(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links from the Amazon Associates and ShopStyle Collective programs. Any purchases made by clicking these links and following through will earn the owner of this blog a small commission. All affiliate links are to products that have been personally used by The Meow Place.)

The Right Way To Set Up Your Cat’s Litter Box

Nobody likes talking about a cat’s bathroom habits. The whole idea is just so icky that we can’t wait to get off the subject, but the litter box is an important place in your home for kitty. If you want to avoid messes outside the litter box, it’s best to follow these rules when setting up your kitty’s bathroom.

1) Don’t Cover The Litter Box

Here’s a secret that all of those litter box companies don’t want you to know – cats hate covered litter boxes! Covered litter boxes can make a cat feel trapped, and bathroom odors waft around in there instead of dissipating in the open air.

Try using an open litter box in a room that allows for more than one access point to the litter box. This way, kitty can escape if he or she feels threatened from one end. This is especially helpful for multi-cat households, as some cats will try to attack the other one when they’re using the litter box (Misha does this; she’s such a stinker!).

If you live in a smaller space, corner litter boxes are a great option. There are several options available, but I recommend that you opt for one with lower sides. If you’ve got a cat that likes to fling litter, use a litter mat to avoid tracking throughout the house.

To eliminate any litter box odors, we also use this GermGuardian air sanitizer. It works like a charm; I have to hover right over the litter box before I can smell anything when this bad boy is around.

2) Scoop/Change Litter Often

This should go without saying, but you need to scoop the litter box at least once a day. In fact, do it twice a day. Heck, do it three times a day if you feel like it, but make sure that it’s at least once! Just imagine if you only flushed the toilet once a day, no matter how many times you used it. How long would it be before you complained about the smell?

Cats have really sensitive noses. A cat’s sense of smell is far greater than that of a dog’s. Think about that – bloodhounds are renowned for their sense of smell and ability to track, so how much greater is a cat’s? Cats have over 200 million receptors in their nose. That’s one powerful sniffer!

For this reason, litter box odors must be kept to a bare minimum, not only for your sake, but for your cat’s as well! If the litter box is too stinky, your cat might just relieve themselves elsewhere in your home. Scoop once or twice a day and change your litter as often (if not more often) than the brand recommends.

Tired of changing the litter box every week? One bag of Pretty Litter lasts an entire month! Get yours at Target now!

3) Use The Right Litter

Just what is the “right” litter? Well, there are plenty of options out there, but there are a few common denominators that make for great litter.

• Odor-reducing: A lot of cat litter companies will claim to be able to reduce or eliminate odors, but many of these use scented litter. Strong smells, even ones that are pleasant to you, are incredibly offensive to cats. Use a natural, scent-free litter that absorbs the smell rather than covering it up.
• Suitable for sensitive paws: Some types of litter can be irritating and rough on soft kitty paws. Even outdoor cats that have been roughing it will cover their urine and feces in soft, sandy material, so use a litter that contains small, pliable material like silica gel, pine, paper or tea leaves.
• Biodegradable: There are two reasons for this: 1) It’s better for the earth, and 2) it’s better for your cat. Clay litters contain more chemicals and are not all-natural, and most tend to get dusty. Inhaling the dust or swallowing a non-biodegradable litter can cause health problems for your cat, including blockages and respiratory infections.

My litter of choice is Pretty Litter because one 4-lb bag lasts an entire month. It’s great for sensitive paws, doesn’t cause any digestive problems if swallowed, and it CHANGES COLOR OMG.

I don’t just love it for the rainbows, though – the color changes signify early detection of common illnesses and conditions. It’s not meant to be a diagnosis, but it saved my cats from a urinary tract infection by detecting crystals in their urine before things got bad.

4) One Litter Box Per Cat (Plus One!)

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t followed this step very well, mostly because we don’t have room for a third litter box. This may explain why Tippy and Misha are so finicky, and I’ve had to do extra scoops per day to make up for the lack of a third litter box.

The number of litter boxes for your home should match the number of cats, plus an extra one. This helps both decrease the litter odor and keep your kitties from getting too territorial. Cats like to mark their territory, and the litter box is no exception.

Cut down on the competition for a fresh litter spot by providing a litter box for each cat, as well as a spare. They most likely won’t use the spare as often, so you won’t have to go crazy on changing litter all the time. If an extra litter box isn’t an option due to space or budget, keep the ones you have as fresh and clean as possible!

Got any litter box tips that you’d like to share? Shout them out in the comments section! We love it when you meow back at us.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save