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The Right Litter Box

Mar 13, 2025 | Cats, General

Poopoopeedo in black

With today’s large and diverse selection, the question arises: which is the right litter box for my house cat? Even the most beautiful and expensive litter box can cause problems. Cats are sensitive creatures, and even the smallest things can irritate them and cause them to become unclean. I hope my tips can help.

The right place

We know this from our own experience: the litter box should be a pleasant and quiet place. Cats want to feel safe and be able to do their business undisturbed. The litter box must be easily accessible to your cat at all times and protected from unpleasant surprises. No cat likes it when the washing machine spins right next door. A carelessly opened bedroom door that rattles against the litter box is also not conducive to a relaxing toilet break.

Of course, it’s been said that the litter box should be placed far away from the feeding area, preferably in different rooms.

The right shape

Cats need plenty of room to move when using the toilet; after all, their waste needs to be buried thoroughly. This means the litter box should be a good size and definitely not too small. Some cats absolutely hate having to relieve themselves in a cave or an enclosed, narrow space. For these animals, litter boxes without lids and flaps are the right choice. With a closed litter box, it is essential to ensure good air circulation. Cats are sensitive to odors and will refuse litter boxes where the “steam” cannot escape properly.

Equally important as ventilation is freedom of movement. Cats do not want to use litter boxes that are too small. They need to be able to turn around in the litter box to bury their waste properly and thoroughly. Some cats also want to avoid their waste or want to place their bowel movements in different corners. Some male cats are “stand-up urinators” who require a special height for this type of toileting.

We’ve provided our Gisela with two litter boxes: an open one and a closed one. Strangely enough, she uses them differently: the open one for urinating, the closed one for doing her business. If you have the opportunity, try it out and let the animal decide.

Proper cleaning

Cats are very clean animals, so the litter box should be cleaned daily. Some cats won’t use the litter box again until their last bowel movement has been eliminated. Here, too, it’s important to observe the cat to find the right cleaning routine.

The optimal number

In nature, cats don’t always go to the same place to do their business. Given this, the rule of thumb is to install one more litter box than the number of cats living in the household.

The cat refuses to use the toilet

If you follow all the tips and your cat still refuses to use the litter box, you should first consult your veterinarian to determine if there’s a physical cause, such as a bladder infection. Then you’ll need to consider other possibilities. One reason for not using the right litter box could be the wrong type of cat litter. More on this in my next post.

What is the best cat litter?

Mar 11, 2024 | Cats, General

The choice of cat litter is huge. Mineral cat litter, silica litter, litter made from plant fibres, fine or coarse-grained, with or without fragrance, recyclable and the list goes on. The best cat litter is always the one that is accepted by your cat without reservation. The most expensive cat litter is useless if the cat becomes unclean and no longer uses the litter tray.

It’s not easy to make the right choice, so I’ve put together a short overview of all the important facts here. Thank goodness our Gisela is quite uncomplicated. First of all, we gave her a mineral cat litter, which worked immediately. It clumps very well and the litter very rarely needs to be changed completely. We made sure that it was unscented. Perfume additives can be perceived as pleasant by us human noses, but whether the cat sees it that way is questionable.

Poopoopeedo | Design-Cat-Toilet | pet.interiors

Poopoopeedo is a large, practical and beautiful litter tray.

The mineral cat litter is very popular as a classic clumping litter. The litter is available in different grain sizes, different compositions and with or without fragrances. The urine is well bound (liquid and odour) and the clumps can be easily removed from the litter tray. The mineral litter is very economical and lasts a long time, as only the clumps need to be removed from the toilet. It is therefore also quite inexpensive to buy. Anyone who has to do the shopping on foot or by bike will find the heavy weight of the litter a major disadvantage. It is also not the most environmentally friendly option. Mineral litter is not biodegradable and its clay components are extracted in open-cast mines. Pouring the litter into the toilet also creates a lot of dust, which can be harmful to health.

Compared to mineral cat litter, silica litter is much lighter. This is an advantage when buying, as the light crumbs tend to stick to the cat’s paws and spread around the home, which is a disadvantage.
Unpleasant odours bind quite well without the addition of fragrances. Another advantage is that the silicate litter creates less dust when the toilet is filled.
Unfortunately, the silicate litter does not clump, but the litter absorbs the cat’s urine, the heavier pellets settle at the bottom of the toilet and remain there until the entire litter is replaced. The silicate litter is also noisy when buried. If you are a light sleeper, this can be a problem at night in small flats. Another disadvantage is the higher price.

There are many different versions, from wood or plant fibres to corn kernels and paper litter. The advantages are all pretty much the same. They clump well, making the litter tray easy to clean. Even without fragrances, they absorb odours well, are light in weight and do not create dust. They are made from renewable raw materials and can be disposed of in the organic waste bin. Here too, the disadvantage is that the lighter weight means that the litter will be spread around the home by the cat’s paws. In addition, litter made from recycled paper may contain glue or printing ink and chemical additives.

How can I avoid cat litter crumbling?

Whether and how much cat litter is scrapped out of the toilet can have many causes:

  • Check the fill level in the litter tray. Too little litter can be the cause, as can too much litter.
  • A litter tray mat can catch a lot of litter.
  • If the cat has diarrhoea or a bladder infection, this can lead to excessive scratching when going to the toilet.
  • A large litter tray with a bonnet keeps the litter inside
  • The cat litter is too light, perhaps a change of litter will help

However, please do not experiment too much and too hectically one after the other. Cats are creatures of habit and need time to get used to new things.

You can find more information on choosing the right litter tray here.

Tips if your cat reacts uncleanly.
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