Cats Appreciate Having a Clean and Efficient Litter Box

The instinct to bury waste is ingrained into all cats, feral or domesticated. This instinct makes it essential for cats to have somewhere indoors to do this, hence a litter box. However, there are many different options in litter box style and types of litter. Cat owners will need to consider their own preferences as well as the preferences of their cats.

Cats will not use a litter box that is too small or not cleaned frequently. The recommendation is that each cat in a household needs at least one litter box. These should be placed in areas that are easily accessible to each cat but also offer a sense of privacy and security. In this way, you can keep your home clean and your cats happy. 

Styles of Cat Litter Boxes

There are pros and cons to each style of litter box and may require some trial and error to find what each cat prefers.

An uncovered box is the simplest litter box and typically the cheapest. This makes it easy to tuck out of the way and to have multiple boxes. However, some cats may not feel comfortable being so exposed. There are several different kinds of uncovered boxes beyond the basic plastic bin.

• Disposable boxes are small pans that can be thrown away after use. They are not as sturdy as permanent boxes but do not have to be cleaned.
• Sifting boxes have a removable, grated pan inserted into the more sturdy box. By lifting the pan and shaking from side to side, the clean litter will fall to the bottom pan, leaving the refuse that can be easily thrown out.

• High sided boxes offer a little bit more privacy and security for the cat without enclosing the top. They're an ideal compromise between an open and closed box.

Closed litter boxes are typically a little larger than open boxes but offer cats more security to do their business. The closed lid also helps to keep the litter box smells contained between cleanings. Like a closed box, there are several varieties other than just the simple, plastic box.

• Top entry litter boxes allow cats to enter through a hole in the top instead of through a doorway on the side. This may make nervous cats feel even more secure.

• Self cleaning boxes use a motorized rake or similar mechanism to scrape the clumps from the litter. These boxes sense when a cat has entered and left and will clean the box after any waste has been deposited. The owner can then empty the waste tray into the garbage without having to sift through the litter themselves.

Types of Litter

While cats in the outdoors have fewer options as to where they bury their excrement, indoor cats have a variety of different options.

1. Clay Litter - Clay litter is the most popular choice for cat owners. Clay litter is made of clumps or small particles of clay that absorb liquids. Cat owners can find a wide variety of clay litters and can choose from low to dust to no dust, scented or unscented, and clumping or non-clumping. Clay litter does tend to be heavy, especially when wet and is not environmentally friendly.
2. Silica Gel Litter - Although gel litter is typically more expensive than clay, it does offer the benefit of lasting longer. Silica gel litter is dust free and is excellent at eliminating odors. Some brands of silica gel litter can even indicate a cat's health by changing color based on the composition of the urine.
3. Environmentally Friendly Litter - Cat litter can also be made from a variety of organic materials such as wheat, grass, walnut, pine, corn cob or recycled paper. The texture of the litter depends on the material it is made from and can range from small pellets to tiny granules. These litter types also offer options for clumping or non-clumping and also offer pet owners ways to dispose of the litter via flushing down a toilet.