There are extra litter packing containers than are dreamt of, Shakespeare might need written, had he been attempting to please a cat. From plain plastic rectangles to high-tech automated fashions that relieve homeowners of the chore of scooping, there’s a field to go well with the flamboyant of any cat — and so they’re those whose opinions matter.
No-frills litter packing containers are good starter selections. The field ought to be giant sufficient for the cat to simply transfer round in. Rule of paw: A litter field ought to be 1 1/2 instances the cat’s physique size. Your cat shouldn’t need to scrunch as much as match inside.
“I generally don’t recommend a litter box with a lid, especially for large cats, because they’re just too uncomfortable,” says Marybeth Rymer, DVM, who practices feline medication in northern California. “They can’t squat properly and hold that position comfortably.”
But not all cats and cat households are the identical. Seniors, cats with mobility challenges and kittens all profit from a field with a low entry level so it’s straightforward to step into. Some litter packing containers product of silicone have foldable sides that may be raised or lowered relying on what a cat wants extra: ease of entry and exit, or excessive sides to include kicked litter.
Some cats urinate standing up, inflicting urine to land outdoors the field. Cats who do that might have arthritis of their hips, knees or backbone, Rymer notes, making it painful for them to squat. A veterinary examination and ache treatment might clear up the issue. Otherwise, a field with excessive sides can assist to include urine. A variety of litter packing containers have excessive partitions or attachable guards to stop cats from “overshooting.” These packing containers are additionally nice selections for cats who power-kick, sending litter flying.
Another possibility is a top-entry field, with a lid that’s simply eliminated for scooping. Cat lovers who’ve top- entry packing containers say their cats use them with out points.
“I really like these for upright pee-ers,” says cat proprietor Cindy Steinle. “I’m not a fan of covered boxes on the whole because typically they hold in odor, but these seem to really allow airflow.”
Speaking of odor, ease of cleansing is essential. Rymer cleans her cats’ plastic litter field weekly with heat water and unscented cleaning soap, and scoops it no less than as soon as day by day.
Litter packing containers product of stainless-steel — yep, they exist — are additionally straightforward to scrub. That’s what SueEllen Stillwell has for her senior cat, Scout. The field has excessive guards and is simple for Scout to get into.
“I’m in a small apartment, and this litter box does a good job of containing the smell,” Stillwell says. Triangular nook litter packing containers will also be helpful in small areas.
What about fancy automated litter packing containers? People both love them or hate them, often primarily based on cost, dimension, the variety of cats they’ve — and their cats’ response to them. New Yorker John Sibley just lately overcame his reluctance to spend a lot on a litter field and bought one for his 12 cats. He was offered after it cycled 9 instances the primary day.
Rymer, nonetheless, isn’t a fan, having seen too many cats who have been frightened by the loud noise. She tried one herself, however discovered it tough to scrub.
Place litter packing containers in quiet areas the place cats doing their business gained’t be interrupted by, for example, a storage door opening or a dryer buzzer going off. Rymer likes quiet places reminiscent of little-used bogs, utility rooms with out loud home equipment, and closets with sliding doorways.
Ideally, have one litter field per cat, plus one. Place them in separate rooms in order that one cat can’t maintain all the packing containers hostage. Having them in numerous areas additionally makes it simpler for seniors or kittens to discover a field immediately after they want one.
The proper field will convey a purr of Fortune’s cat.
— By Kim Campbell Thornton
