There are a few BIG advantages to cats over dogs.
My mom and her kitty Ramsey. At 15 years old he had been chronically vomiting. An ultrasound revealed an intestinal mass. It was removed and he has made a full recovery. |
There’s the whole compact design, portability, and ease of
care. Cats require a smaller space and have simple needs and demands. They also
learn quickly
The list of items to provide your cat is short.;
Litter box
Remember there are some guidelines for litter boxes.
1.
Two for the first cat and one additional for
each additional cat.
2.
Also remember that cats prefer unscented,
non-clumping sand-like litter.
3.
In a large low sided open litter box.
4.
Away from any electric outlets, noisy areas,
high traffic spots, or dark scary areas.
5.
It should also be kept on the floor in an area that
your cat isn't afraid to go to.
6.
If your cat seems to be missing or avoiding the
box, rethink everything associated with it. Size, shape, litter, and placement.
Cats are discerning, complex individuals. They are far more sensitive to smell,
touch, and their environment. Think like your cat, and provide them what they
prefer, not what you prefer.
7.
It is important to keep the litter box clean.
Scoop out waste daily and dump all of the litter weekly. Every week the litter
box should be cleaned and dried. Be careful to not use any harsh chemicals that
might cause your cat to not want to visit the box again.
Jitterbug, scoping and claiming his spot on the bed. The puppies stand quietly and let him do whatever he wants. |
I know many of my clients don’t want to share their living
space with their cats litter box, but putting the litter box in the basement,
in the laundry room, or garage is fine as long as it is in a place your cat can
get to easily, safely, and quickly.
This is my art studio. There are four cats in my house and Magpie has decided she prefers to not be with them all of the time. So, Magpie has claimed it as her space. Can you see her litter box? |
Litter box issues are one of the biggest complaints I hear
from clients. For the simple demands that our cats place on us, the continual
use of the litter box is the single greatest demand we ask of them. If your cat
starts to have issues with inconsistent use of the litter box see your vet immediately to rule
out a medical problem first. Then take a good long well thought out look at
your cats litter box and ask yourself if there is anything about it that you would
change if you were a cat? Remember the longer there is a problem the harder it can be to fix or resolve it.
Magpie's room has a bed, windows, and her own litter box. |
She may not be affectionate with two of the other cats, but she loves her own time on the couch with me. |
The 20 Minute Cure To Peeing Outside Of The Litter Box
Inappropriate Elimination in Cats
Feline Marking
If you have a cat, or any kind of pet question you can ask it for free on Pawbly.com. It is free for everyone to use, so come on and join in the conversation! We are dedicated to helping pets everywhere!
Or you can find me on Twitter, @FreePetAdvice.
I would like to add a problem some cats have with the owners cleaning of their litter boxes. Some cats need to know this is their litter box and want to find "their" scent in the box. What I have done for several of the kitties who are having a problem "not" using their "cleaned" litter box is when I clean them I will save some of the older litter and mix it back into the box with fresh litter. This works well with single cat households as well as multiple cat homes. Even with foster cats I have and several use the same large boxes, they can still smell "their scent" mixed in the box.
ReplyDeleteHello,
DeleteThanks for reading and for your tip. We continually underestimate and forget that our kitties are driven by scent.
Thanks for sharing.
All my best to your kitties.
Krista