6 Facts Your Cat Wants You to Know About Kitty Litter Boxes
We love to look at pet designated days, weeks and months. Earlier this month we noticed that January 22 is National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day. The day is designed to remind us to pay attention to what our cats are trying to tell us in the only language they have. Rather than simply being annoyed when your cat pees outside the litter box, scratches your sofa or meows incessantly, you are encouraged to think about the issue from your cat’s perspective. With thoughts about what your cats might ask we offer 6 facts your cat wants you to know about kitty litter boxes.
Fact # 1 About Kitty Litter Boxes: Cats prefer their litter boxes to be located in quiet places.
Unfortunately, many cat owners place the kitty litter boxes in the laundry room which is extremely noisy when the washer goes into spin. Add to that the sound of the dryer when the dryness sensor goes off. And just imagine what happens if the washer goes out of balance just when your cat is using the litter box! Those scary noises can negatively impact your cat’s willingness to use his litter box.
Fact # 2 About Kitty Litter Boxes: Cats don’t like scented kitty litter.
Their noses are extremely sensitive and your cat may find the aroma you like quite distasteful. There’s another reason for your cat to avoid the litter box. Nobody wants that.
Fact # 3 About Kitty Litter Boxes: Cats like clean litter boxes.
Think about how you feel if you go to use the toilet and there’s “stuff” in it. Cats with their keen sense of smell are easily put off by the odors from the litter box. It’s best to scoop the litter box after every use, but that may not be practical. However; it’s pretty easy to get on a daily or twice daily litter scooping schedule. Your cat’s nose as well as your own will appreciate the effort.
Fact # 4 About Kitty Litter Boxes: The standard to strive for is one litter box per cat + 1.
If your house has multiple levels, please put at least one litter box on each level of your house. How would you feel if you had to run from the second floor all the way to the basement every time you needed to go potty??? By having multiple litter boxes each cat can choose his or her favorite “bathroom.” If some of your cats prefer different types of litter you can easily use the preferred kind in that cat’s preferred litter box location. The same thing regarding covered or uncovered litter boxes is true. It will probably take some experimentation to find the just right combo. But it’s so worth it to keep a beloved family member happy for his 15 – 20 years of life.
Fact # 5 About Kitty Litter Boxes: Cats don’t like eating in their bathrooms.
Just imagine how you would feel if your dining table was next to your toilet! Not particularly appetizing is it? It’s best to locate your cat’s food and water bowls in or near the kitchen and to place their litter boxes in the bathroom or in open door closets in quiet low traffic bedrooms or perhaps even in your home office.
Fact # 6 About Kitty Litter Boxes: Sometimes kitty litter box issues are indicators of medical problems.
And…these medical problems can be life threathening particularly when it involves a urinary track blockage in make cats. Read the blog by our friend and colleauge Rita Reimers the Cat Analyst regarding a cat with a urinary tract blockage.
Rita is a trusted colleague who also offers cat sitting services in the Charlotte area.
When you next need kitty sitting services call us at 704-662-0973. We provide kitty care services for residents in Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson and Mt Ulla, NC who live within 8 miles of our home base. Check out our kitty sitting page to learn more.
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