Litterbox Placement
Knowing the basics will keep accidents to a
minimum
MetPet.com Staff Writer
Basic Idea
Litter boxes need to be placed where your cat will use it and where it won't be a problem
or irritant to you. This is usually a bathroom but it can also be a walk-in closet,
garage, bedroom, kitchen, etc. Every house and cat is different and it may take
awhile before you find the ideal place. Once you find a place, it's best not to move
or change anything.
Quiet and Calm
Cats are easily disturbed and need a quiet place for their litter box. On the other
hand, they don't like feeling trapped and need a box that is easy to get in and out of.
A litter box that is "boxed" into a corner or behind a large piece of
furniture can appear too confining to your cat.
Away From Other Functions
The litter box should be separated from the areas where your cat sleeps, eats or
plays. Cats are fastidious and won't want to do these things next to their box.
On a Hard Surface
It's best to put the litter box directly on a hard surface rather than on soft
carpeting. Thick carpeting can catch litter and make it tougher to vacuum. A
hard surface can also be swept with a small broom and dustpan.
Some cats will scratch the outside of the litter box and then pee on the carpeting
around it. This odd behavior usually goes away when the litter box is placed on a
hard surface.
There are many options including accessories
made just for cats or ones that you make yourself.
Easily Accessible To Your
Cat
If the litterbox is down in the basement, around a corner, behind some shelving and
underneath a table, your cat may not be able to reach it in time. He may also look
for something more convenient like a laundry hamper. Sometimes it pays to have two
litter boxes even if you only have one cat.
Easily Accessible to You
Since a litter box needs to be cleaned out everyday, it needs to be accessible to
you. Having the scoop, plastic bags, vacuum and wastebasket nearby really helps.
Multiple Cat Households
The general rule is at least one litter box per cat. Sometimes cats are happy
to share with a sibling or a good friend but that is usually not the case. A single
litter box can also mean having to scoop it more than once a day.
Away From Dogs and Children
The family dog might develop a taste for cat poop. Your cat's diet is rich
and meaty and a dog that develops a habit of eating cat droppings is likely to ingest it
along with the litter. Young children can also get into the box so it needs to be
kept where only adults and your cat can access it.
Dogs can sometimes get into plastic bags full of used litter so it's important to use a
covered trash container.
Litter box
Maintenance
The cleaner the litter box, the less likely your cat will have problems. The
litter box should be scooped once a day (and more litter added) and cleaned with soap and
water once a week. The scoop itself should be washed once a week also. If
this is not always possible, having an additional litter box or an automatic one is really
helpful.
When cleaning the box itself, be sure to remove any
residual soap or cleanser with plenty of water. The perfumes or chlorine smell in
some cleaners can repel your cat. Make sure the box and cover (if there is one) are
completely dry before you add fresh litter. Otherwise clumping litter will stick to
the wet surfaces. 2" of litter are generally sufficient for an adult cat.
Use less for a kitten.
It is convenient to have two litter boxes so that one is always available while the
other is being cleaned or left out to dry.
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