Please note that Cats International does not recommend the use of clumping clay-based litters for kittens under the age of four months. Small kittens often ingest litter particles, and this could pose a health risk. A non-clumping clay-based litter is fine for the little ones.
The advent of clumping litters has made the task of cleaning the litter box much less onerous. However, there is a significant difference in the quality of clumping litters. The poorer quality litters break up easily when scooped, leaving particles of waste behind that the cat will smell, even if you don't. These litters should be scooped daily and dumped completely once a week. The more firmly clumping litters should also be scooped daily, but they do not have to be totally changed nearly as often-generally only when the litter box itself requires washing. Since it is impossible to remove the urine from non-clumping litters, they should be scooped daily and dumped every other day (every day would be even better-would you want to use a toilet that was flushed only a few times a week?)
When it is time to wash the litter box, use very hot water and dishwashing liquid. Bleach or other strong chemicals can leave a lingering scent in the box, which might repel the cat. Even after a thorough cleaning, kitty should still be able to detect his own unique scent. This is an important cue to the cat to return to this location the next time nature calls.
For most cats, a litter depth of about three inches is satisfactory. With this amount of litter the urine usually does not stick to the bottom of the litter box. Some cats find too much litter disturbing-much like sinking into quicksand. To discover your cat's preference, try making the litter deeper at one end of a large litter box and shallower at the other. Note the areas the cat prefers using-that may be your best clue to the level of litter he likes best.
At least 80 percent of the callers to our Feline Behavior Hotlines find that their cats' housesoiling problems are completely resolved just by following our very specific recommendations for setting up and maintaining litter boxes. It is important, however, that you never abruptly remove what is familiar to your cat. Cats don't like changes but they do like choices. So instead of dumping the old litter and adding the new, place the new litter box and the new litter next to the old ones until kitty has decided to give it a try. If it becomes evident that it has become his clear favorite, then-and only then-can the old litter or litter box be safely eliminated.
Betsy Lipscomb is a feline behavior counselor and president of Cats International, where she works intensively with the Feline Behavior Hotline.
