SOLVING LITTER BOX PROBLEMS

by Joelle Steele

I grew up with cats starting when I was only 3 years old. I’ve had 18 cats so far in my adult life, all indoor-only kitties. Most have lived well into their teens, and they have all been completely different in personality and preferences when it comes to using the litter box. But there are some things that every cat seems to want when it comes to reliably using the litter box on a daily basis. And nothing is worse than a smelly cat litter box except a cat who won’t use the box even when it’s clean or a cat who can’t use the litter box properly because they are old or sick.

BUILDING A BIGGER LITTER BOX

I always felt that most cat boxes were overly small when compared to the cats that would be using them. Tansy, in particular, was a large cat, probably with some Norwegian Forest cat or Maine Coon cat genes in her. But even the two smallest cats I’ve ever had always looked to me as if they could use a significantly bigger litter box. And I was tired of my cats pawing litter outside of the box or peeing over the edge of the side. So, I decided to go shopping for a bigger litter box. I went to local pet supply stores and browsed online. I saw boxes that were bigger in area but the same height, and a handful of boxes that had higher sides, but not nearly high enough. And, to make it worse, they were more than $35 each. And I needed three! I was frustrated. Then a few days later, I noticed my six big plastic storage bins on the garage shelf. They were sturdy, translucent, very tall, and inexpensive. I went to the store and bought three at $8 each. My husband then cut down openings on one end of each. Problem solved.

SUMMARY

If your cats aren’t using the litter box, take them to the vet right away to be sure they don’t have a bladder or kidney problem. If they get a clean bill of health, start looking at the location of the box, the litter you use, and the size, shape, and configuration of the box. Cats can get very stressed about their litter box, and sometimes the solution is as simple as moving the boxes farther apart, relocating a box within the same space, putting an additional box elsewhere in the house, changing to another kind of litter, or cleaning it more frequently or more thoroughly. Experiment a little until you find something that works for your kitties. You will be a lot happier, and so will they!