At first glance, choosing a liter box for your cat seems like a "no-brainer". Just buy the first pan that you see, dump some litter into it, put it in the laundry room and
'Voila - you have a cat waste system that works.
Unfortunately, in most cases that won't work. Cats are very private and personal animals and there are a number of things to consider when purchasing a Litter Pan.
Litter Box Shape Matters to Some Cats: Litter boxes are made in a variety of
shapes that minimize the space they take up in your home. For example, there are wedge-shaped Litter Boxes that fit in a corner or a closet. They take up less space than normal litter boxes (rectangle) but some cats don't like them - so be careful.
The color of the litter box may matter: Litter boxes come in many colors including soft earth tones so they blend in with your decor. Many homeowners choose to cover up the litter box and the discreet,
design of the rattan weave litter box cover by Midwest Homes for Pets looks great in any room.
Some Cats LOVE the hooded boxes and some don't: Hooded litter boxes afford your cat privacy and also help to prevent the accidental spread of waste and urine. They help control odor, too. We love the new Translucent Hooded Litter box in 2 sizes (pictured above)
Self-cleaning litter systems are the latest Gig in cat pans: Built-in cleaning mechanisms, both manual and automatic, make waste removal easier and extend the life of litter. We like the Simply Clean Litter Pan by Radio Systems. The Simply Clean™ Litter Box System reduces odor-causing bacteria by continuously removing waste from the litter bowl and moves it up the conveyor system.
Litter is just as important as the box: New varieties of litter, which come in a range of textures and materials, and litter odor treatments, are popping up everywhere. Try the Feline Pine Cat Litter. Unlike other litters, there are no chemical additives needed to control odor as pine naturally bonds with ammonia, and there is never any sticky, smelly mess to deal with when the box needs to be changed.
Odor Control is a must and is easier with the new products available these days: Effective odor control products can create barriers to prevent the
growth of odor in the litter box. Our favorite is AMMO-cat Litter Additive. AMMO-Cat is a special zeolite resin that absorbs ammonia from cat urine and small animal litter, Ammo-Cat extends the life of cat litter up to three times.
Equally important to consider is getting multiple cat pans. Even if your cat is dead-set on the location and type of box that he or she uses, you could be in BIG trouble if the manufacturer decides to discontinue the product or alter the design such that your kitty will just not use. Keeping an extra "favorite pan" around the house can be a life-saver.
Labels: Cat Litter Box Choices, Cat Toilet
