Cats and dogs are a common sight in most households, but not all of them have the same needs. A dog’s natural instinct is to go outside and do its business, while a cat prefers a litter box inside the house. Not only does this mean you need to make sure your furry friend has enough space for both an indoor and outdoor area, but it also means that you might be dealing with smellier messes, which is why it’s important to choose the right litter box for your pet!
1. How to choose the right litter box for your pet
The first thing you’ll want to consider when picking out a litter box for your pet is their size. As a general rule, if the litter box is too small, your cat might go over the edges and make a mess on the floor. If it’s too large, your dog might want to use it as well as your cat, so take a look at the selection of the best dog proof litter boxes in order to keep your pets separate when they need to be. For dogs, keep in mind that they might not be able to fit inside a litter box with high sides, which means you’ll have to stick with low-sided options. Your best bet is to choose a litter box that’s large and uncovered, but one that has low sides. Most experts recommend getting at least two litter boxes for your home, one for each cat and/or dog you have. You’ll also want to decide what type of material you want your litter box to be. If you do not like the idea of cleaning out a dirty litter box every day, you could get one that’s self-cleaning (i.e., it automatically sifts the litter). There are also automatic boxes that can be programmed to give your pet time to use the bathroom and then clean the box, so you don’t have to worry about it.
2. Different types of litter boxes
There are a few different types of litter boxes out there depending on your needs. The first is a tray-type litter, where the cat digs in the top layer to cover their waste. If you have a large dog, you might have to get a low-sided tray, so they don’t hurt themselves trying to fit inside. The second type is a covered box that contains more of the smell and has higher sides. These can come with an attached hood for dogs that require it. There is also the self-cleaning litter box which has sensors that track when your pet urinates or covers their mess, then sweep clean the area using one of two methods: sifting or clumping. This type also doesn’t require any scooping or brushing, which makes it very convenient for pet owners. Other things you might want to take into account when choosing a litter box is whether or not it’s suitable for multi-pet households, your cat’s preferences, if you need more than one, and cost. Some cats prefer using the bathroom on the ground instead of a raised box. If you have more than one cat, you’ll want to get litter boxes that are large enough for both pets, since cats can be territorial about their bathrooms.
3. Tips on maintaining a clean litter box
If you decide to use a non-automatic litter box, it’s important to keep your pet’s bathroom clean. This means scooping the litter at least once every day and washing out the entire box with mild soap or bleach about once a week. Many people recommend scooping twice daily, but some pets can be picky about their bathroom, so you may need to stick with once-a-day scooping. For automatic litter boxes, it’s important to make sure the system is able to sift through all the dirty litter before it gets clogged up or jammed. You should also make sure that your pet is not trying to remove any of the waste left behind by other animals before it gets sifted, which could cause the system to malfunction. If you have more than one pet using the same litter box, you’ll need to make sure that all of them are accounted for when the box is being cleaned. Otherwise, you could end up with a mess on your floor!
4. What to do with dirty litter
What you do with dirty litter is an issue for some people. If you like the convenience of disposal, then you might want to use plastic bags. But if you’re environmentally conscious, then you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of different options for disposal. You can either compost it or discard it in your garbage with all other non-recyclable items. A composting system will basically allow you to be more earth-friendly. You can even make this a DIY project by collecting your pet’s waste in a plastic bag, placing it in the composter, and adding soil, leaves, grass clippings, food scraps, and manure. The decomposition process begins when bacteria eat up the organic matter that’s in the composter. They then release heat that helps break down the materials. This can take anywhere from two days to two weeks, depending on how warm it is. When the process is done, you have fully decomposed manure that is rich in nitrogen, which you can use on your garden or lawn.
It is important to choose the right litter box for your pet and maintain it. Keep in mind that not all pets are going to be happy with different types of litter, so you may need to try a few different types before finding one they like. And then there’s the question of what you’re going to do with the dirty litter! A plastic bag will work, but some people prefer a composting option instead. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you with choosing and maintaining a suitable litter box for your pet!