Cat Litter Hygiene
The Litter Box
Dust-free litter is essential. The best varieties include corn, wheat, or pine pellets. The second-best choice is paper-based cat litter. Clay litter is inherently dusty and causes respiratory problems in cats, when unproper sanitary care is taken. One brand of clay litter is better than the others, and that is Boxie Cat. Despite the brand’s claim, there is no such thing as dust-free clay. It’s like drywall cement that way. But, the Boxie Cat is as low as such litter can get.
Whichever litter you select, be sure to include it in the “new kitten kit” you get from us. You don’t want to get home and be stuck without!
Cleaning the litter box is a daily ritual. Replace any urine-saturated litter and remove all solid waste. Dirty litter boxes breed defecation problems. Cats also “hold it” too long when the litter box is dirty. This behavior can lead to urinary tract infections, too, so just clean the box every day.
When you “scoop the poop,” make sure that the filtering scoop you use is only for that purpose. Wash and rinse the scoop each time you change the litter, which should be every two weeks. Occasionally, sterilize the scoop with full-strength bleach.
To clean the litter box, remove all the litter and use a disinfectant to clean the inside. Dry thoroughly and replace the litter. It is absolutely imperative that you remove all chemicals from the litter box while cleaning. Leave no disinfectant or bleach behind. Otherwise, your cat will get it on itself and ingest the poison while grooming.
If you want, use litter box liners. They keep waste from adhering to the sides and bottom of the litter box, which facilitates easy cleaning.
No More Tracking
Put a hood on the litter box to keep the cat from flinging litter and waste all over the place. If your cat is nimble, use a top-entry litter box or flip-top litter box.
You might also try an automated litter box. They’re great for cats who dig a lot but aren’t well-versed at “the cover-up.”
Give your cat a scatter mat too. This kind of mat surrounds the litter box and forces your cat to wipe its feet as it leaves the litter box. The mat will dislodge litter or pellets that are stuck to your cat’s paws and prevent them from dropping off in the wrong place.
If the litter box isn’t working for your cat, you might consider toilet training. It won’t work for old or arthritic cats, but it could be worth a shot for a younger cat who either won’t use the litter box or “always misses.”