C AT L I T T E R
Perfect Litter Mat
they’re more absorbent, they can last longer. Many cats will easily transition to a pine, corn or wheat litter from clay, especially if the transition is made gradually. Some cats stay true to their stubborn selves and never warm up to the texture of alternative litters. ➜ NEWSPRINT LITTER Another eco-friendly litter option is recycled newsprint. This type of litter is made of pellets of recycled newspaper. The pellets are larger, so they won’t stick to your cat’s feed and end up all over the place. Newsprint litter works like sponges to absorb urine odors, and a scoop with larger holes will let you remove waste easily. Unfortunately, the size of the litter makes it a more difficult transition from clay, but if you take your time, your cat will likely adjust. ➜ SILICA Litter made of silica crystals is another low maintenance solution. The silica pellets absorb urine, and you scoop out the poop to keep the box smelling fresh (or as fresh as it can be). The pellets change color when they’ve absorbed all they can, so it’s easy to see when the box needs changing. Usually, a package of silica litter will last one month for one cat. When it’s turned yellow, simply bag it up and throw it in the trash! Like clay, the heavy silica crystals are better at staying in the box, but some cats won’t like the texture because the pieces are larger and harder to dig in.
Living with Litter A cat’s nose is about 14 times more sensitive than a human’s, so if you think the litter box stinks, imagine how bad it must smell to your cat! It’s important to scoop and clean litter regularly. You don’t want to give your cat any reason not to use his litter, because he will find somewhere else to go. A clean box in a quiet location will help him feel comfortable and secure when he does his business. You should try to have one more litter box than you have cats (3 boxes for 2 cats) and make sure they’re on all levels of your home, and not grouped together (cats will look at two boxes side by side as one giant box).
This new product will help keep litter from tracking all over your house. These large mats are comfortable for cats to walk on and are a bit sticky to pull any litter off your cat’s feet. The mat holds on to litter and can be swept or vacuumed clean. • Perfect Litter Mat 58305 〉〉 $19.99
Big Mouth Litter Scoop This efficient new litter scoop is designed to gather more waste while picking up less litter. The unique handle keeps your hand from touching the litter too. • Big Mouth Litter Scoop 51851, 51852 〉〉 $7.99
The Cat Kit Litter boxes aren’t just big plastic tubs anymore. New designs have come out to make cleaning easier. Hooded boxes keep litter from ending up all over the place, which is great if your cat’s an aggressive digger. Not all cats like being enclosed, but some seem to like the privacy a covered box gives them. Sifting and rolling boxes make cleanup a breeze. Rolling pans, such as the Omega Paw Roll 'N Clean (58373) are covered boxes that can be cleaned just with a single roll that runs the litter through a basket. The basket is then removed with all the clumps and waste. Sifting boxes, such as those from Van Ness (58290, 58338) can be covered or uncovered. They’re made up of three pans: two solid ones and one that sifts the litter. Store the sifter between the two solid pans while the box is in use. To clean, pour the litter from the top pan into the sifter, lift the sifter out with the clumps and waste, leaving the litter in the bottom pan. Empty the sifter and stack the pans back up, and voila, your litter is scooped!
Litter Locker II The Litter Locker is a good way to reduce litter odors without having to take out the trash every day. The idea is the same as many diaper disposal units. Scoop the litter into the Locker, turn the crank, and the litter and its smells are sealed away. • Litter Locker II 52705 〉〉 $22.99 Summer 2011 - Companion 13