December 10, 2002
Tuesday

Well, we've spent two articles talking about cat boxes, how many, placement of those boxes, and removal of unwanted boxes. But we'll finish up this week. Compare that to the months of training a puppy how to live in your house, and it'll look a lot shorter.

So, a box per cat plus one, one per level of house, one for each end of house. Covered cat boxes are the best. And be careful where you put them. Picture this. Cat box in laundry room, next to the washer. The washer has been running, but is currently in a rest spot before it starts spinning. Simba, our new kitten, knows this spot has soft moveable earth to cover up her stuff when she's done, so she scoots on in and is doing her business, when the washer starts again, and starts banging because it's old, or it's unbalanced. Or maybe just the sound of the machine starting up is enough. Simba comes flying out of the box, every hair on end sure she's under attack. Good luck ever convincing her that box is safe again.

While the laundry room is an appropriate place in our minds for a litter box, it has its hazards, and you need to be aware of them. Place boxes away from machinery that might scare a cat out of a box. Cats have lifelong memories, and hold grudges from one end of them to the other. So you'll be lucky if you can get Simba back in the laundry room after that episode, much less back in a litter box in the laundry room.

Types of litter. I am a huge fan of clumping litter. Many of you weren't around for the days of clay litter, changing the box every two or three days. Icky poo. Clumping litter was a HUGE improvement. Huge, I say. It still needs to be picked daily, but you can go two weeks before you change the entire box. But it does need to be entirely switched every couple of weeks, because those little pieces that drop off the clump eventually add up to a urine concentration that starts bugging the cat.

Finally, a word about scented litter. That scent is for us, not for them. Most cats tolerate it, but some don't. It's one of the first questions I'll ask someone with an inappropriately urinating cat, and it's the first thing I'll change. Go for the unscented. Especially if you change brands frequently, because mixing those scents can sometimes be a little overpowering to a cat. Different brands clump differently. Get the ones that hold the clump together the best, as it will cut down on the need to change the box. My favorite is Arm and Hammer, but there are others out there.

Next: Feeding Simba the Kitten

franimaldoc@sitnews.org

• E-mail Dr. Good your comments & pet questions.
• E-mail your dog's photo for publication on Pet Talk/Pet Health. Include your dog's name and the name of the photographer.

Submit an Opinion - Letter

Sitnews
Stories In The News