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Tips to Become Leader of the Pack
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Introducing a New Dog to Your Dog
Dealing with Separation Anxiety
Housebreaking the Adult Dog
Destructive Scratching
Cleaning Soiled Areas
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While it is not common, litter box issues could arise with your family cat when something changes in your household (i.e., the addition of another pet, a baby, extended absences, etc.) The best thing to do is avoid the problem by making certain that litter box problems never start. By following a few suggestions, you can avoid ever having to deal with litter box problems.
Location
The litter box should be kept in a location that affords the cat some privacy but is also conveniently located. (The inclination to put the litter box in the basement where an older cat or a kitten will have to make it down a long flight of stairs, where the box is near a furnace that may startle the cat when it turns on, or on a cold cement floor could result in the foster cat failing to use the litter box due to its location.)
Type of Litter
Research has shown that most cats prefer fine-grained litters due to their softer feel. The scoopable litters tend to have finer grains than the clay litters (but please refrain from using scoopable litters for kittens under 6 months of age.) Once you find a litter that a cat likes, don’t change brands. An abrupt change in litters could result in your cat or the foster cat not using the litter box. Also, many cats are put off by the odor of scented or deodorant litters. If the litter box is kept clean, odor should not be a problem.
Number of Litter Boxes
You should have at least as many litter boxes as you have cats in your household. They should be placed in different locations in the house so a cat cannot “guard” the area prevent the other cats from using the boxes. You may also want to offer both a covered and an uncovered box to see which one the cats prefer.
Cleaning
The litter boxes should be cleaned DAILY. How often you change the litter depends on how many litter boxes you have, how many cats are living inyour household, and the type of litter you use. Generally, twice a week is a good guideline for clay litter and 2 weeks for scoopable. Do not use strong smelling chemicals when cleaning the boxes. Soap and water are sufficient. |
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