Kitty Care Part Three: The Infamous Litter Box
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*CRINGE*
Well, everyone knows this is one of the less popular aspects of owning an indoor cat...
The litter-box!
In this hub, I'm going to review the styles of litter-boxes widely available, and the types of cat litter available. Keep reading, and learn more about which type of cat litter can seriously injure, and even kill your poor little kitty!
The actual Litter-box
There are many different styles of litter boxes for your cat, the numbers on pictures are related to which number that style is on my list- ordered by cost.
- Plain style litter box - Economy style! About $5.00 at your local Wal-Mart.
- Corner fitting litter box - Moderate style! About $20.00 online, or $35.00 if you want the matching lid with swinging door.
- Automatic sifting model - Pricey style! About $110.00 online.
- The Cat Genie - ULTIMATE style! A staggering $350.00 direct from the maker!
Explanation of each style above:
- Our most economical choice is also the "self-serve" standard. Simply a plastic rectangle with raised sides.
- This is for compact spaces, and has a lid on top to make kitty feel more secure in his waste disposal area... It even has a little swinging door so you don't have actually see kitty take that special "pose" that is a mix between teetering and acting like a statue!
- This one is for people who cannot stand the thought of manually sifting the litter 2 times a day everyday for as long as they own their kitty. If you have more than 2 cats using this type of litter box, it is going to break! Every-time kitty does his duty, a little mechanical rake deposits it into a plastic container.
- This is the ultimate model. This one is almost like a toilet, but for kitty! It actually washes the litter which does not need replacing after each use. It's eco-friendly and doesn't harm septic tanks! Sweet!
Any questions? Okay, so you may want to know... Which style do I use?
I have 5 kittens, and 3 adult cats inside right now. (I know, I know... it's alot!) And because I have so many kitties, I actually chose number 1. I however do not use the litter boxes that come from the pet section. I found that Sterilite's 27 quart storage box worked best for me. They are long, deep enough and about a dollar cheaper than the largest litter box they sell in the pet section.
Moving onto the litter inside...
Now that you've chosen which kind of litter box you actually want, it's time to look at the types of litter available on the market.
- Cheap clay litter - Cost: $2-10 for about 10 pounds - This is typically very dusty, does not clump at all and cannot be reused (in my opinion) it also does not hold odors very well. If you are cat-sitting for a few days, this is an okay option. It is safe for short-term use.
- Clumping clay litter - Cost: $10-15 for about 25 pounds - This is the typical choice for households across America. It will last about 2 weeks if sifted 2 times a day. I also used to buy this type of litter... Until my cat started eating it, got sick and died. After researching it on the Internet, I found that this litter is NOT SAFE for cats. Because of the type of clay manufacturers use in this clumping litter, cats who eat this can become impacted in their stomachs and bowels. It can also cause horrible breathing problems for both your cat, and you. When you inhale the dust from this type of litter it contains the clumping agent - which means your sinuses are getting clogged with it! And so are kitties! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS!
- Recycled or "Green" litter - Cost: $7-15 for about 20 pounds - This litter is safe to use. It is usually made of recycled newspaper and takes the shape of little pellets (it looks like rabbit poop.) It can also be made out of pine in the same shape. This is typically less expensive than clumping litters, and is safe for septic tanks also! A good choice if you can get kitty to take the dive, so to speak.
- Granulated pine/corn - Cost: $6 at Wal-Mart (purple 10 pound bag) - This kind of litter, in my opinion, is the best. It is cheaper than most of those listed above, is "green/eco-friendly" and clumps! You also get the very pleasant smell of pine! My cats really like this over any other litter I have ever tried! I use 2 - 10 lb. bags of this every 2-3 weeks. I sift my cat litter once or twice a day if I can remember. It stays fresh smelling until around the third week.
As you can see, I have a very strong opinion on cat litter! I have tried all of the types listed above, and decided that the best option was also the safest and cheapest option! You can't beat that!
What style of cat litter do you currently use?
See results without votingLitter Box Accessories & Tips
Litter box must have items:
- Pan liners or plastic liners (unless you wash the box out weekly)
- Litter sifter, or a litter pan with build in sifter
- An air-tight container for litter disposal, or some good smelling plastic bags
- Litter box mat for kitty to step out on
Litter box tips:
- Sift your litter box at least once a day! 2 or 3 times would be better if you do not like kitty making angry mistakes other places in your home. It also helps your house to keep a nice smell.
- Install some kind of air freshener in your litter box room
- If possible, place the box in a secluded, or less used area of your home such as a second bathroom, utility room or laundry room - these are also places that guests are less likely to visit
- Wash the litter box out each time you completely replace the cat litter with bleach
- Replace the litter box every 2 - 3 months to lessen the chance of diseases in your kitties
- Pay attention to how kitty acts when using the litter box, you may need to relocate it to make kitty more comfortable
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Comments
Yeah, I read somewhere that if you have new cats alot that replacing the litter box is sometimes a good idea to lessen the chance :) Plus I think alot of people are clean freaks about this matter anyways, lol. Thanks for reading :) Ah, I totally forgot about the crystal kind of cat litter! You totally caught me! lol Thanks Misty :)
I've got four cats, and having an oversized sweater box instead of a "normal" cat pan is definitely a must-- also because one of them is a 22-pounder and large framed, so he tends to "miss" (not on purpose) in smaller boxes. I'm not a big fan of cat pan liners-- I find that my cats shred them LONG before the litter needs changing.
I was not aware that there was clumping "natural" litter-- I'll have to look into that. And even available at WallyWorld. Cool!
Yeah, I agree Den. I don't use liners either, but some people like them. The natural litter is called Fresh Results, and comes in a purple 10 lb bag. I love it!
If your Walmart does not carry it, you can ask the manager to order some, or you can buy it at most Petco/Petsmart locations under the name "Nature's Miracle" - it's made by a company called 8 in 1 Products :)
I like that cat box with the round patio area that seems to clean the little paws off.
Now, how does one get a person to change the cat box instead of turning the air conditioning down to 50 degrees to mask the smell????
See why I HATE waste so much? I see it all the time.
lol Patty :) It does seem to be harder to train humans doesn't it?
hahahahahaha You made me laugh! :)
I have tried the 'natural' pine pellet litter in the past and my cats at the time (four of them) all rebelled and refused to use the litterbox, instead opting to piss near my bed, in the bathroom, or in my livingroom. I talked to the vet and did some online searching and found that cats naturally don't like the feeling of pellets under their paws. They like the soft feeling similar to sand or dirt. When I switched back to regular TidyCat, all of my cats used their litterboxes again. I tried doing a one with clay and one with pellets, and the cats never touched the pellets. Lesson learned.
It isn't mentioned in the four, but you can actually use sifted playground sand as a litter. It semi-clumps, is easy to shovel, and wont impact the cat. There is little to no dust. You can get sand at your local garden or department store.
If you use baking soda with your cat litter, the smell will be near non-existent. I also recommend an ionizer if you use clumping or clay cat litter as it does wonders to suck up the dust with no ill effects. I have never had a cat with impaction due to clumping litter, but impaction is very noticable if you scoop twice a day. If the cat stops crapping for a day or two, refuses food, and vomits, see a vet instantly. The major sign is, of course, the lack of crap. Impaction can be treated if caught and will not instantly kill your pet.
mistyhorizon2003 says:
16 months ago
Hi, I use "Catsan", the white cat litter and an enclosed cat litter box with a cat flap entrance. This combination works well and I have had no problems.
I havent really found any great need as an ex-vets nurse to replace my cat tray periodically to avoid diseases, after all it is plastic and can be disinfected easily without the need for a new tray. At the vets I used to work at we never replaced the trays for new ones and we never had any problems. I also never used liners, and still don't, and no problems, but sifting regularly and an appropriate undisturbed room are all good advice. (It may be different in America)