Cats care a lot about their hygiene; for this reason, they are always so careful in burying their needs once completed. It is also true that their behaviour derives from an inherent need to hide their smells from other animals in the area.
However, if you have a feline at home, it is good to provide him with a special toilet suitable for his needs. Take a look at the reviews of the products in our ranking and find out which are the most popular on the market.
Things to Consider Before Buying Cat Litter
For a cat, fulfilling his needs represents a moment of great vulnerability, and therefore it is very important to choose the right place where to place his toilet box. This should be located in a quiet area of the house or garden, away from where the feline eats, drinks and sleeps.
If you have multiple cats, you have to take into account that they may need the litter box at the same time and therefore it would be better to have a tray for each feline, unless your house is surrounded by large green spaces.
Indoor Toilet
Choosing the right toilet for your cat is a very important factor, which must not be influenced only by the search for the product at the best price or the best brand.
First of all, you need to understand the type of needs your cat has and then evaluate the purchase of a model suitable for the circumstance. You must also take into consideration your needs and possibly opt for a type of toilet cistern with cover or open.
The main differences between the two choices are functional and aesthetic. As far as the integral toilet is concerned, this one is equipped with a roof or a covering dome, which guarantees adequate privacy for the feline while fulfilling his needs.
Usually, these models are equipped with a tilting door which facilitates access inside the box. The advantage of a closed box consists of not letting bad smells come out of the tray, as the stench remains trapped inside the container.
Some toilets are also equipped with activated carbon filters, which can neutralize unpleasant odors. Another strong point of the covered models lies in the aesthetic aspect, since, being an integral box, the content of the litter is hidden from view.
Open Tray
If, on the other hand, you decide to opt for an open toilet box, it is advisable first to place a mat under the base, to prevent the cat from spreading the litter out of the container when it buries its needs or while jumping out of the tray.
On the market, there are models of different sizes, usually made of plastic and easy to clean. You can also come across crates equipped with an automatic cleaning system, which allows you to remove stool and urine thanks to a special electrical device or a mechanical lever.
Obviously, for those accustomed to comparing prices and features of the products, they will notice that the cost of these latter models is much higher than that of the common litter boxes.
Finally, we find the disposable, biodegradable containers, which require no special maintenance other than cleaning the sand.
Generally, these are products created with environmentally friendly material that lasts a few weeks and which are subsequently disposed of with household waste.
Type of Sand
Once you have chosen the toilet box that best suits your feline’s needs, you need to buy the right litter box. This aspect is fundamental, as good sand must have excellent absorbent power, to effectively trap the unpleasant odours generated by manure and urine.
You can opt for a type of clumping sand, which facilitates the identification of the needy, facilitating the cleaning of the dirty parts of the litter, without having to replace it in bulk. The chemical composition must not contain toxic agents for the cat and your person.
Remember that keeping a toilet box clean is extremely important, as a dirty, smelly and neglected pan can quickly turn into a dangerous receptacle for bacteria, which repels the cat and plagues the environment in which you live.
Also, pay attention to the texture of the litter box and remember that too thin sand could easily get stuck between the hairs of the cat’s paws, which in turn could spread around the house.
Dimensions
As we said, it is important that the toilet box is adequate to meet the needs of your cat, and one of the parameters not to be overlooked is the size of the tray.
These must be suitable for hosting the feline, which must have ample space to dig into the litter box and fulfil its needs. Often cats try different positions and look for different points inside the tank, before “letting go”.
The height of the edges of the toilet also plays an important role, especially in cases where cats are a little awkward or older and therefore find it difficult to climb over walls that are too high.
The same goes for covered toilet boxes, which must be large enough to accommodate the feline concerning its size. If you do not respect this parameter, the cat may not feel comfortable and therefore may not use the tray and go to perform elsewhere.
How to Use a Cat Litter?
Hygiene Above All
If you don’t know how to clean the cat litter, don’t worry, as it is not a difficult operation, you just need to be patient. Periodically, it will be necessary to empty the box and thoroughly disinfect its interior.
To do this, you can use dishwashing detergent, baking soda or white vinegar. By using boiling water in combination with one of these products, you will thoroughly sanitize the toilet by eliminating bacteria and bad smells deposited on the bottom of the container.
To obtain satisfactory results, we suggest you leave the tub full of water and with the appropriate disinfectant for about half an hour; in this way, the product will have the time necessary to act effectively.
The Type of Sandbox
Litter type preferences may vary depending on the cat’s needs. There are many types of sand on the market. Generally, we are led to choose the scented ones without taking into account that an odour that we perceive as pleasant to the cat can annoy.
Furthermore, one should not underestimate the fact that flavoured litter can contain additives and harmful substances for your feline. Another important feature not to be underestimated is the type of sand grain.
Too large specks could be annoying to the cat’s legs. The ideal would be to use a very fine type of grain, so the cat can manage it easily, without obtaining grazes on the bearings.
If you want to be on the safe side, do several tests and evaluate which is the litter that your cat likes most, keeping in mind that, after all, he is the one who must “go to the bathroom” and be put at ease. Do not make it an economic question, and it is said that the best litter must necessarily be the most expensive.
The Right Quantity
The toilet box should be filled with about 3 cm of litter to ensure that the sand does its job well. An excessive amount of material would favour the nesting of bad smells on the bottom.
While a too-thin layer would not sufficiently cover the stench and the needy ones, with the probable consequence that the feline will no longer use the tray until it is well cleaned. As we have seen, cats are very demanding animals in terms of cleaning and love to attend clean environments.
Frequently Asked Question
Where Do You Throw Cat Litter?
First of all, it must be specified that cat litters are not all the same; in fact, there are agglomerating, non-agglomerating, silicon and ecological sands. As for their disposal system, this too is different depending on the chemical composition of the litter.
The traditional sand or the silicon one must be separated from the excrements that must be disposed of in the wet, while the sand must be disposed of in the unsorted or the dry residual waste.
The situation is different about biodegradable bedding, which can be made with different elements such as shavings, sawdust, clay, sand, straw, paper and other compostable materials.
In this case, the litters can be disposed of safely with the damp or directly in the bathroom, always being careful not to clog the drain pipes by pouring exaggerated quantities into the toilet.
When to Change Cat Litter?
A cat’s litter should be cleaned every day, and the toilet box should be emptied and filled with more sand at least once every three weeks.
This is because cats like clean environments and like that their tub does not absorb the bad smells of their needs. Felines have a superfine sense of smell and immediately notice if their toilet has been cleaned well or not.
Two or three days of neglect in the maintenance of the sand are enough to make the cat refuse to use his tray for the needs and to decide to find another place to do them.
In general, cleaning the litter box is a fairly simple and quick operation, and it takes just a few seconds to make the sand look like new.
Use the special perforated scoop daily to remove the excrements and agglomerates of pee so that you will avoid the accumulation of needy people and the spread of unpleasant smells around the house.
