Cat Litter Box - How To Choose The Right One

Most cats are fine with what you give them as a cat litter tray. However some will be extremely sensitive to the texture and smell or even the structure of the tray and it will be a case of trying a few alternatives until you find what your cat is happy with.

There are cat litter box covers available which will help cut down the smell of ammonia, although you will need to teach your cat to use it and he may not like being in an enclosed space smelling strongly of ammonia. Additionally many cats don't like the idea of climbing into a dark hole with only one exit.

Some companies have produced a version of the covered litter box by bringing out a range of cat litter tray furniture which blends in with the rest of your home and keeps the littler tray tidied away. They're small cabinets in a number of designs, such as double fronted doors and side access, and the internal design prevents your cat kicking the cat litter about all over the floor.

You could consider the Littermaid cat litter box and the Litter-Robot. These are two examples of the self cleaning cat litter box that uses sensors to determine the amount of waste (and whether your cat is actually perched in it at the time) and clean it away either with a rake or by centrifugal motion. They claim to save money on cat litter as they only removes the soiled litter, and they save your having to use a cat litter scoop to get rid of waste matter.

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Pine cat litter is a great alternative to many clay and granule brands because it is more economical, has no dust associated problems and is completely biodegradable - you can even dig it into the garden once you've taken out the solids and it will provide nitrogen for your plants. It's highly absorbent and because it contains natural pine resin it reduces the ammonia after smell and is non-abrasive. Tidy Cat is a clay-based product that the manufacturers claim is ideal for the smaller household as it cuts down on the ammonia smell with its deodorant properties.

Whatever litter tray system you use, cat litter pans need to be large enough to hold the cat comfortably and need a good solid 3" of litter. They need regular cleaning and preferably a good rinse down with boiling water after initial cleaning so as not to subject your cat to the smell of strong disinfectant.

Finally, whatever brands you look at, remember that the best cat litter is one that suits your cat and your environment. It doesn't matter whether it's high grade clumping clay or garden earth, or whether he prefers the fresh mountain smell of pine - if your cat is happy with it and it doesn't cause him any allergy problems then that’s what you need to go for. The alternative involves you, hot water, disinfectant and a scrubbing brush.

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