Having an indoor cat means that you will need to keep an indoor kitty litter box handy. If your home is large or you have more than one cat, you may prefer to keep two litter boxes, one upstairs and another downstairs.
While kitty litter is designed as a place for your cats to perform toileting activities and keep them from going elsewhere in the house, the litter boxes don't always work as well as planned. They may develop a strong odor, fill up quicker than you can keep them cleaned, or allow your cat to track litter granules throughout the house, as well as provide a tempting forage area for your dog, if you have one.
To keep your kitty litter functional and problem-free, the following suggestions may be of assistance:
1. Put the kitty litter box in an out of the way area. Obviously you'll need to keep it where the cats can easily find it, but you don't necessarily want the litter box where family members or guests can see or smell it. Typical places for kitty boxes include the basement, the laundry room, the garage, the bathroom, or a nook or cranny likely to be overlooked by others.
2. Change the litter frequently. Depending on the number of cats in your household, and whether they spend any time out of doors, change the litter at least weekly, and more often if necessary. Use a liner for easy changing, and sweep up any granules that fall out during the switch. Dispose of used litter in a garbage bag of its own, and take it outdoors to the trash can right away.
3. Use an adequate amount of kitty litter. Don't skimp, since it's really pretty inexpensive anyway. Fill the litter plan about half-way full so the cats can get plenty of usage from it. Keep a lid on your kitty litter tray if possible. Some are sold with a lid that snaps on, which will cut down on sight, odors, and mess. Get the clumping kind if you prefer, which makes for quick sifting if you decide to clean your litter this way during the week between regular cleanings.
4. Clean the area around the litter box. Move the box to mop the floor each week. It may not hurt to wipe down walls near the box, too. You may want to set the kitty litter on newspapers or an old rug, which can be shaken free of granules outdoors, or the newspapers can be thrown away and replaced.
5. Deodorize the room in which the litter box sits. Open windows, use an air freshener, or burn candles (don't leave them unsupervised) to absorb potential odors. If possible, let your cat go outdoors in nice weather, which will provide an alternative to the litter box.
6. Keep the dog or other pets away from the litter box. Dogs love to nose around in the box, probably attracted by the strong smell of cat food in the litter. Close the door to the room whether the litter box is kept to keep other pets away.
A litter box is a wonderful convenience for your cats. With a few easy steps you can make sure it does its intended job and doesn't take too much of your time for its care. Both your cat and you will be happier, as a result!
