What types of litter trays are there for cats? How to use them. Which cat litter to choose?
Owners of tailed furry pets living in apartments with their owners need to choose a tray to which the cat will quickly get used to and will not feel discomfort in order to fulfill their natural needs.
When choosing a tray or other design for a cat, take into account the natural instincts of an animal such as a feline:
- cats do not like to leave a smell behind them, they are ambush animals, so the home tray should be washed thoroughly, and the litter should “remove” the smell as best as possible.
- for the same reason, the cat must definitely rake in its items, it must make the appropriate movements with its paw.
- cats prefer to do their toilet chores so that no one is watching them at this moment; they, of course, are not shy, they are secretive.
It must be remembered that the success of training a cat to use a litter box largely depends on the configuration of the device itself and its location in the house. You can read about how to train a small kitten or an adult cat to use a litter box in this article.
Tray for cats with mesh
The most common, convenient and affordable invention. It consists of a plastic rectangular tray and a plastic mesh placed on top of it. It’s convenient for cats to enter it, do business, and turn around conveniently when they scoop up feces behind them. This type of tray comes in different colors, and the owner decides which color to choose based on his preferences.
A simple cat tray with a mesh.
IMPORTANT: The mesh inside the pot is needed to prevent the cat from getting its paws wet while doing the toilet. But incidents sometimes happen, so it is advisable to lay a rug under such a pot.
A tray with a mesh does not provide for the use of filler; this is the basis for the features of its use:
- After the cat has relieved itself, the tray needs to be washed, since cats are very clean and do not like to do their toilet chores in dirty and unclean places. Also, a tray that is not cleaned for a long time will spread an unpleasant odor throughout the apartment, which is absolutely not necessary for anyone.
- If the owner(s) go away for a long time and cannot clean up after their pet in time, you can purchase two litter trays for the cat.
- You can also use special cat litter for trays in small quantities. This filler neutralizes the smell of animal feces, and in this case, the pet can use it several times. Usually, newspaper is laid on the mesh, and sand is poured on top for cats.
- It happens that cats do not really like to scoop up feces in trays of this design, since the claws on their paws cling to the mesh. Then the owners can look for either trays of a different design, or come up with another solution, for example, laying newspapers on the bottom of the mesh, which they then throw away along with the filler.
Reviews
Having monitored many thematic forums, we can say that reviews of dry toilets for cats among pet owners are very diverse.
The vast majority of people are satisfied with this device; in their words, it greatly simplifies home life. But there are also negative reviews.The main argument of all the angry comments is, first of all, the price of the dry closet and the fact that the animal is simply afraid to be there.
How to train a kitten to use a litter box - correctly, quickly and easily train a cat to use a litter box (125 photos)- How to raise a kitten - tips and recommendations on how to properly raise an affectionate and tame kitten (135 photos)
How to get rid of the smell of cat urine - 125 photos of ways to remove the unpleasant smell of a cat
In any case, the choice is yours. In turn, we want to tell you, love your animals and create favorable living conditions for them.
Tray for cats with high sides
There are also simple trays on sale without a mesh, but with high sides. This is also a very convenient device, both for using cats and for caring for their owners.
Deep trays for cats.
- Such a tray is easy to care for, but you will have to wash it every time the cat has done its job, or remove some of the used litter each time using a special scoop.
- A tray with high sides is convenient because, while cats scoop it up behind them, they don’t scatter the litter all over the room.
- Often trays with high sides are sold with an additional side, with which you can attach newspaper or film and throw away the used contents lying on it, leaving the tray clean.
It is more convenient for kittens to go into a low pot with a mesh, while adult cats prefer deep trays.
Tips for choosing
When choosing a dry closet, several parameters should be taken into account.
- The most important selection criterion is the size of the animal. The toilet should not embarrass your pet. You should not buy small devices for kittens, because time will pass and they will grow.
- If the model is open, then you should choose an option with high sides so that the cat does not scatter the filler.
- In closed structures, you should check the functionality of the door and make sure that there is a small gap when closing. It is necessary to prevent the animal from pinching its tail.
- Before purchasing, you need to clarify the cost of consumables, the possibility of using alternative options and the availability of cartridges and filters on the market. It will be unpleasant if the device has to be replaced after a year, since the filters are no longer sold.
- Fully automated models must be silent. You should ask the seller to demonstrate how quietly it works, otherwise the animal may get scared and refuse to go to the tray.
- If the model has retractable parts, then it would not be superfluous to check the ease of their removal and the reliability of the mechanisms.
- Some manufacturers include a scoop with the kit. You should make sure that the holes in it are not too large and that it itself is strong enough.
- Toilets that require replaceable cartridges and napkins should not have a strong chemical smell. When trying to get rid of the smell of cat urine or feces, replacing it with chemicals is not a good idea. In addition, such a smell may indicate that the filler is not the safest. You should avoid purchasing such a toilet.
One of the criteria that may be important to buyers is the design of the model. Of course, everyone wants to achieve aesthetics in the interior. This is a point worth considering.
Important! Often the dry closet is made in the form of a portable toilet. In this case, you should look for the lightest option, because the toilet with the filler and the cat can weigh a lot and may not be the most convenient to carry.
How to fill a cat litter box?
Every cat owner will eventually find a convenient way to put litter in the tray.
If it is a tray with a plastic mesh, then you can pour filler under the mesh and clean it as needed. Or lay newspaper on top, as described above.
The filler is poured into the tray in a layer of 3-5 cm.
If this is a simple tray with high sides, then you need to pour 3 - 5 cm thick filler onto the bottom of the tray and also remove it as necessary, and also add the required layer of filler as necessary.
Indoor cat tray
Considering the tendency of cats to do their toilet chores away from prying eyes, as well as the fact that a closed toilet in the form of a house in the room where the animal is located looks aesthetically pleasing and prevents the spread of unpleasant odors, many owners of domestic cats choose this particular model.
The closed cat tray is aesthetically pleasing.
IMPORTANT: An enclosed cat house consists of a plastic tray bottom and a high lid with an opening for entry, which together looks like a house or a cat carrier.
- In such a toilet it should be convenient for cats to spin and turn around.
- The lid of the house should be easily and easily removed to make it convenient to clean.
- You also need to make sure that there are ventilation holes in the lid of the toilet house, because this is important.
A cat may associate a closed litter box with a carrier.
IMPORTANT: Although the toilet house creates a closed environment for cats, not all animals get used to it. The fact is that they may associate such a toilet house with carrying, and carrying for many of them means a change of environment, or, worse, visit to the veterinarian. But this is always psychological stress for the animal, even if there is a routine examination.
Why does the cat shit everywhere?
If the smell of cat urine is unpleasant, then the “aroma” of the marks of an uncastrated cat plunges owners into horror. When cat urine that is not collected in time begins to decompose, the decomposition product, thiols, begins to float in the air. It is this substance that gives the tags such an impossible smell.
There are enough reasons why a cat shits on your territory in the wrong place:
the animal sees you as the head of the pack, and wants to prove that it is competitive;
Kotofey sees himself as a leader, and with his “fragrant” marks makes others feel like they are in second or even tenth place;
an animal disease that affects physiology: a sick pet does not control its urination;
an inconveniently located tray or a new “unsuccessful” filler;
resentment developing into cat's revenge. This may be associated with punishment or a feeling of loneliness, abandonment;
a new home in which the cat is not used to the proper toilet.
In searching for the reason, do not forget that the cat also has its own feelings and character, which may be the key to answering the question of why it defecates anywhere.
We stop the cat from shitting anywhere
To make life in an apartment comfortable, you must find a way to stop an adult cat from crapping . It doesn’t matter whether it’s an Oriental, an exotic or a mongrel yard cat, but as soon as the animal tries to settle in the wrong place, you immediately need to grab it by the scruff of the neck and lift it up. The cat will immediately put its tail between its legs! Do you feel it? Do you feel how the self-esteem of the mustachioed would-be leader is falling? Leave the guilty creature alone, and immediately eliminate the consequences: if this is a liquid crime, then there are many tips on how to remove the smell. If this is something more significant, then, having removed the pile, they immediately wipe the marks with their things - this is how the owner signs his own autograph.
Automatic cat toilet
The automatic litter box for domestic cats is a new technological invention that has a self-cleaning function. Everything necessary for this - disinfection and rinsing of the tray after use - is done in such a way as not to cause harm to the animal from contact with chemicals or bacteria.
Automatic toilet for cats.
Of course, such convenience comes at a rather high price. In addition, the process of cleaning the litter box can frighten some cats who are not accustomed to this task.
Self-cleaning dry toilet for cats
For advanced owners of domestic cats, a self-cleaning dry closet has been invented, which works on the same principle as all dry closets.
IMPORTANT: This feline convenience will need to be connected to the sewerage system and electricity, then the owners can forget about cleaning the trays manually
- As a rule, all the necessary parts and hoses for connecting a dry closet are included in its kit.
- The composting toilet itself contains washable granules, which are convenient for cats to make their own toilet.
- If it is urine, then the liquid after visiting the animal is immediately washed off through special holes into the sewer.
- For excrement, the dry closet has a special shovel, with which it is easily crushed and drained into the sewer.
- After using the program, clean water with shampoo is supplied to the toilet and the granules and holes are washed. Next comes the function of drying the dry closet using warm steam.
Dry toilet for cats.
The dry closet, depending on the manufacturer, can be programmed in the following modes:
- automatic flushing several times a day
- automatic flushing after the cat visits the toilet after some time
- manually starting toilet cleaning when you press the “start” button
Pros and cons of using
The advantages of such dry toilets are obvious - the absence of odors and harmful substances, there is no need to clean up after the cat after each trip to the toilet. The design of any type of dry toilet is such that the cat will not be able to throw the litter out of the tray. All toilets are beautiful enough not to spoil the interior. The dimensions of the toilets are designed for different animal sizes - you can choose them for dogs and cats with different weights.
If we talk about the minuses, then dry toilets are not the cheapest pleasure. Most models (Japanese type, with a carbon filter and models with sifting without a sewer connection) require the participation of the owner at least once a day. Additionally, replacement filters and cartridges can also be expensive. Fully automatic cat toilets, among other things, require complex installation.
Important! The design of such devices can force the animal to walk past the tray, and sometimes it takes a long time to accustom the animal to going to it. This is especially true for closed models.
