How to Get Your Cat to Use the Litter Box

 Having a cat for a pet is great, because a cat strolls to the litter box to do its business. However, you have to understand your cat to make sure that it uses the litter box and not the carpet behind the couch.

Step 1: The Facilities

The general rule for the number of litter boxes per cat is one for each feline plus an additional box. Most of us are aware of the convenience of having more than one bathroom when more than one person lives in a house. Why wouldn’t a cat want the same alternative? Also, an extra litter box for one cat only makes sense because sometimes it is all about the urgency of finding it.

Step 2: The Big Litter Box

In the wild, a cat is able to choose any wide open space that it likes to leave its droppings. When inside a house a cat needs the same option. A cat prefers a roomy litter box where it is given room to stand, squat, turn and cover its waste, if the box is too small it will look elsewhere. A covered litter box for your cat is too confining and it traps odors.

Step 3: The Right Litter

There are many types of litter such as clay, biodegradable and silica. A fine litter closely resembles sand and scented litters are good for odor control, but your cat’s preference really determines what sort of litter its box will contain. Try different kinds of litter until you discover what is acceptable to your cat.

Step 4: Keep It Clean

A cat won’t use a litter box that isn’t kept clean. Clumping litter allows for simple everyday cleanup, just scoop out the waste and urine. Depending on how much your cat dirties its litter box it should be cleaned once to twice a day. A thorough cleaning of the litter box needs to be done at least once a month. Empty all of the litter and wash the box with mild dish detergent and warm water. Rinse the litter box with cold water and dry it completely before adding new litter.

Step 5: It’s the Smell

Your cat prides itself on being an immaculate animal, so it is offended by unpleasant odors. A cat will walk away from a litter a box that’s not properly maintained or kept in a damp, smelly area.

Step 6: Quiet Please

The placement of your cat’s litter box is important to ensuring that your cat will use it. A cat likes privacy and solitude. Do not keep the cat’s litter box in a spot where there are rambunctious children or loud noises. Cats have a tendency to be easily scared, so find a quiet, out-of-the way place for the litter box that will make both you and your cat happy.

Step 7: Good Litter Box, Bad Cat

A cat that is given clean, well-placed litter boxes but still finds inappropriate places to defecate is not a bad cat. The cat may have a medical condition. Diabetes, cystitis, or kidney problems are just a few reasons why your cat may not use its litter box. Take your cat to a veterinarian if it continually doesn’t use its litter box.