When to clean the cat litter box
If your cat lives indoors all the time, you’ll need to scoop out the faeces every day, preferably as soon as possible after your cat’s used the litter.
Clumping litter generally needs changing less frequently than paper and clay varieties.
If you’re scooping daily, and topping up the box or tray, you can probably get by with fully replacing the cat litter once a week.
Empty litter and wash the box using a mild detergent or washing up liquid. Don’t use a chlorine bleach because it can interact with the ammonia in the urine. The strong smell may also deter your cats (did we mention cats are fussy?)
Many councils now provide an organic bin service. Check and see if organic cat litter, for example litter made from recycled paper, can go directly in that. If you’re using a biodegradable tray liner as well, the whole litter business becomes a lot easier to manage.
Choosing the right location for the kitty litter box
The RSPCA recommends putting the litter box or tray well away from your cat’s food and water bowls.
Find somewhere quiet and accessible to your cat. If space is an issue, you may find it convenient to put the tray in a wardrobe or cupboard with a cat door entry.
This also ensures privacy, though you will need to remember to clean it and change the litter!
Multiple cats means you need an extra litter box
A general rule of thumb is that you need one litter box or tray per cat, plus one extra. Cats don’t want to go where another cat has already been.
Rather than put all the trays in a single room, it’s better to have them spread out over a couple of locations. That way the cats won’t inadvertently surprise one another while they’re doing their business.
What if your cat refuses to use the cat litter box?
If you’ve checked that the litter box or tray is clean and your cat is still avoiding it, there are a couple of possibilities. It could be the litter box or tray you’re using, or it could be the litter itself.
Finding the right litter box or tray
Some cats like open litter trays, some like closed litter trays and litter boxes. If everything is going well, there’s no reason to change.
But if you bring home a new cat or your cat is not using your current tray, you may have to experiment to find out what they prefer.
Cats like privacy when they are defecating but they also like to observe potential dangers. As they emerge from a closed tray, they are momentarily at risk of ambush and this may cause anxiety. So if your new companion is reluctant to use a closed tray, try an open one. And vice versa!
Make sure the tray is big enough for your cat. If you have a miniature lion, it may have difficulty squatting in a normal tray and you’ll need to get a bigger one.
The purr-fect cat litter
There are many kinds of litter: recycled paper, clay and clumping. Again, if all is going well, try not to change the kind of kitty litter you use.
If you do have to, try to do it gradually. That is, mix a little of the new kind of litter in with the old and gradually increase the proportion until you have made the switch.
In general, cats don’t need to be trained to use a litter tray but you may need to retrain one that’s used to toileting outside. Start with soil or sand taken from the area where your cat has been toileting itself. Again, gradually increase the proportion of cat litter until you have made the switch.
If your cat is still fussy about using the litter tray, there might be a more serious reason, and it's time for a visit to the vet.