A great place to locate the litter box is your own bathroom, as long as you make sure to keep the door wide open when it's not in use. Many people tuck the litter box next to the toilet, between the toilet and tub, or under the sink.
The best place to put your cat's litter box is the bathroom, a spare room or laundry room. If you can't put it in those rooms, the living room and bedroom are also good places for your cat.
Well-Lit and Ventilated. When you're considering where to keep a litter box, you should also choose a location that offers sufficient lighting and ventilation. Even though cats have very good night vision, they still may not feel comfortable using their litter box if it is in a dark area of the house.
Although the risks are small, you could become ill if you contract Toxoplasmosis, worms or you're exposed to too much ammonia. More likely, the noise and smell of your cat doing their business in it will either wake you up or keep you awake when you should be sleeping.
If your cat cannot see the box, it will more than likely miss it altogether. At night, utilize a nightlight to illuminate the litter box area, so your cat doesn't have to guess at the target spot. Cats have better night vision than humans, but they cannot see in total darkness.
Even if you scoop out your kitty litter box consistently, smells can still linger in the litter as you accidentally miss small specks of urine and feces. That's why changing the litter at least twice a week can help to significantly reduce litter box smell.
Experts recommend cleaning the litter box monthly, but maybe more frequently depending on the number of kitties, the type of litter, your cat's output and health, and your preferences.
In this study, no overall preference was seen for covered versus uncovered litter boxes. When individual cats were assessed, 70% showed absolutely no preference (i.e. used both boxes equally), 15% used the covered litter box more significantly, while 15% used the uncovered more than the covered. Pretty even results.
Place outdoor litter boxes in out-of-the-way areas with little human traffic. Keep it away from the cat's food and water. Be sure to place the outdoor litter box away from areas where cats eat or drink.
If possible, do not keep the litter box in a bedroom unless it's an extremely large room and the dirty cat litter box can be placed far from the bed and out of the way. Instead, put the box in a bathroom, closet or designated laundry room area.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.
The smarter cats gravitated toward soft dirt or sand, since their granular consistency made it easier to bury their waste. This is why cats are naturally attracted to the feel of cat litter and know what to do once they feel it beneath their paws.
Because cats are very sensitive to changes in their environment, it is important to avoid moving the litter box unless absolutely necessary.
Maintain the litter box
Now that your kitty has a sparkling clean litter box, it's best to keep it that way with a regular daily routine. Scoop out urine-soaked clumps and poop at least once or twice a day, or more if needed to keep the litter box fresh and to minimize odor.
Most of the best cat litter brands last around two to three weeks if you're cleaning the tray each day. That applies to non-toxic and low-dust litters designed to absorb high volumes of liquid without releasing odours or creating hygiene problems.
For the most part, all experts agree…the litter box should be scooped 1-2 times each day. “Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business,” said By Dr. Stephanie Janeczko in this featured post on Petfinder. Dr.
Cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might surprise you (and you probably have them in your kitchen). Try orange and lemon peels, cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.
While corn flour is preferred, other constituents which can provide similar characteristics to the cat litter can be used, such as wheat flour, for example.
Likewise, cockroaches may be attracted to cat litter and, well, pet poop, as well. You can mitigate these issues by taking plants outside and cleaning out litter boxes frequently.
Cats can't see in total darkness
Cats are not nocturnal, but they are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. Although a cat's eyes are able to capture and use 50 percent more available light than people, they cannot see at all unless there is some source of light in the room.
Like other mammals, light is a necessity for their eyes to work properly. However, cats do need less ambient light than humans do to capture the same clear view by their eyes, and besides their eyes, cats can also explore the surroundings in the dark with the help of other parts of their body.
4. Amount of light: Contrary to belief, cats do need some light to see. Try placing a night light near their litter box and turning it on in the evenings so they feel safe and can navigate to their box easily.
A cat who scratches in his litter to find the perfect spot to poop and then buries his deposit probably likes the texture of the litter. A cat who perches on the side of the litter box and doesn't bury his poop probably dislikes the texture. The scent of litter is also important.
How long? Many kittens will catch on quite quickly, and get it right most of the time. Others may need to be placed in the litter box several times a day for several days before they start to grasp the idea. Overall it may take up to four weeks to get a kitten fully and reliably litter box trained.