A cat who scratches in his litter to find the perfect spot to poop and then buries his deposit probably likes the texture of the litter. A cat who perches on the side of the litter box and doesn't bury his poop probably dislikes the texture. The scent of litter is also important.
Avoidance, Perching and “Hit-and-Run” Eliminators
If your cat has a dislike for the litter substrate, he may not totally avoid the box but may perch on the edge. This may be his attempt at physically being in the box as much as he can while limiting his actual contact with the substrate.
Cats are not born knowing how to use a litter box. Kittens learn about the bathroom from mom. When we give them a plastic box with litter in it we have to teach them to use this as their bathroom. Pet your cat, give a him a treat or engage in a play session every time he uses the litter box.
Some cats adapt to a change of litter without any problem at all, while other cats may feel uncomfortable using a type of litter that they didn't use when they were young. If you think your cat may dislike her litter type, texture or smell, try offering her different types of litter to use.
Cats stop using their litter boxes for a variety of reasons, including issues with the box or litter, dissatisfaction with the placement or number of boxes, changes in the environment inside or outside the house (e.g., a new pet in the house, feral cats prowling around outside), and undiagnosed medical conditions.
Place your cat in the litter box throughout the day to help them understand the purpose of the box. For kittens, move their front paws back and forth in a scratching motion to give them a little extra help. It's amazing how kittens as young as 3 to 4 weeks old seem to instinctively understand this motion.
Kitties that usually poop once a day can hold it in for up to 36 hours without any health consequences. Those that typically take a trip to the litter box every other day shouldn't go any further than 48 hours without pooping. Anything over that may be an indication of a more severe problem.
A variety of studies have found that cats prefer their litter to be soft and fine-grained. A recent study compared three types of unscented litter—wood pellets, silica microgranules, and nonclumping clay granules. Overwhelmingly, the cats chose silica and clay over the pellets.
She also may not have enough litter boxes around the house, or dislikes their locations. In some cases, she may associate her litter box with a painful or uncomfortable situation. She may also dislike her litter, especially if you've recently switched to a different type. Cats prefer unscented litters.
Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business. There are self-cleaning litter boxes available that use a sensor to tell when a cat has entered and then left the litter box.
Healthy cats will generally visit the litter box between three and five times each day, and this includes going both number one and number two. If your cat is relieving itself more than five times each day, this doesn't necessarily point to a health issue.
“Cats are very sensitive to sudden changes to their environment. They may not take the time to look” for the box's new location.
If you have rice on hand, it's a much better idea to eat it rather than using it in your cat litter box. But, rice will absorb urine in a way that paper and wood shavings will not. It won't do anything to hide the smell of ammonia. And, remember not to overfill the cat box since rice expands.
When it comes to cat litter, less is more! Just 2-3 inches of litter in the box is the ideal amount for you and your cat. But don't worry, your best bud will most certainly let you know if you're using too much litter.
Best Cat Litter Overall: Dr. Elsey's Ultra. Best Cat Litter For Clumping: Boxiecat Scent-Free Premium Clumping Clay Litter. Best Dust-Free Cat Litter: Arm and Hammer Slide Easy Clean-Up Clumping Litter.
Introduce Litter at the Right Time
Newborn kittens need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom, and won't start using the litter box until around 3 weeks of age. Once the kitten has reached 3 weeks, it's appropriate to introduce them to the litter box.
Yes, cats do require nighttime access to a litter box. In fact, having access to a tidy litter box at night is frequently more crucial than during the day. I mention this because cats are nocturnal, or crepuscular as some people like to call them, which means they are more active from dawn until dark.
Kitten mortality is usually highest in the first litter born to a particular queen and after her fifth litter. The high death rates in kittens from first-time queens probably relates to inexperience, trauma and cannibalism.
Regular Crating
If you need to keep your cat crated on a regular basis, avoid leaving her there for over six hours at a time. Keeping her in the crate for more than a quarter of the day can affect her mental health. That's not how cats are designed to function. Too much crate time can lead to a scared, anxious animal.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.
The bathroom is one of the best places to keep your cat's litter box. Messes will be easier to clean up on the tile or hardwood floor than on carpet. If your home has multiple bathrooms, consider putting the litter box in the bathroom that is used the least.