Automatic Cat Litter Boxes
Posted by Rae and Mark on Feb 18, 2009
Cat litter and disposal is always a problem when you have a cat, and so you may be wondering whether an automatic cat litter box would help. The following article may shed some light on this issue:
Automatic Cat Litter Boxes: 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Automatic Kitty Litter
For some cat owners, scooping up and cleaning up their cat’s litter box is an awful chore. Especially for men, the thought of using automatic cat litter boxes is especially attractive. However, automatic cat litter boxes are a lot more expensive than the normal manual litter box, usually costing at least $50 each. There is also a maintenance cost - some people report spending an extra $10 to $20 every month buying replacement trays. These self cleaning litter boxes are not always suitable for cat litter training. Below are some questions often asked about these high-tech automatic kitty litter:
1. I have already litter trained my cat, but I am getting tired of cleaning up the litter everyday. Will self cleaning cat litter boxes help me?
Possibly. Automatic litter boxes will scoop the cat poop into a separate compartment and rake the remaining litter to prevent cat pee from puddling up. You still need to get rid of the dirty litter every one or two weeks, and replace the used litter.
Cats tend to be quite finicky creatures. There is a strong possibility that if you change their litter box, you may need to go through the whole cat litter training process again.
Some of these self cleaning litter boxes also require specific types of litter to work properly, for example a particular brand of crystal cat litter or clumping cat litter. Will your cat use this type of litter?
Also, be aware that some cats absolutely refuse to use these automatic litter boxes. In the worst case, you may have to retrain your cat twice - once to use the automatic device, and once more to revert to the old manual litter box.
You may want to buy your litter box from a shop with a lenient return policy, especially if you buy one of the expensive models. If your cat does not like the new litter box, at least you can return it.
2. I heard that automatic kitty litters are noisy and can scare my cats away. Is this true?
It is true that they tend to be noisy. Some people are sensitive to noise, especially at night. If your cat goes potty in the middle of the night, the machine will activate. Depending on your noise tolerance and where you placed the box, this may disturb you.
Will kitty be scared off? Frankly, that depends on your cat. Some cats are just fascinated by these things, and will never want to use an ordinary litter box ever again.
Other cats take some time to get used to their automatic cat litter boxes, and may need to go through litter training again before they will use these new self cleaning litter boxes.
I have heard of accidents involving long haired cats, where they get caught in the device and become permanently scared of using any kind of enclosed litter box ever again.
There are also reports of some brands of automatic cat litter, where the design attracts cats to pee or spray on their sensors. Obviously, this quickly damages the litter box.
3. How long do self cleaning cat litter boxes last? Do they get spoiled quickly?
This depends on your luck. There is no general consensus on any particular brand which is more reliable or less reliable than the rest. Some people have used theirs for nearly a decade, while others had to return or throw away theirs in just a few weeks.
Someone did note that the rectangular-shaped automatic cat litter tend to have fewer problems compared to the round or other odd-shaped boxes.
Unfortunately, price seems to have no relation to reliability.
4. What is the best cat litter to use with these automatic litter boxes?
It is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. However, most require either crystal cat litter or clumping cat litter.
NB: Some owners find that the manufacturer’s recommendations are wrong. If your litter box does not work well with the recommended litter, you may want to experiment with a different type before giving up.
5. The maintenance cost is expensive - how can I cut costs? Does it use a lot of electricity?
Some older models may have needed more power, but the newer models are more efficient. You should not notice any significant increase in your annual electric bill.
The major cost is in replacing the tray and the litter. Most automatic cat litter boxes require you to buy a new tray with some specific brand of kitty litter.
Some owners have successfully saved a good deal of cash by re-using the tray. They also use a cheaper brand of cat litter, although sticking to the same type, e.g. if the recommended brand is a crystal litter, then they use a cheaper crystal litter brand.
Someone reported that she used small trash bags to line the tray - this allowed her to re-use the tray even more often.
As you can see, automatic cat litter boxes are not for everyone. For now, there is no clear leader to recommend. If your cat has already been litter trained, you should not make any changes.
By: Katherin Towers
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Do you want to learn more about cat litter training? Click here to learn more about cat potty training.
While these may seem like a good idea, the research we’ve done indicates that many of these devices do have problems. It can be easier just to use a natural cat litter that helps to eliminate cat urine smell.
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Eliminate Cat Urine Odor
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 27, 2009
Eliminating cat urine odor is a problem that many cat owners face. This article highlights some useful tips that should help you with this issue:
How Do I Eliminate Cat Odor From My Small Apartment?
Although kitty is a very clean animal, he can still produce a very distinctive odor, especially in a small apartment. The cat odor emanating from your apartment can lead to complaints from your neighbors, not to mention your significant other if he or she is not a cat lover. In addition, if you move out, you may be required to get rid of the cat odor.
Much of the distinctive cat odor comes from cat urine, cat spray and cat poop. Cat spraying (watch their distinctive posture: they stand straight up and lift their bottoms high in the air to spray a mixture of urine and pheromones) is both the easiest and hardest cat problem to fix. Easiest because neutering kitty will largely prevent the problem. Hardest because trying to discover why your neutered cat decides to suddenly start spraying is an exercise in frustration that can have you pulling your hair out.
The stink from cat poop is pretty easy to deal with. The first thing to do is ask your vet to recommend the best cat food for kitty. Different breeds have different needs, and not all brands of cat food are available where you stay. Feed kitty right, and he will poop less, and what comes out will also be less smelly and easier to clean up.
Litter training your cat will help to cut down on the stink from both cat urine and cat poop. Use the best cat litter and it will absorb the smell when kitty does his business in the litter box. Based on reviews from Amazon customers, Odor Lockers Fresh Scent Clumping Cat Litter and Fresh Step Premium Scoopable Clumping Cat Litter are the best at controlling cat urine odor. While some cats don’t like them, using a covered litter box can further reduce the odors from your cat.
Of course, you need to scoop both the poop and pee daily, as well as replace the litter weekly. For some cat owners, this work can quickly turn into a chore. If you feel this way, try an automatic cat litter box. Most cats do not like automatic litter boxes, but if kitty takes a shine to it, your life will become much simpler. These litter boxes will detect when he has done his business, and rake or scoop up the poop and pee into a separate compartment for easier disposal. Many of them claim to be able to last up to one month without the need to replace the litter. Downside is that the litter comes in its own cartridge and is more expensive.
You may also find it helpful to put some kind of odor remover near the cat litter box. Use something based on carbon or activated charcoal. Some cat owners find that the stuff made to get rid of fridge odors also work well for cat odor.
Even when kitty is litter trained, accidents can still happen. In such cases, you need an enzymatic cleaner to really get rid of the cat urine odor. A regular cleaner just isn’t enough. While it will remove the stain, an odor that will attract your cat to pee in the same spot will still remain. An enzymatic cleaner which is often recommended is Nature’s Miracle, although any other enzyme cleaner formulated for cat urine will do as well.
These enzyme cleaners are not as cheap as regular cleaners, so you may not want to use it everywhere. If you turn on a blacklight (or ultra violet lamp) in the dark, it will illuminate all the spots stained by cat urine. This will help you do a more effective spot cleaning.
If you have carpets, remember to clean not only the carpet, but both the backing and the floor underneath the carpet. Don’t forget the air vents either. Even though kitty does not pee or spray there, the smell from the rest of the apartment can still soak in there.
Removing or preventing cat odor can be a chore, but is not rocket science. Follow the tips above to prevent trouble from the other members of your family or neighbors.
By: Katherin Towers
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Do you face cat urination problems? Visit CatTraining.KelvinMart.com/ to learn more about cat behavior problems and how to eliminate cat urination problems.
So, you want to eliminate those nasty cat smells (i.e. urine and poop), then you need to get a good cat urine remover and a natural product that will get rid of cat litter odor.
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Cat Sand Facts
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 24, 2009
Although we would recommend a natural kitty litter, you can use sand, and this article provides a few facts about cat sand that you need to know:
Cat Sand Facts You Should Know
Owning a cat definitely has its ups and downs. First of all, there are great benefits to owning a cat. You are able to have companionship, and a relationship with an animal. Also, if you have a cat, they don’t’ need constant attention like dogs do; so you can leave the cat alone during the day without worrying about it making a mess. This is thanks to the invention of cat sand or cat litter. However, there are some important and useful cat sand facts that you should know before you get a cat.
Easy to Train
First of all, you should know that when it comes to cat sand facts the most important one to remember is that a cat is easy to train. Some people might think that it takes a while, but if you do it properly, you should be able to train your cat very quickly. Cats are naturally clean animals, and they prefer to have somewhere to go to the bathroom. If you have great cat sand that they can use; they will.
More Cat Sand Facts
There are several more cat sand facts that you should be aware of. The cat is going to want to bury what it leaves in the cat sand, so you should make sure that your cat box is big enough to have this happen in. Be sure that you are leaving plenty of room for the cat to get in and out of the box and for the box to be used. Also, make sure that the cat box is big enough for your cat or if you have several cats, make sure that it’s big enough for all of them.
One of the most important cat sand facts for you to know is that it is better to have plenty of sand on hand. Remember that you are going to have to change the box quite often, so you should have plenty of cat sand on hand to be able to do this without having to run to the pet store. A cat will always be happier if it is using a clean litter box, and you will be happy as well because the clean litter box is much better for your home.
Look around for bulk purchase offers and stock up if you have the space. Being able to replace the litter with fresh sand will keep you and your feline friend much happier.
As Americans however, the only inheritance we are leaving for our younger generations is more debt stacked up on old debt. Think about these things when it is close to Election Day. The national debt should be one of the top priorities for serious candidates. Consider those we put into public office, our representatives, and let them know where one stands. If a candidate won’t take the time to listen, then vote for someone else. As a person, take a look at how debt is paid down. One really has no leg to stand on if ones own house is not in order.
By: Roland Parris Jefferson III
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Roland Jefferson III is a web based writer out of Manhattan Beach Village, California. For free resources covering Automatic Cat Litter Box, please visit our Automatic Cat Litter Box Resource.
So, now you know more about cat sand, would you rather use sand or someting that eliminates cat litter odor naturally?
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owners. Unfortunately, cats often track Originally, people used sand when litter training a kitten. Sand is easily available, helps to absorb the cat urine and makes handling cat poop much easier. It is still used by some catsand all …
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Discount Cat Litter
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 23, 2009
Buying And Using Discount Cat Litter Boxes
There are many people around the world that have pets and they love them like a family member. For those people who enjoy cats, there are many products available. One thing that cat owners must have is cat litter and a cat box. Many cat owners can’t afford to buy expensive cat litter so there are many brands and types of cat litter available for any pocket.
Discount cat litter boxes are easy to find; most department stores carry cat litter and boxes in the pet section. Also, there are large national pet stores that carry many types of cat litter and cat boxes. Many of the discount cat litter boxes will work great as most cat litter boxes are well suited for most cats. A cat box just needs to be made of plastic so that it can be cleaned well. Along with the plastic box, it needs to have the sides high enough to capture all of the cat litter when the cat tries to cover up.
It can be frustrating when someone has to sweep up the floor after every visit the cat makes to the cat box. The cat box also needs to not be too tall because the cat doesn’t want to have to jump in and out. This should be funny to cat owners because cats jump everywhere except where they don’t want to.
Discount Cat Litter
Buying discount cat litter boxes is in most cases fine; even boxes of litter with no names can work well. A cat owner can experiment with the different types of litter as well as the many different brands. Discount cat litter boxes are easier to handle than the cat litter placed in bags as the boxes have a contained structure to hold the litter with. Pouring discount cat litter boxes is easier because it pours out like a milk carton. It is frustrating to dump cat litter onto the floor instead of the cat box. If the owner doesn’t pick it up right away, the cat will decide to use it. So it is best to use a box instead of a bag.
For some cat owners, the less expensive cat litter usually comes in a bag. Something people should consider that all cat litter is not created equal. If the cat won’t use the litter or if they seem to get sick, bring them to the vet along with the brand name and a small sample of the litter.
By: Roland Parris Jefferson III
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Roland Jefferson III is a web based writer out of Manhattan Beach Village, California. For free resources covering Cat Sand, please visit our Cat Sand Resource.
Although you can skimp on the cat litter boxes, you really shouldn’t compromise on the cat ltter you use, and your best choice would be to go for a natural cat litter.
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Sometimes, even if the cat is already trained in using litter boxes, the owner usually finds his pet urinating or defecating just a few inches away from the litter box.
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Clay Cat Litter
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 20, 2009
As the author say, below, clay cat litter is not a biodegradable cat litter, so it does create environmental problems.
Litter Training A Kitten: Clay Cat Litter Vs Crystal Cat Litter Vs Clumping Cat Litter
Litter training your kittens is an important responsibility as a cat owner. If you also own the mother cat, and she is litter trained, then your job is much easier. She will teach her kittens how to use the litter box. All you need to do is provide more litter boxes for the growing kittens and scoop up the litter everyday.
Originally, people used sand when litter training a kitten. Sand is easily available, helps to absorb the cat urine and makes handling cat poop much easier. It is still used by some cat owners. Unfortunately, cats often track sand all over the house.
For this reason, clay cat litter is more popular. Clay cat litter is more absorbent than sand, and has a larger grain, so your cats are less likely to track it around the house. Compared to sand, it is also works better to get rid of cat urine smell. Some cat owners use clay-based oil absorbent, which is cheaper and works just as well. Clay-based oil absorbent is actually similar to clay cat litter - except that it is made for industrial use. Both of them make use of granulated Fuller’s earth for its strong absorbent properties.
The next major advancement in cat litter was the invention of clumping cat litter. As its name suggests, it clumps together when your cat pees on it. As it forms a solid mass separate from the other litter in the box, it is much easier for you to scoop up without having to change all the litter in the box. While clumping litter is great for your adult cats, some cat lovers have expressed concern in using it when litter training a kitten. There is some worry that the kitten will eat the litter and be harmed when it swells inside the stomach. There is no scientific evidence at the moment, but as cat lovers it is better to be safe than sorry.
Crystal cat litter is the latest scientific advancement in cat litter technology. It uses silica gel, which absorbs cat urine even better than clumping cat litter. It lasts so much longer than any other litter - you just need to stir it after you scoop the cat poop to prevent cat urine from pooling in the litter box. One problem with crystal cat litter is that there is no warning when it becomes saturated. The next time your kitten uses the litter box, it could leave a puddle behind. Crystal litter is also lighter than clay cat litter and clumping litter - your kitten might track the silica gel around your house. As cat lovers, there is another concern - we can also find silica gel in our pill bottles, where they are labeled "Do Not Eat". Is it safe for litter training a kitten, especially since even adult cats are very sensitive to poisons.
For cat owners who want to be more environmentally friendly, you can also try biodegradable cat litter. This is usually made from material which naturally decomposes, including wood pellets, recycled newspapers and sawdust. Some brands of biodegradable cat litter can actually be safely flushed down the toilet, unlike normal cat litter. Unfortunately, like many other things which are environmentally friendly, biodegradable litter is also more expensive than the normal kind.
As you can see, you are spoiled for choice when litter training a kitten. You can use clay cat litter, clumping cat litter, crystal cat litter or even biodegradable cat litter. For kittens, clay is probably the best and safest choice.
By: Katherin Towers
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Do you want to learn more about litter training your kittens? Click here to learn more about litter training a kitten.
You may be spoiled for choice, but if you want to go for a planet-friendly cat litter, then you need a natural cat litter that is not full of nasty chemicals.
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The most basic of cat litter is branded “kitty litter” and is clay-based and oil absorbent where mechanics use this to clean up oil spills and is very inexpensive, but is also very dusty and can track around the house quite easily.
Choosing A Cat Litter Brand
Most cat parents use a clay litter, either scoopable or non-clumping. The advantages of clay litter include affordability and a variety of brand choices. This type of litter isn’t suitable for cats recovering from declawing.
Cat Litter: An environmentalist’s dilemma
For less noxious options, read Grist’s review of six non-clay cat litters. Relatedly, reader Julie wrote me to recommend chicken scratch as a cat litter substitute. Says she: “It actually clumps every bit as well as any of the clay-based litters.
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Contact Us
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 15, 2009
If you have any questions regarding the content in this website, about the products that are mentioned, or just any questions at all don’t hesitate to contact us at the following address. We’d also love to hear any feedback on the site if you’ve found it helpful or have some ideas about how we can improve the site in some way.
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We will reply to all messages as soon as possible.
Rae & Mark
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Privacy Policy
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 15, 2009
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About Us
Posted by Rae and Mark on Jan 15, 2009
NaturalCatLitter.net is dedicated to providing quality information on the subject of natural cat litters.
Here you will find helpful reviews, informative information and tips and much more. This site is in the format of a ‘weblog’ so that each time we post new information, it will come to the top of the front page. This means that you can check back here frequently to see new updates to the information found here.
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