by Raven Lebeau

Created on: February 05, 2010

Cleaning the litter box will never be an enjoyable part of cat ownership, but it is an important aspect of cat care. Choosing the right litter box will go a long way toward making sure that your cat uses the box appropriately and will also make your job easier when it comes to clean up. Here are some things to consider when picking out your cat's commode:

1. Do you have a dog as well as a cat?

As most dog/cat owners learn the hard way, dogs consider cat feces a delicacy. To discourage your dog from eating out of the litter box, you may want to choose a box that is more difficult for your dog to raid. Some possible alternatives include the top entry litter box and the Dome clean step litter pan. Both of these boxes have the added benefit of making it harder for your cat to track her mess outside the box, which is a plus regardless of whether or not you have a dog.

If you already have a standard covered litter box and your dog is taking advantage of it, you can try purchasing the Litter Block, a device intended to help keep dogs out of the box while still letting cats in.

2. A shallow litter pan means more clean up time.

Cats tend to kick their litter as they cover their mess. Also, if the litter is shallow, then clumps will stick to the bottom of the pan, making them hard to scoop out. A simple, litter pan may seem like a good way to cut costs, but in the long run it will waste more cat litter- and more of your time- than it was worth. Pay up for a litter box, preferably one that has a cover to keep the litter from being splashed outside. You can also use a large plastic storage tub as a litter box.

3. Consider carefully before investing in an electronic self-cleaning litter box.

The LitterMaid, probably the most well-known self-cleaning litter box, got mixed reviews on Amazon.com. Keep in mind that even though the device automatically combs the litter for clumps and feces, you will still need to empty the waste receptacle frequently. The LitterMaid also requires the use of filters which much be replaced often. The higher-priced CatGenie had more rave reviews but needs to be hooked up to a cold water outlet and requires special sanitizing fluid and special litter-like granules. For most cat owners, a more traditional litter box is probably a more financially sensible solution.

4. Sifting litter boxes can make clean-up easier.

Some litter boxes, like the Paw “self-cleaning” litter box or the Ness enclosed sifting litter pan, have parts that make a litter scoop unnecessary. These litter boxes require no electricity, do not need expensive replacement parts, are simple to use, and cost a fraction of what an electric litter box costs. These litter boxes strike a good balance between convenience and affordability.

5. A litter mat can help prevent tracking.

No matter what type of litter box you choose, it's a good idea to get a special mat that collects the litter from your cat's paws as he exits the box. Instead of sweeping or vacuuming around the box every day, you can shake the mat outside every few days.

6. How many cats do you have?

Cat experts recommend having one litter box for every cat in the house plus one additional litter box, although some cat owners manage with fewer litter boxes. The total number of litter boxes you need will play a role in how much you are willing to spend on each one, but remember that a litter box is only a good value if your cat is willing to use it and you are willing to clean it.

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