Cat Litter Box Tips for a First Time Cat Owner

A friend recently participated in an adoption event. She immediately fell in love with a shelter tabby cat named Molly. As a first cat owner, the shelter provided her all the necessary information to care for Molly and taught her some cat litter box etiquette.

This sponsored post is a partnership with Nakturnal. I am being compensated to share our friend’s experience as a first-time cat owner, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

After a week with Molly, our friend still has questions, especially about cat litter. I immediately contacted Winston’s mom, SUGAR’s bff Chicago cat. Winston’s mom offered three cat litter tips.

3 Cat Litter Box Tips

Cat Litter Box

1. There are many cat litter boxes on the market. For a first-time cat owner, it can be confusing. There are four things to consider when purchasing a litter box:
a) Purchase an appropriate size to accommodate your cat; your cat should not feel cramped.
b) Consider a shape that your cat can hop in and out easily.
c) For odor control cat litter, many cat owners prefer a covered litter but your cat may not.
d) Litter box (plastic) liners may seem like a convenient way to keep the litter box cleaner but may annoy your cat; cat’s claws + plastic liner = holes.

Cat Litter

2. Just like litter boxes, there are many kinds of cat litter on the market. Your preference might not be to your cat’s liking. There are three things you need to consider for purchasing the best odor control cat litter:
a) Litter Texture: Most cats prefer a fine-textured litter; it’s softer on their paws.
b) Scented or Odorless Cat Litter: Cats have an extremely keen sense of smell so many can be put off by scented litters.

Wag.com, an online pet supply,  suggested a “test drive” scent when choosing a scented litter – “Buy several brands, and put them out side by side to see which option your cat chooses.” 

d) Amount of Cat Litter – Place the appropriate amount of cat litter in the box. Cats usually prefer one to two inches of litter.

Keep Your Cat Happy, Clean and Reduce Cat Litter Box Odor!

Odor Control Cat Litter Box

3. Litter box odor can be avoided by cleaning your cat’s litter. Clumping litter must be cleaned at least once a day. Many high-quality odor-free cat litter only requires twice a week cleaning. It is recommended on a monthly basis to wash your cat’s litter box. Also, from petmd.com,“To keep the smell to a minimum after cleaning, add some litter to replace what you removed while cleaning and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into the litter before using the litter scoop to turn the freshened litter.”

After several weeks, our friend informed us that Molly is doing well and has adjusted to her home. Molly has finally mastered her cat litter.

If you are a cat owner, please share more tips about cat litter box.