Check Litterbox Often And Other Tips

Check the litterbox for solids every time you use the bathroom. You were going to wash your hands anyway.

Instead of clumping or clay litter, use pine pellet bedding for horses. It's effective, inexpensive, has no unnatural chemicals, smells great, and lasts about twice as long as other litters. If you use pine pellet litter, you can tell by looking at it when you need to wash and refill the box. As it absorbs urine, the pellets turn into sawdust. When there are no more pellets, it's time to dump the box and start fresh.

The same product is packaged for cats, as "Feline Pine," for about 3 times the price. Some pellet stove fuel is also okay to use for cat litter. If the label doesn't say it's okay for animal bedding, it can be toxic.

Use hot soapy water and a toilet brush to scrub out the litter box. You can also put some borax or washing soda in the bucket. Rinse and dry thoroughly before refilling. Letting it air dry in the sun can help with odors. NEVER use chlorine bleach to clean a litterbox. Urine turns into ammonia, and mixing chlorine and ammonia results in toxic chlorine gas, not good for you or kitty. Don't try to deodorize it with citrus oil cleaners or vinegar. Both citrus and vinegar are effective cat-repellants.

By Fishercat from Albany, NY