CATS PROTECTION

Most of us know cats are fussy eaters, but they can also be pretty picky when it comes to the use of litter trays. Hopefully, the following suggestions should keep your cat from "soiling outside the tray".

Most people are inclined to place the litter box in an out-of-the-way spot to minimize odor and prevent cat litter from being tracked throughout the house. But if the litter tray ends up in the utility room, next to an appliance or on a cold cement floor, your cat may be less than pleased, for a number of reasons.

So you may have to compromise. The litter tray should be kept in a spot that affords your cat some privacy yet is also conveniently located. If you place the litter tray in a cupboard or a bathroom, be sure the door is wedged open from both sides to prevent her from being trapped inside or locked out. Depending on the location, you might consider cutting a hole in a cupboard door and adding a pet door. Or you could splash out on some of the purpose built cabinets out there that look so good, you would be proud to have it in full view.

Research has shown that most cats prefer fine-grained litters, presumably because they have a softer feel. The new scoopable (clumping) litters usually have finer grains than the typical clay litter and are very popular. But high-quality, dust-free, clay litters are relatively small-grained and may be perfectly acceptable to your cat. Some of my own cats have a preference for this kind of litter, while others are happy to use the litters made from Wood based pulp reformed in the shape of pellets.

If you suspect your cat has spent part of his life outdoors and is likely to eliminate in your houseplants, try mixing some potting soil with your regular litter; pellet-type litters  are not recommended. Once you find a litter your cat likes, stick with it. Buying the least expensive litter or the brand that's on sale any given week could result in your cat not using the litter tray.

Many cats are put off by the odor of scented or deodorant litters. For the same reason, it's not a good idea to place a room deodoriser or air freshener near the litter tray. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the tray will help absorb odours without repelling your cat, and odours shouldn't really be a problem if you keep the litter tray clean. If you find the litter tray smells offensive, your cat probably finds it even more offensive and won't want to eliminate there.

Today the selection of Cat Litters available is staggering, which in turn makes the job of finding the right one harder, our advice is simple, if you adopt your cat from us, listen to the advice the fosterer gives you on what kind of litter the cat has been using whilst in our care, and stick with it.  The same goes for obtaining a cat or kitten elsewhere....ASK !

Currently at Cats Protection Newcastle we are using a relatively new cat litter to the UK. This litter is manufactured from corn, it is very lightweight, low odour, almost dust free, which is very important to those Asthma sufferers out there, scoopable, and best of all, flushable. The down side of this litter is its costly to buy, but, if you follow the manufacturers guidelines, it proves to be no more costly than most good quality litters. The litter is called ' Worlds Best Cat Litter' and is currently available through First Vets. Those of you out there who are lucky enough to own an Electric Litter Tray, such as a 'LitterMaid" wont find a better litter to use with this product.

You should have at least as many litter trays as you have cats. That way, none of them will ever be prevented from eliminating in the litter tray because it's already occupied. You might also consider placing litter boxes in several locations around the house, so that no one cat can prevent the other cats from getting access. We also recommend that you place at least one litter box on each level of your house.

It's not possible to designate a personal litter box for each cat in your household, as cats may use any litter box that's available, and that means a cat may occasionally refuse to use a litter box after another cat has used it. In this case, all of the litter boxes will need to be kept extremely clean and additional trays may be needed. Unless you are lucky enough to own an Electric Litter Tray, which self cleans after each cat has used it.

Some people prefer to provide their cats with a covered litter tray, but doing so may introduce some potential problems. To discover which type your cat prefers, you may want to experiment by offering both types at first. I personally use the covered trays quite a lot, as I introduce my kittens to them as soon as they are big enough to climb into the bigger ones, and I find they are beneficial for kittens, or for those cats who by 'digging to Australia' empty most of the contents onto the floor, but there are problems in using them that you need to be aware of.

Potential Problems of Covered Litter Trays

You may forget to clean the litter tray as frequently as you should because the dirty litter is "out of sight, out of mind."

• A covered litter tray traps odours inside, so it will need to be cleaned more often than an open one. A dirty, covered litter tray is to your cat what a portapotty is to you!
• A covered litter tray may not allow a large cat sufficient room to turn around, scratch, dig, or position herself in the way she wants.
• A covered litter tray may make it easier for another cat to lay in wait and "ambush" the user as she exits the tray; on the other hand, a covered litter tray may feel more private, and timid cats may even prefer it.

To meet the needs of the most discriminating cat, solids should be scooped out of the litter tray daily. How often you actually change (replace) the litter depends on the number of cats you have, the number of litter trays, and the type of litter you use. Twice a week is a general guideline for clay litter, but depending on the circumstances, you may need to replace it every other day or only once a week. If you clean the litter tray daily, scoopable litter may only need to be changed every two to three weeks. If you notice an odour or if much of the litter is wet or clumped, it's time for a change. Don't use strong smelling chemicals or cleaning products when washing the litter tray, as doing so may cause your cat to avoid the box. Some cleaning products are toxic to cats. Washing with soap and water should be sufficient.

Some cats don't mind having a plastic liner in the litter tray, while others do. Again, you may want to experiment to see if your cat is bothered by a liner in the tray. If you do use a liner, make sure it's anchored in place, so it can't easily catch your cat's claws or be pulled out of place.

Some people think that the more litter they put in the tray, the less often they will have to clean it, but that's a mistake. Most cats won't use litter that's more than about two inches deep. In fact, some long-haired cats actually prefer less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the litter tray. The fact is the litter tray needs to be cleaned on a regular basis, and adding extra litter is not a way around that chore.

There's really no such thing as "litter-training" a cat in the same way one would housetrain a dog. A cat doesn't need to be taught what to do with a litter tray because instinct will generally take over. The only thing you need to do is provide an acceptable, accessible litter tray, using the suggestions above. It's not necessary to take your cat to the litter tray and move her paws back and forth in the litter; in fact, we don't recommend it, as such an unpleasant experience is likely to initiate a negative association with the litter tray.

If your cat begins to eliminate in areas other than the litter tray, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat's litter tray habits. If your veterinarian determines that your cat is healthy, the cause may be a simple behaviour problem that can be resolved by using behaviour modification techniques. Punishment is not the answer, nor is banishing your cat outdoors. For long-standing or complex situations, contact an animal behavior specialist who has experience working with cats.

© 2005. Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.