House kitties are half wild, half homebody. Believe it or not, these babies require the same things wild cats do. The only difference is that domesticated cats love humans so much that they are willing to compromise big-time. The litter box is the middle ground between the two sides of your feline friend.
To nurture the relationship you have with your cat, proper litter box practices are key. In the wild, cats scoop dirt over their poop and pee to hide their tracks from predators. Recreating this phenomenon in the home as much as possible is crucial to your little tiger’s well-being.
It’s not as complicated as humans might think. In fact, the best possible scenario for both you and your cat is to keep the litter box sitch as minimal as possible.
Keep It Simple
There should be multiple litter boxes in the house. The general rule is to have one per cat plus an extra one. They should each be in a visible place that is pleasant, not stashed away.
“If I can see, I will pee!”
There’s a misconception that felines need their privacy while they’re going. Cats need to be able to see around them after they’ve had their vulnerable moment of going to the bathroom. Their litter box should not be covered at all. Cats need to make sure they aren’t startled by anything on their way back into the wilderness (aka your house)!
The language of cats
Scent is how your kitty receives information, which is why their sense of smell is so heightened. Litter with scents is overwhelming for your cat. It’s best to keep litter unscented.
If cats could talk, they would say, “No crystals in my litter, please.” The litter should be smooth to resemble the dirt they would be using outside.
“No bells and whistles, please.”
Cats would rather do away with litter box liners. Cats need to scoop their litter, and they tend to get their claws stuck in these liners.
Cats are the masters of hiding their pain
Self-cleaning litter boxes propose a problem some cat parents might not realize. It’s important to be able to see what your cat did in the litter box. If anything is wrong, like diarrhea or blood in their stool, you’ll be able to detect it immediately and take them to the vet. Toilet training is also not recommended for this reason, aside from it completely derailing their natural urge to scoop and causing them to exert themselves far too much just to take a pee.
When to be concerned
If your kitty’s setup is good but they’re still not going or making it to the litter box, it could be a deeper issue. Natural remedies for the bladder health of your cat that address the kidneys, the liver, and the urinary tract all at once are crucial for keeping your cat healing in the right direction without harsh drugs from the vet.
Every loving relationship relies on understanding. As much as we’d like to believe that cats’ needs resemble ours when it comes to going to the bathroom, nothing is farther from the truth. We must consider who cats are, where they come from, and what they want. Adhering to your cat’s preferences for when they relieve themselves will ensure your relationship with them is flourishing and that their health is in tip-top shape!
