Litter boxes are as important to cats as what goes in them

By Midge Raymond 

When our plus-sized panther began standing up while peeing, we soon realized we couldn’t use the short litter boxes that are typical for most cats. We tried covered boxes, taller boxes, and finally bought a large storage bin and cut an entrance into the side. 

I’ve since learned that many humans have cats with this issue, and many think their high-peeing cats are spraying — but they’re not; spraying is what happens outside the box. (If your cat is thinking outside the box, you’ll want to take him or her to the vet to rule out medical issues. The reasoning is this: If cats are in pain from something like constipation or a urinary tract infection, they will associate using the litter box with being in pain — and then avoid the box in hopes of avoiding pain. It makes perfect sense, when you think about it.)

Your cat may also be avoiding the box due to behavioral issues, such as stress or territorial issues with other pets in the house. But if your cat is healthy and there are no behavioral issues, it could simply be that he or she doesn’t like the box, the placement of the box or the litter.

According to Mieshelle Nagelschneider, author of The Cat Whisperer, thinking outside the box is “the number one complaint of cat owners and the number one reason millions of cats are surrendered to shelters each year and even killed.” It is also, she writes, the most easily solved problem with cats. 

Nagelschneider recommends open, uncovered boxes that are at least one and a half times the length of your cat. And she notes that what is best for you may not be best for your cat. While humans usually wish to minimize the presence of kitty litter boxes, Nagelschneider writes that cat boxes should be out in the open, located in different places around the house if there are multiple cats and far from noises like laundry machines. Also, be sure that the litter box is not near food or bedding: “nothing associated with a cat’s nest area should be in the same room as the litter box.” 

And sometimes you have to improvise. Like many of us with big cats, Billie Jo Vinson, co-founder of Ashland’s Wellness Pet Supplies, has created her own litter boxes. “I have a very tall cat and I wanted a covered box, and he’s too tall for all your basic ones out there.” 

As for what she recommends, Vinson says, “I think that’s a very personal decision, whether you want a covered box or an open box. It also is the cat’s decision. The cats will tell you — if they do not like the box, they will not use it. End of story, and there’s your decision.”

Vinson carries plastic litter boxes of various sizes, covered and uncovered, in her store. “One of the considerations I take is I don’t buy any plastics from China. Our store is a China-free store, because I ethically source and I don’t fall in line with how they make their products. There are a lot of toxins in their plastics, and when you add water to plastics it can release those toxins and then cats absorb things through their feet.”

Another option is disposable litter boxes, which Vinson notes are great for travel — and they work in the home as well. 

Heather McKinley-Brown, co-owner of the B’Inspired Studio salon in Ashland, ended up living in a smaller space after losing her home in the Almeda Fire — and this is when she discovered the Kitty Poo Club, a subscription service in which you choose the box size (standard or extra large), quantity and type of litter and then customize delivery. 

“I have a very good friend who subscribes, and the litter box situation was such a hassle after the fire,” McKinley-Brown says. “So I thought, ‘OK, this is perfect. We’ll do this.’ Because it’s a small space, it’s easy. What we really like is that when they’re done with it, you just fold it up, stick the lid back on, and toss it.” 

Though the boxes are made with cardboard, McKinley-Brown says they don’t leak. “So you don’t have to worry about that. Whatever they line it with — it’s magic. We’ve never had an issue with it leaking. And it’s very easy to construct. I can put it together in two minutes.”

McKinley-Brown chose the fine silica litter for her Persian, Bella, who likes soft litter, and says the boxes are sturdy enough for their more active cat. “Apollo will scratch around in there, and it’s never been damaged.”

Another, lesser-known litter box option is stainless steel — something that, after more than 20 years of being owned by cats, my husband and I hadn’t considered until recently. We thought it would be worth a try. And it was a game-changer. 

Stainless steel litter boxes are a bit more expensive, but they’re far more durable and will last longer, if not forever. (If your cats are athletic and don’t need a low “doorway,” you could improvise by trying restaurant trays or pans, which may be less expensive through a restaurant supply store.) Stainless steel boxes don’t absorb odor like plastic (something for both cats and humans to love) and are much easier to clean. Both of our cats were attracted to it right away. We put the litter from their plastic box in there so they’d know this was their new toilet, and we also kept a plastic box available just in case. They voted in favor of the stainless steel box, largely ignoring the plastic one. We did learn quickly to be sure to use enough litter (at least 2 to 3 inches on the bottom), to avoid hearing a nails-on-a-chalkboard sound when the cats are in the box. 

Whatever you may prefer as a human, choosing the right box depends on the needs of your cat — and your box choices may evolve along with your cats. Our late cat Teddy slowed down quite a bit in his old age, which meant our cat boxes had to have a low threshold so he could get in and out easily. 

While it’s a good general rule to have one litter box per cat, sometimes space restrictions don’t allow for multiple boxes in a home. “Due to limited space, we have one box for them to share, but they get a new one every other week,” McKinley-Brown says. “And it works fine because it’s like we have a kitty and a half — Bella is so tiny.” 

When deciding how many boxes to have in your home, Vinson says, “Again, your cats will tell you.” For her two cats, she says, “I have two boxes, and my cats share both of them. They prefer the big open one. I think you can get away with one if it’s big enough. If you have more cats, you’ll need more litter boxes.”

Litter scoops are another personal decision, Vinson says. “I think it’s best to get a small-holed one so you can get as many pieces as possible to keep that bacteria down.” But if you’re using pellet litter, she adds, “you need a wider-holed scoop because you’re just picking up the poop and it doesn’t clump.” 

Regarding how often to clean your cat’s litter box, Vinson advises, “At a minimum, twice a day — three times a day if you can.” 

And don’t forget the deep cleaning. In “The Cat Whisperer,” Nagelschneider writes, “A good rule of thumb is to completely change clumping litter every few weeks and non-clumping litter (pellets) every day to every week, depending on the cat, the litter, and the smell.” She also recommends cleaning the boxes themselves every few weeks: “If you wait until the box starts to smell, then you have waited too long to clean it.”

Cat people: Do you have questions about litter boxes or litter, or stories about what’s worked for you and the felines who own you? This is Part 2 of a 2-part column on cats and litter (check out Part 1 here), and I will be answering your (and your cats’) questions in a future column. If you’d like to ask or share, send a note to [email protected].

Ashland resident Midge Raymond is co-founder of Ashland Creek Press and author of the novels “Floreana” and “My Last Continent” and co-author of “Devils Island.” Email suggestions and questions for Catty Corner to her at [email protected].