Who knew there was so much in kitty litter? dr. Justine Lee provides valuable litter box advice. For more information from Dr. read, find her on facebook!
Although it seems trivial, a dirty litter box can cause serious medical and behavioral problems in cats, such as:
- peeing inappropriately in the house
- spraying
- poop right outside the litter box
- potentially predisposing to medical problems such as feline urethral obstruction (fuo) or feline lower urinary tract disease (flutd)
That’s why vets recommend getting n+1 litter boxes per cat. in other words, if you have n=3 cats, you need to have n+ 1, or four litter boxes. I have two cats, seamus and lily; therefore, I have three litter boxes. While this may seem like overkill, remember that cats are affected by litter box care and cleanliness, and you would rather have an extra litter box cleaning chore than inappropriate urination in the house (e.g., urinate in your laundry basket, your plants, your basement, or your down comforter). cats are very territorial and prefer not to share, so the more cats you have (or fewer boxes you have), the greater the risk of urinary behavior problems in your home. if you have cats that don’t get along, it’s possible that one cat is too shy to go to the litter box (and thus inappropriately urinating elsewhere). The benefit of having additional litter boxes throughout the house is that it is possible for each cat to choose their own particular litter box. Since variety is the spice of life, why not be able to choose from multiple toilets? Most importantly, know where and what type of cat litter boxes to provide for your cats. Next time you’re in a pet store, take a look – you’ll be amazed at the variety of litter box options you have. have available. You can buy tall boxes, low boxes, small boxes, large boxes, boxes with automatic shovels, boxes of different shapes and colors, and covered and uncovered sandboxes. most come with a lid, but not everyone chooses to use them. when in doubt, splurge a little; after all, litter boxes last practically a lifetime. I personally only tolerate covered litter boxes in my home. I like them because they help keep the dust and odor out of the kitty litter, keep the litter from being excessively kicked on the floor, and are more aesthetically friendly to guests. One problem with a covered litter box is that, in a multi-cat household, the most submissive cat may feel “trapped” in a covered litter box by an approaching cat; as a result, he may be too timid to enter a covered litter box if he feels attacked. If your cats get along, try covered litter boxes, as it dramatically decreases the “mess” of having a litter box in your house. you may even notice that your friends come to visit you more. if you’re not sure, leave a few options available for your cat: a few covered and uncovered litter boxes, a few different locations, and different types of litter to see what your cat prefers. who knew there was so much in kitty litter?
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your vet; is your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
