How To Shop For A Litter Box

If you nod your head at the statement, "Dogs have masters, cats have staff," you're probably among the one-third of US households with a feline ruling the roost. Actually, cats are not nearly as independent and aloof as they pretend to be. After all, they have been sharing living quarters with humans for around 12,000 years (by contrast, dogs have been domesticated longer than any other animal, with estimates ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 years), and certainly seem content curled in the middle of the bed, the basket of clean laundry or the windowsill.

Though many people think of cats as mostly an outdoor animal, your feline friend will live a much longer, healthier life if he stays indoors. Indoor-only cats live an average of 15 to 18 years, whereas their outdoor counterparts rarely live to be older than seven. Going outside exposes your pet to risks including:

• Parasites
• Disease
• Cars
• Dogs or other aggressive animals
• Cat-hating humans
• Injury or entrapment

An indoor cat can be very happy and energetic if provided with plenty of cat accessories; toys; cat furniture and perches positioned for a view of the room and the outdoors; a warm lap to curl on and purr; and quality food formulated for cat health.

However, the one thing an indoor-only cat needs that isn’t quite so pleasant is a litter box. Your furry companion needs a spot to take care of elimination, and unless you train Mittens to use the toilet, a cat box is a necessity. When choosing a litter box, you should consider:

• Size
• Shape
• Ease of cleaning
• Location
• Design
• Number of cats using the box

Do You Want A Box That Looks Like Furniture?

Cat boxes are not normally the most attractive element of your home, so if you are in small living quarters that necessitate placing the litter box within view of family members and visitors, a box that doesn’t shout out, “cat’s bathroom!” will be more pleasant for everyone. The Merry Pet Cat Washroom is an attractively styled cabinet with wainscoting panel sides, built-in shelf space and even a stainless steel towel bar if you want to use it in the bathroom. A litter box fits inside, and the front opens up for easy cleaning.

Another option is the Good Pet Stuff Hidden Litter Box, which looks just like a clay plant pot and even includes a faux palm tree for the top. Turn the opening to face the wall, and no one will suspect the pot’s real purpose.

Is Your Cat Extra Large?

If you have a Maine Coon, or just an overly large cat, then you know a too-small cat box lets things hang out that you want to keep contained. Even the biggest tabby will fit comfortably inside the Van Ness Extra Large Cat Box, and the filtered lid keeps smells where they belong. If the swinging door bothers your cat, it’s easy to remove.

Are You Tired of Sweeping The Floor?

Nothing is more unpleasant than getting out of the shower and stepping on cat litter tracked all over the bathroom floor. The uniquely shaped Booda Dome Cleanstep Cat Box helps contain litter with an elevated, wavy ramp that keeps litter from exiting the box on Mittens’ feet. The large size, round shape and built-in filter makes it comfortable for Mittens to take care of business; and less unpleasant for you to have in the house.

If you prefer a smaller box that not only keeps litter completely contained, but also keeps out curious dogs, then the CleverCat Top Entry Litterbox is worth a look. Most cats quickly get used to entering the box from the top, and pop in and out, leaving litter where it belongs—inside the box.

Do You Want A Box That Cleans Itself?

If you just can’t stand cleaning the cat box, you can buy an automated box to take care of this unpleasant task for you. One that receives high praise from users is the Litter Robot Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box. Cats enter the large round litter chamber and take care of business as usual. Seven minutes later, the chamber rotates, dropping litter balls and solid waste into the trash-bag lined collection drawer. The chamber then returns to its regular position, ready for the next use. Just toss out the trash bag when full, and you are done!

If the price of the Litter Robot is prohibitive, you can get the same effect manually with the Omega Paw Box. Just roll the box to the right, tap to loosen any clumps, then pull out the collecting drawer and dump in the trash.

Do You Want To Get Rid Of The Cat Box Altogether?

It’s not going to work for every cat, but if you are persistent and have an agreeable feline, then training your cat to use the toilet is not as far-fetched as you might think. With the CitiKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit, you get a specially designed training seat and insert that fits any regular toilet seat and gradually transitions your cat to using the toilet. Alas, Mittens is not going to learn to flush, but with no more cat box to contend with, you probably won’t mind.

Cats are wonderful companions. They keep themselves clean, like to cuddle with a favorite human, have a soothing purr and can entertain themselves for hours with a plastic milk jug cap. Though cleaning a litter box is not the most pleasant part of cat ownership, it is a small price to pay for the years of joy your cat will bring you and your family.