Well, you got a kitten. This is a very playful and cute animal, which, like children, needs care and love. And if your furry baby is not toilet trained, be prepared for unexpected “surprises” on the carpet, bed, and even on your clothes. After all, the kitten does not yet understand where his place is, where he can relieve his natural needs.
That is why, from the first days of staying in the apartment, it is very important to accustom the animal to the toilet. To do this, you need to purchase a special tray for cats. There are plenty of such accessories in pet stores. But which one is better to buy? In this article, we will look at the most popular types of cat litter and find out what to consider when choosing them.
Kitten's first litter box
There is no need to buy a litter box for an adult cat right away.
When training a kitten to use the litter box, it is important to develop an adequate attitude towards the cat litter box in the animal.
Since the kitten is still very small, it is also logical to take a small tray with low sides. A kitten may be scared of a large tray, and high sides will make it uncomfortable to go to the toilet. This can form a negative attitude towards the litter box in the animal.
By the way, in the first stages it is also better to take medium-sized filler. But make sure that the kitten does not chew it.
I recommend buying the first tray inexpensively - small in size and with low sides. So that the kitten can enter it without hindrance.
Whether you use filler or not is up to you. I have already shared my opinion about fillers in my publication.
Types of cat litter
Of course, in terms of frequency of cleaning, litter trays are optimal. But hygiene in this case is achieved solely due to the quality of the granules. There are the following types of cat litter:
- Mineral. Doesn't stick to paws. Suitable for kittens. Absorbs smell well until it gets completely wet.
- Woody. Has a natural composition. The most inexpensive type of filler.
- Silica gel. Antibacterial, has the highest absorbency. Makes a loud rustling noise that can frighten kittens.
- Clay (clumping). Easy to clean. Economical to use.
Photo gallery: litter granules for cat litter boxes
An environmentally friendly composition is used to produce mineral filler
Wood filler has a pine smell
Silica gel filler can be harmful if swallowed and is therefore contraindicated for inquisitive animals.
The best option in terms of absorbency, price and presence of dust is a clay filler.
Tray for an adult cat
As your pet grows, you need to prepare to change the tray. I changed my cat's litter tray to an adult one when he was about 9 months old. The second tray was not very large, medium with slightly higher sides.
We eventually switched to an enclosed litter box.
But let's look at what types of trays there are and which one is advisable to buy in each specific case.
Traditional plastic tray with low sides with or without mesh
Such trays are the most common; they can be found in every zoo and not only pet stores. The average height of such a tray is 8-9 cm with an average size of 37*27 cm. If your cat has no problems going to the toilet, you can choose such a tray.
This tray has both pros and cons.
Pros:
- Low cost - you can easily keep it to 300 rubles.
- It takes up little space - even in a small bathroom you can put it in a corner and it won’t get in the way.
- Easy to clean - since the tray is small in size, it is easy to clean.
Minuses:
- The filler often ends up outside the tray and spreads throughout the room. The cat buries waste and the litter scatters.
- The animal may make mistakes - walk past the tray. Especially if the cat is big.
- The cat may refuse to go to the small litter box several times. A cat is a fastidious creature, and if you are away from home all day, your pet may refuse to go into a dirty litter box. In this case, there are two ways out - go next to the tray or endure it. The first option will not bring you joy, the second option is fraught with health problems for your pet.
By the way, if you still choose just such a small tray, I recommend purchasing it with a mesh for the first time. At the same time, see which option is more convenient for you. The grid can eventually be removed. But it's more hygienic. Liquid waste falls under the mesh, therefore there are fewer odors and the tray is cleaner.
I don’t recommend buying such a tray for large animals - the cat should have a place to turn around and dig. For larger breeds (especially Maine Coons), buy a larger litter box.
Large open tray
A larger litter box will be comfortable for most adult cats. Their sizes are different - 50*36, 51*40, 56*39 and so on. My cat has a tray measuring 58*40 - king size. There are also large corner trays - convenient for some rooms.
Pros:
- The pet is comfortable - if the tray is large, the cat has room to turn around.
- Convenient if there is more than one animal in the household. If only your cats are ready to go to the same tray.
- A varied price range - from 250 rubles.
- You can safely leave your pet all day and not have to clean it several times a day.
- The filler is less likely to be carried around the house.
- Less odor due to large space and more filler in the tray.
Minuses:
- Takes up a lot of space. If the bathroom is very cramped, it will be difficult to find a place to put such a large tray.
- Cleaning is more difficult and takes longer.
According to my observations, more is not better. I noticed from my cat that he does not use the entire area of the tray. He has a favorite part of him and goes to mostly the same place. However, if you leave the cat alone for several days, such a tray can be a real lifesaver. So from the larger sizes it is not necessary to choose the largest one.
Tray with high sides
This is my choice - my cat has a large tray with high sides.
Which sides should be considered high? Again, based on our own observations, high sides can be considered a tray height of 22 cm and above. My cat's litter box has a side height of 23 cm. And I can say that I could have looked a couple more cm higher.
Such trays, as a rule, are equipped with an entrance, that is, they have a slight decrease in level (high sides are most often overhead and this is very convenient - if necessary, the side can be removed and the tray will become lower).
There are also cascade trays - the maximum side height can reach 27 cm, and the minimum 15.
But when choosing, you need to understand that if the cat goes to the toilet not towards the high side, but towards the exit, then he can do his business by passing by. In our case, the entrance is not very wide, so there are no problems. At the same time, the cat can enter the litter box without hindrance - he does not have to jump into it.
You may think that a tray height of 23 cm is a lot. Not really. Do not forget about the level of filler under and above the mesh (in my case it eats up about 3 cm).
The advantages are basically similar to those when using conventional large trays:
- Convenient for the cat. The combination of a large tray and high sides gives the animal a place to dig.
- The filler almost never ends up outside the tray. This is perhaps one of the main advantages.
- If your pet has a habit of going to the toilet past the tray due to illness or other reasons, high sides will save urine from getting past (everything will flow down the sides inside).
- You can clean the tray less often.
Minuses:
- There is a chance that the cat will not like the high sides. I didn’t have to train my cat - he immediately went to the new litter box and liked it.
- Takes up a lot of space - such trays are rarely small, so more space needs to be allocated.
- The cost of such trays is on average higher – from 500 rubles.
- Cleaning takes longer, but you have to clean less often. And general cleaning includes disassembling the top cover. Plus, periodically you have to wash the joints between the main part of the tray and the side - urine can accumulate there.
This litter box is perfect for those cats that walk by. And also if you are worried about the scattering of the filler. From such a tray, filler granules sometimes fall outside its boundaries, but these are isolated cases.
Closed tray house
If your cat is already quite an adult and previously he always went to an open litter box, then he may have problems getting used to the new toilet. Some cats are afraid of covered litter boxes, while some, on the contrary, like to retire there, and not only in the toilet area.
In this case, I can only advise you to check it from your own experience. My adult cat began to go into the litter box without any problems, but only with the door removed. In fact, the screen door for such a tray is inconvenient and I immediately removed it and do not use it. This doesn't bother me at all. And the cat does not feel any discomfort.
Pros:
- Less odors. The tray is closed on all sides, there is practically no smell.
- Aesthetics. The tray looks interesting, and guests won't have to look at a dirty tray.
- The pet won't miss.
- If the cat is very secretive and feels discomfort with an open litter box, a closed option is what you need.
Minuses:
- Not for every cat. Some cats refuse to go into such a litter box. Some are put off by the door, others are simply afraid of such a “colossus”. Not every cat perceives such a house as a toilet.
- High price. Frankly cheap models of houses are almost impossible to find. Prices start from 1000 rubles.
- Difficulties with cleaning. You need to look in and unfasten the top wall in order to properly clean. In addition, if your cat is one of those who walk by, you will often have to wash the top and sides of the house. Otherwise, the smell inside will scare away your pet and make him reluctant to go into the dirty, smelly litter box.
Biotrays are a type of house tray - they are equipped with a carbon filter that absorbs odors. Therefore, the liquid fraction can be removed less frequently. But solid waste will have to be disposed of as usual. Such trays are much more expensive.
Automatic litter box for cats
It is a full-fledged toilet that has a connection to the sewerage system. It can be made of different materials - from plastic to earthenware. The toilet is practically no different from a standard human toilet. Flushing occurs automatically. The built-in sensor prevents the flush from working while the pet is in the toilet.
Pros:
- Fully automatic system. Minimum human participation.
- Complete odor protection and no litter outside the toilet.
Minuses:
- Very high cost. From 13,000 to 50,000 rubles.
- Not sold everywhere.
- It is necessary to make a connection to the sewerage system.
- Some cats may refuse to go to such a modernized toilet, fearing the noise during flushing. And the expensive device will already be purchased and installed.
- Binding to the place due to the connection with the sewer - the toilet is stationary, it cannot be moved.
- Consumes electricity and also requires replacement of cartridges, filters, and filler (there are models with washable filler).
- At the moment, not all manufacturers can boast of trouble-free operation. There are a lot of negative reviews about automatic toilets.
I personally have not tried this option (or rather, my cat). I can’t speak clearly for or against. But at least the cost of such a device and the uncertainty that the pet will appreciate such know-how are frightening.
Criterias of choice
When choosing a toilet for their pet, novice breeders try to buy as expensive as possible, without thoroughly thinking through all the issues. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the area and recess of the toilet. Kittens grow up and turn into quite voluminous animals. Trays are usually purchased for a long time, and if chosen correctly, it can last for decades.
The material must be safe, durable and of high quality.
The tray must be cleaned regularly, so when purchasing an unusual toilet, you need to consult with the seller about the cleaning system, because the owners will have to carry out all the processes themselves. You can purchase an automatic model if your budget allows. And most importantly, the pet should like the toilet, because if he is dissatisfied with something, then he will do his business anywhere, but not in the tray.
Cleaning and preventive disinfection
The cat litter box must be kept clean at all times, as it is a reservoir of parasites and unpleasant odors.
Feces often contain parasite eggs, which can get on the animal’s fur and subsequently on humans, which leads to some unpleasant diseases. This is especially dangerous for children, pregnant women and family members with reduced immunity. Every day and regularly after the animal uses the toilet, it is necessary to remove the waste products. There are special blades and other devices for this. At least 2 times a week, the filler is completely changed and the tray is washed. And once a week it is recommended to disinfect the toilet and the place where it is located. It is necessary to select a special product so that the smell does not repel the cat.
How to wash, how to clean
Hygienic procedures are mandatory when using filler and without it.
In the second case, you will have to clean the litter box after each time your pet goes to the toilet. If the attribute is not taken care of, then one of the consequences is an unpleasant odor that will quickly spread throughout the entire apartment. But the tailed pet will begin to regularly look for new places to relieve its natural needs, since the smell of excrement scares them away. To clean your cat's litter box, you will need disinfectant (eco-friendly) detergents, a soft brush and paper towels.
Procedure. Everything will take no more than five minutes.
- The used filler is sent in a plastic bag.
- Having unfastened the removable mesh, the base is washed under warm water.
- Apply or spray detergent onto the tray and leave for a few minutes. Then the base is cleaned with a brush.
- The removable grate is cleaned in warm water.
Tray cleaner
Choosing a detergent
The most important criterion is the absence of strong odors. Be careful when using toilet bowl cleaners. Many of them have a pungent “aroma” that can scare away a cat.
As a result, the pet will have no choice but to go looking for a more comfortable place to go to the toilet.
Acid-containing products effectively fight urinary stones, which settle on the surface of the tray over time. An analogue of these is ordinary vinegar, but it only eliminates the smell and is not suitable for regular cleaning.
Eco-friendly disinfectants are the best option. They smell nothing and contain virtually no chemicals.
