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Cat
Litter Box
For most cat owners, one of the
biggest drawbacks of owning a cat is the dreaded cat litter
box. Few people like to clean litter boxes. After all, they
aren't just smelly. Litter can be quite dusty and people that
change litter boxes are more susceptible to some cat diseases that can
be caught by humans than people that do not change their cats' litter
boxes.
Luckily, there are several new litter box designs that make the
task of changing cat litter much easier. One popular design is the
hooded litter box. These boxes provide privacy for more sensitive cats,
but they also help keep down litter dust. The hooded box is ideal for a
single cat, as long as the cat's owners can change the box frequently to
keep it smelling clean and fresh. For people who don't want to handle
the soiled litter, there are removable liners for these boxes. Simply
lift out the whole liner filled with soiled litter and discard it. Lay
down a new liner, add fresh cat litter, and replace the lid.
Another popular cat litter box design is the self cleaning litter box.
This box is ideal for families with multiple cats, as cats
do not like to use dirty litter boxes. The rake removes soiled
litter into a removable receptacle and leaves the box fresh and
clean. The cat owner can easily discard the dirty litter without
having to do anything more than pulling out the receptacle containing
the dirty litter and throwing it away.
It is fairly easy to teach your kitten to use a litter box. The
most important things for you to do are to position the litter box in
the right place and to keep it extremely clean. Litter boxes
should never be placed next to your cat's sleeping or eating spots, as
cats do their best to keep these areas clean.
Once you put the litter box in a convenient place, it is time to teach
your cat what the box is for. Begin by placing your cat in the
box and raking your fingers through the clean litter. Your cat may just
decide to start using the box right away. If so, praise him lavishly. If
he simply hops out, play with him a few minutes and then place him back
in the box. Repeat this procedure several times, but do not overdo it.
You don't want to frustrate your cat.
When your cat eats, wait approximately ten or fifteen minutes and
then place your cat in the litter box. If he uses the box,
praise him. Also, when your cat is napping, keep an eye on him so that
you can take him to the litter box when he awakens.
If your cat does not use the litter box, do not scold him
for his accidents. He will just become angry and frustrated. Instead,
place the box in the spot where he most frequently has accidents and
encourage him to use it.
Once your cat uses his litter box a few times, he should
continue to use it. If he stops using the box, be sure it is clean. If
the litter box is not dirty, he may have a health problem, so be
sure to consult your veterinarian.
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