With all the factors to consider when choosing a litter (size, material, type, etc.), finding the suitable litter for you and your cat can be challenging. When you adopt your first cat, besides buying her a cat scratching post, your instinct will be to buy the classic litter box to cut costs and because it's the most convenient. Over time, however, you may find that you and your cat have other preferences or needs and will want to change the type of litter used.
Why Do Cats Need a Cat Scratching Post?
Because your cat needs to behave as naturally as possible to satisfy its hunting instinct, try to use toys as much as possible. Try to make it so that the toy imitates the movement of possible prey. Once you have the cat's attention, remember that prey tends to move away from the hunter. So move the cat scratching post in short bursts as far away from the cat as possible to get it to follow. Then, let the cat grab the toy with its front paws, bite it, and kick it with its hind legs.
What Type of Cat Litter Box Do You Need?
The litter box is very important for cats, as it is where they defecate, but for owners, the cat litter box is crucial, considering that it is how they keep odor and mess at bay. Therefore, choosing a litter box suitable for your cat's needs is very important. For example, small kittens with short legs need litter boxes with small edges to reach inside. There are many cat litter boxes, classic or modern, for small, large, shy, and friendly cats – litter boxes of different sizes, shapes, colors, and designs so that you will find something for your cat.
The Classic Tray-Type Litter Box
Is usually rectangular and can have various sizes, colors, or materials, with or without a frame. It is the most accessible to the owners, considering that you can buy it in supermarkets and pet shops. It allows the cat effortless access to it, especially when it is a puppy and you want to train it to use the litter box. It is also easy to clean and maintain. However, this type of cat litter box has big disadvantages: the cat will spread the used litter over the litter when it covers up what it has done.
Covered Litter Box
It has about the same shape as the classic litter box, the difference being that it is covered and has a door that allows the cat to enter and exit it. The size is significantly larger, so you will need more space to place it vertically. However, you can put it right near the cat scratching post. The covered litter box keeps the smell inside and doesn't let litter pellets escape when the cat covers. Also, if you have children in the family, they will not have access to the bedding in the litter box.
The covered litter box gives the cat the peace and privacy it needs to defecate. As for the disadvantages, it is more difficult to clean. You have to remove the cover to change the sand. Also, it is bulkier and takes up more space; it is noisier as you will hear the sand hitting the walls of the cat litter box. Finally, in this model, access is difficult for the cat because the door has to be pushed. However, it can be dispensed with. So this may be a disadvantage, too.
The Self-Cleaning Litter Box
It has the form of a covered or tray-type litter box, and its main advantage is that you no longer have to remove the feces or lumps of sand every day, but they are removed automatically. After the cat has used the litter box, the urine is absorbed by the sand forming small lumps. All you have to do is empty that tray periodically, and replace it. The advantages of a self-cleaning litter box are multiple so that makes it the best choice for your cat. You can add it to your list right next to the cat scratching post.
The self-cleaning toilet litter box is very similar to the toilet you use. For this type of litter you need special, recyclable sand that can be washed and reused. Having the shape of a toilet bowl, it must be connected to a water source, and to a pipe where it will remove the cleaned residues. After it has been used, the cat litter box begins a cleaning program that involves: liquefying the feces and disposing of them in the large toilet or bathroom drain where it was connected. This type of litter has a higher purchase cost but, once installed, you don't have to worry about cleaning it.
Furniture-Type Litter Box
It is very similar to the covered litter box, only it is incorporated into a piece of furniture to be more easily integrated into the home's design. You can purchase a standard litter box on the market or have one custom-made to match the furniture in your home. Guests will not notice such litter, nor will they smell it. The cat will get out of it without leaving any traces of sand. It is easy to clean and can be placed anywhere in the home. Many choose to place it next to the cat scratching post to be suitable for their cat's playing space.
After you buy your cat the cat litter box it needs, remember that cats have a lot of energy and love playing all day long. Indeed, you've seen how a cat can transform any object into a toy. Cats love running around the house, and more than that, they love climbing. That is why when you want to buy your cat some toys go to pet stores or someplace where you can buy products that meet safety standards. Consider all that when you go to the store to buy a cat scratching post for your cat.
