat to prevent them from getting sick or stopping the usage of it.
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.
Small boxes won't work well for long. Kittens won't care how big the box is, but a larger cat will not use one that is too small. They should not fill up the whole space when they want to go. Cats are generally clean animals and do not like having to step on their previous mess in order to go again. This will be enough reason for them to find another place to go.
If your cat kicks and sprays during or after their business you need taller sides. The front should, of course, be easy for them to get in and out. The sides should be tall enough that they can have their fun kicking the stuff around and not leave it all over your floors.
There is a debate about having a covered or uncovered one. The main thing you should know is that covered containers need to be cleaned daily. Having a cover keeps the smell of ammonia contained but this will quickly build up and irritate any cat. Every day there should be a clean space for the cat to prevent them from getting sick or stopping the usage of it.
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.
