Cat Litter Boxes Blog

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My fiance thinks it is just for one cat. I like to spoil my cat and having two litter boxes makes it easier if we both decide to go out of town for an extra day.


You are being really great to your cat, I think its wonderful! Your fiance is just jealous. Good for you, cat mommy!

Our cat Duck using the top entry Clever Cat litter box.

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Buddy can’t figure out how to get out of the new kitty litter box. So, Bogo, our new kitten, is trying to teach him a little something about kitty litter boxes with swinging doors!

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The world, or rather, your home will definitely be a better place if your pet cat or your whole litter of cats would only stay in their designated litter boxes. It is not uncommon for cat owners to encounter the difficulty of drawing the borderline between where their cats are allowed to dwell and where they are not.

They say that this dilemma could either be caused by physical or behavioral problems. Consider the following behavioral reasons as to why your feline pets refuse to stay put. Pinpoint which one/s has the heaviest bearing on your problem and once you have done that, take the necessary steps to eliminate the problem:

Cleanliness. There are cats that are quite finicky and enjoy spotless clean litter boxes. Others do not mind a little mess in their domain. Regardless of your pet’s preference, it is a must that you do some clean up at least once daily. Litter boxes should be thoroughly washed every day and replaced every few weeks. Include the lid in your cleaning.

Smell. Feline pets have extra sensitive sense of smell. Even if your olfactory nerves do not detect any unusual smell, your cat will not rest if something does not “smell right.” Rinse litter boxes very well to eliminate the smell of detergent or disinfectant, which may be sending “Do not enter” signs to your pets. Dry the litter box well. It could also be that your pet associates a certain smell with the brand of its litter box so you may also consider switching to another brand.

Design. Our feline pets are also particular with the size and shape of their litter boxes. Some cats prefer boxes with lids while others want theirs open. Still some of them might like higher walls or a bigger space.

Quantity. For household with a large number of pets, it would be a good idea to host at least one more box than the actual number of cats. Doing so would also make it easier for you to do the cleaning.

Location. Cats usually prefer peaceful and undisturbed areas to take their naps. Steer clear of very busy places like the kitchen.

Territory. Like our canine pets, cats can be territorial, too. Problems may arise if you have a whole pack of cats at home. Aggressive cats tend to attack or pounce their more passive counterparts in their litter boxes, giving the latter some sort of phobia of litter boxes. The plus-one rule could also be applied to solve this.

Stress. Your pet might also be uncomfortable if, for instance, you rearranged your furniture or bought a different set of upholsteries. They could also be affected by distress or frustration among human beings around them. Make an effort to recognize any changes and focus on relieving the stress your cat might be feeling.

Of course, the problem could also be physical, in which case, the help of a veterinarian is needed. But if it is behavioral, it is pretty much a breeze to make your pet cats do your bidding once you have determined the main cause of the problem.

Mary J. Smith

Everyone knows that people consider their pets as part of the family. Now it is becoming more common to include pets in vacation plans and many travel destinations are accommodating dogs and cats. Many hotels, resorts and state parks allow dogs, although there are certain restrictions, for example due to health codes, dogs can dine with their families only at outdoor restaurants or cafes. It is obviously important that your dog is socialized and well behaved, and remember, not everyone loves dogs!

Some of the top dog friendly resort towns include,

Carmel/Monterey, California
Asheville/Blue Ridge, North Carolina
Portland, Maine
Key West, Florida
Black Hills, South Dakota
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Charlottesville, Virginia
Cape May, New Jersey and
Grand Canyon, Arizona.

These are just a few of the vacation destinations that are pet friendly. There are many State Parks and beaches that allow dogs but they are usually required to be leashed. There are over 200 dog friendly coastal beaches. San Diego is home to Dog Beach where dogs can run free without a leash, as long as they can get along with other dogs.

All dog friendly areas require that dogs are well behaved. When asked, most officials described well behaved as pertaining to the dog and the dog owner. For the dog, this means being calm around many people and other dogs, not barking excessively, not jumping on people and following commands of their owner. For the owner, well behaved means controlling your dog, not allowing him to do his “business” in inappropriate places and cleaning up after your dog.

There are several things you need to do to prepare for a road trip with your pet. You need to be sure your pet has been to the vet and has all his shots up to date. You should have a record of his vaccinations and make sure he is protected from Lyme disease, heartworm and fleas. Remember to pack his pet vitamins. He will need a license and an identification tag with all your information, especially a cell phone number since you will be away from home. It is a good idea to carry a first aid kit specifically for pets.

Make sure you have enough dog food and treats for the trip. It may be a good idea to buy bottled water since some dogs can get sick from drinking water they are not used to. Remember to pack a leash and towels for muddy paws. Also, bring favorite toys and bags for cleaning up after your dog. If you will be staying in a hotel, bring a crate for your dog to sleep in or stay in if you have to leave him alone for any reason.

Most people travel with their dogs, but some cat lovers bring their furry friends along on the family trip. Cats tend to be more attached to their territory so if you intend to travel with your cat, its a good idea to start taking them out when they are kittens. Start with brief trips and be sure to have a quality cat carrier. Have cat toys and a collar with an identification tag. Allow your cat some time to explore his new surroundings.

There are many products available to make travel with your pet easier. You can get car seats or seat belt harnesses for your dog. For dogs who love to go boating, there are doggie life vests. You can buy travel bowls and even portable dog potties and litter boxes. You no longer have to feel guilty for leaving your pet in a boarding kennel while you enjoy a great vacation. Now your pet can enjoy the family vacation with the family.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class doberman breeder. For further information go to http://theroadhousedobes.com or visit http://petvitamins4u.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Joseph Sabol

Cats tend to have surface and location preferences for where they like to eliminate. Most cats prefer a loose, sandy substance, which is why they will use a litter box. It’s only when their preferences include the the bed or the rug, that normal elimination behavior becomes a problem. With careful analysis of your cat’s environment, specific factors that have contributed to the litter box problem can usually be identified and changed, so that your cat will again use the litter box.

Some common reasons why cats don’t use the litter box are: an aversion to the box, a preference for a particular surface not provided by the box, a preference for a particular location where there is no box, or a combination of all three. You’ll need to do some detective work to determine the reason your cat is house soiling.

Cats don’t stop using their litter boxes because they’re mad or upset and are trying to get revenge for something. Because humans act for these reasons, it’s easy for us to assume that our pets do as well. Animals don’t act out of spite or revenge, so it won’t help to give your cat special privileges in the hope that she’ll start using the litter box again.

Medical Problems
It’s common for cats to begin eliminating outside of their litter box when they have a medical problem. For example, a urinary tract infection or crystals in the urine can make urination very painful. Cats often associate this pain with the litter box and begin to avoid it. If your cat has a house-soiling problem, check with your veterinarian first to rule out any medical problems for the behavior. Cats don’t always act sick, even when they are, and only a trip to the veterinarian for a thorough physical examination can rule out a medical problem.

Cleaning Soiled Areas
Because animals are highly motivated to continue soiling an area that smells like urine or feces, it’s imperative that you thoroughly clean the soiled areas.

Aversion To The Litter Box
Your cat may have decided that the litter box is an unpleasant place to eliminate if:
• The box is not clean enough for her.
• She has experienced painful urination or defecation in the box due to a medical problem.
• She has been startled by a noise while using the box.
• She has been “ambushed” while in the box either by another cat, a child, a dog, or by you, if you were attempting to catch her for some reason.
• She associates the box with punishment (someone punished her for eliminating outside the box, then placed her in the box).

What You Can Do
• Keep the litter box extremely clean. Scoop at least once a day and change the litter completely every four to five days. If you use scoopable litter, you may not need to change the litter as frequently. This will vary according to how many cats are in the household, how many litter boxes you have, and how large the cats are that are using the box or boxes. A good guideline is that if you can smell the box, then you can be sure it’s offensive to your cat as well.
• Add a new box in a different location than the old one and use a different type of litter in the new box. Because your cat has decided that her old litter box is unpleasant, you’ll want to make the new one different enough that she doesn’t simply apply the old, negative associations to the new box.
• Make sure that the litter box isn’t near an appliance that makes noise or in an area of the house that your cat doesn’t frequent.
• If ambushing is a problem, try to create more than one exit from the litter box, so that if the “ambusher” is waiting by one area, your cat always has an escape route.

Surface Preferences
All animals develop preferences for a particular surface on which they like to eliminate. These preferences may be established early in life, but they may also change overnight for reasons that we don’t always understand. Your cat may have a surface preference if:

• She consistently eliminates on a particular texture. For example, soft-textured surfaces, such as carpet, bedding or clothing, or slick-textured surfaces, such as tile, cement, bathtubs or sinks.
• She frequently scratches on this same texture after elimination, even if she eliminates in the litter box.
• She is or was previously an outdoor cat and prefers to eliminate on grass or soil.

What You Can Do
• If your cat is eliminating on soft surfaces, try using a high quality, scoopable litter, and put a soft rug under the litter box.
• If your cat is eliminating on slick, smooth surfaces, try putting just a very thin layer of litter at one end of the box, leaving the other end bare, and put the box on a hard floor.
• If your cat has a history of being outdoors, add some soil or sod to the litter box.
• Make the area where she has been eliminating aversive to her by covering it with an upside down carpet runner or aluminum foil, or by placing citrus-scented cotton balls over the area.

Location Preferences
Your cat may have a location preference if:
• She always eliminates in quiet, protected places, such as under a desk downstairs or in a closet.
• She eliminates in an area where the litter box was previously kept or where there are urine odors.
• She eliminates on a different level of the house from where the litter box is located.

What You Can Do
• Put at least one litter box on every level of your house.
• Make the area where she has been eliminating aversive to her by covering it with upside down carpet runner or aluminum foil, or by placing citrus-scented cotton balls over the area OR
• Put a litter box in the location where your cat has been eliminating. When she has consistently used this box for at least one month, you may gradually move it to a more convenient location at a rate of an inch per day.

Oops!
Don’t ever punish your cat for eliminating outside of the litter box. If you find a soiled area, it’s too late to administer a correction. Do nothing but clean it up. Rubbing your cat’s nose in it, taking her to the spot and scolding her, or any other type of punishment, will only make her afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Animals don’t understand punishment after the fact, even if it’s only seconds later. Punishment will do more harm than good.

To get more help on pet behavior, visit:
FunAdvice.com Pet Section
ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Section

Dara Solomon
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/solving-litterbox-problems-671030.html

Before bringing home a cat for a pet, one should do some research on what items are needed to make this feline friend of yours feel comfortable indoors.

Since such pets are not yet toilet trained, it is important to get a litter box to train the cat on where to go when nature calls. Doing this will save the person time and effort cleaning up the waste the creature has left in various places of one’s home.

To make this happen, choosing the right litter box for the cat is important. This depends on the size of the cat and if the pet finds it spacious inside. Since the litter box is the toilet for the pet, this should be easily accessible both for going in and out of the box.

One can buy a litter box that can easily be cleaned from time to time. This can be found in the internet or at the local pet store that will cost twenty-five dollars and above. The price depends on the kind of material that is used in making the box- whether it is plastic or another kind of non-absorbent material.

If the person is too lazy to clean it, there is an electronic version that will cost more than a hundred dollars. Should the person decide not to buy either of the two and would prefer to use a disposable kind, one can use a soda box which should also be changed.

The litter box must have fillers making it easy for the person to clean. This is needed to prevent odors from staying inside the box that can produce bacteria causing the cat to get sick.

In order for the cat to have some privacy, it is best to choose a litter box that can have a cover on top. This will make it warm and comfortable for the cat when it is time to go to the toilet.

There are many types of litter boxes available from the small versions for the kittens to the big ones for the full grown cats. With the many types of fillers available, one should choose the best that will be comfortable for the pet.

Should the person have a hard time choosing the right litter box, one can ask the sales person in the pet store or ask people who have cats for advice.

Jay Schindler

Feline rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. This virus is highly contagious, but usually only causes mild symptoms in mature cats. However, this disease can be fatal to kittens if they develop pneumonia.

Transmission

As mentioned earlier, the virus that causes rhinotracheitis in cats is very contagious. It can be transmitted to your cat if he comes into contact with contaminated cages, food dishes, or litter boxes. Also, cats can become infected if they come into contact with discharge from an infected cat’s eyes, nose, or mouth. As the owner, you also have to be careful as you can harbor the virus on your hands or clothing.

Symptoms

Cats affected with feline rhinotracheitis show common symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. This includes sneezing, coughing, and discharge from the nose. Some cats also get secondary bacterial infections that can prolong the disease. Other symptoms that may develop include loss of appetite, corneal ulcers, and a fever.

Treatment

To keep your cat from getting a secondary bacterial infection, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. Feline rhinotracheitis usually goes away on its own within ten days, so no other medications may be necessary. However, you may be able to give your cat nasal drops to decrease the amount of discharge from the nose.

You will need to make sure your cat is consuming enough food and fluids. If not, he may need to have a feeding tube. You should also make sure to minimize your cat’s stress and keep him indoors. The room should be warm and have plenty of ventilation. You should also try to have a humidifier in the room. Prognosis

If affected by feline rhinotracheitis, your cat should fully recover within ten days. If he develops a secondary bacterial infection, recovery may take a little longer. In some cases, this condition causes the cat to suffer chronic nasal discharge and sneezing.

D Swain

http://www.litter-lifter.com/contact.html . . or . . http://litterlifter.wordpress.com

Our cat litter scoop with peaked blades makes the difference in catching even the smallest waste with the first pass without scooping up the clean unused litter.

Don’t Scoop Up Clean Litter - LIFT Out Waste

The Litter-Lifter’s sleek design and 7 inch functional wedge-shaped tines facilitate fewer passes through the litter box. The scooper blades let litter slide back into the box. The ease of use without releasing unnecessary dust into the home permits more frequent cleaning. The Litter-Lifter is an exceptional advance in maintaining cleaner air, a clean scoop, and a clean litter box for a hygienic environment. No Clogging - No Shaking - Cuts Dust.

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