How to Choose a Litter Box

Choosing the right litter box is an important decision for you and your cat. You can find litter boxes in all shapes, sizes and styles. If you can, consider the type of cat you are getting before investing in a litter box. Larger cats may need open or larger boxes, while a smaller breed may be quite comfortable in a hooded box.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Consider a plain litter box. If you want to go the cheapest route to test the waters, start with this type of box. It is quite efficient and requires no technical maintenance. The advantages to an open litter box is that your cat will always fit in it, you can monitor your cat's stools to make sure she is not having intestinal problems, you can clearly see when it needs to be cleaned and it is inexpensive and easy to replace. The disadvantages are that your cat has no privacy, your house guests may be privy to seeing feline waste and the smell could be overpowering.

2. If a plain box doesn't sound very appealing to you, consider a hooded box. Hooded boxes have three advantages: it contains litter better when your cat scratches and tries to cover up his waste, it contains the smell so that it doesn't seep out into the entire room and it gives your cat lots of privacy. The disadvantage is that a larger cat may not have much space to move around in and cover his mess. If the cat is in a very cramped space, he may just decide to go somewhere else for potty time.

3. If the idea of scooping poop bothers you, an automated litter box may be the choice for you. These nifty boxes have one very distinct advantage and that is it does the daily cleaning for you. After your cat uses the litter box, it triggers an automated response that sifts over the top of the litter, removing any clumped pieces and dumps them into a bin that you have to empty weekly. Automated boxes are considerably more expensive, it requires a specific type of clumping litter compatible to the box and it has to be close to an outlet (unless it's battery operated). If you really enjoy having a covered litter box, check out the specific types of automated cleaners. Certain brands offer the hooded option.

4. If you like the automated cleaner box, yet you don't want to spend a lot of money, you may want to consider getting a sifter litter box A sifter box looks like a regular litter box only there is a special piece that fits into the bottom of the pan. When its time to change the litter, all you do is lift the sifter and the clumps of waste are trapped while the clean litter drops back into the box. Simply dump the clumps on the sifter and place back into the box. The advantages are that its less expensive than an automated box and it eliminates the need to manually scoop like an open box. However, the disadvantages are identical to the regular litter boxes. It's out in the open, it offers no privacy for the cat and the smell may be offensive.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't switch the type of litter box if you don't have to. Your cat will get used to her potty spot and a change may upset her.