Top 5 General Tips For Cat Litter Boxes

The joys of living with cats is wonderful. Cuddle time, companionship and by far the best pet known to man, it's quite enjoyable to share life with a cat(s). Of course, there are downsides to co-inhabiting with animals under the same roof such as cleaning cat litter boxes. Okay, this is by far one of least favorite parts when it comes to having  cat children.

Litter boxes are messy, dusty and when you have more than one cat, it can be quite a job. I’ve learned the following litter tips throughout the years of having cats and wanted to share with you my top 5 tips:

1. Number of Litter Boxes
   • Rule of thumb is that you should have a litter box for every cat that you have plus one. So if you have 4 cats, you should have at least 5 litter boxes.
2. Type of Litter
   • I can literally write an entire blog post on this subject and people always ask me what the best litter brand is. It really depends on two things: you and the cat. The cat will have a preference. I have seen cats eliminate outside the box because they don’t like the brand of litter their human has selected for them. There are so many brands out there, but I like to find one that the cat will like, is safe for the cat and it’s easy for me to clean. Right now, we are using Arm & Hammer Unscented Clay Litter. 
     
     
3. Type of Litter Box
   • There are so many different brands of boxes out there, but so far, I have found that the best box that has worked for us is one that we make. We take a Rubbermaid tote and cut a hole on the side and it works great for cats that pee high and like to kick litter stones like crazy. It also helps control the dust. Here is a video on how to make one: Make Your Own Cat Litter Box 
4. Cleaning
   • We recommend cleaning the box at least once a day. I have seen many people not clean it until its full and then throw the entire box/bag away. It’s just like flushing your own toilet once a week (gross!). Cats don’t like it either. They are very clean animals so at a minimum, clean daily. Also, when you have plenty of litter boxes, cats won’t be using the same one and everything will be dispersed! Another great tip for cleaning in and around litter boxes is a cat litter mat. The grip and texture of the mat help collect the stones and prevents it from being tracked all over the house!
5. Environment
   • Several years ago, we attended Jackson Galaxy’s book signing and one of the topics he discussed was the best placement for litter boxes. As cat parents, we want to place the boxes out of sight, out of mind, but the best place is where we hang out the most - master bedroom, family room or kitchen. WHAT!? Yes - totally serious. So if you currently have your boxes in a discreet area, Jackson says to place it in where we have our scent and our cats will appreciate it more.

What are some of your tips for maintaining your litter box? We would love to hear! Comment below and let us know!