Which litter box makes a suitable feline retreat?

The litter box is an important place for cats. They like a clean toilet with sufficient space to do their business. If they don’t feel comfortable on the toilet, it can result in inappropriate urination. Here we list the various models to meet different requirements.

What model to choose?

Cat toilets come in an assortment of colours, shapes and designs. However, there are five basic models:

• Litter trays
• Hooded litter trays
• Top-entry litter boxes
• Self-cleaning litter boxes
• Automatic litter boxes

The general principle is that you make your cat an offer, but it is the cat that ultimately decides whether to use the toilet or not. If your feline doesn’t head for the litter box you have installed, this may be for one of the following reasons:

• It doesn’t like that particular model.
• The location doesn’t appeal to it.
• It doesn’t like the cat litter.

Litter tray

A litter tray is an open cat toilet, consisting simply of a tray. This type of toilet is particularly popular with cat lovers and their furry friends. Above all, cats that like to see what is going on around them are keen on litter trays. If your cat likes to paw vigorously, the tray should have high sides, as otherwise some of the litter may fly out of the tray. For kittens, choose a model with a low entrance to enable them to get in and out easily.

A floor mat is recommended for this model to catch litter sticking to the cat’s paws. This will prevent your feline from spreading litter around the home, because particles will be removed from its paws when it crosses the mat.

Hooded litter tray

Hooded litter trays are covered by a lid. The lid has an opening at the front through which the cat can enter. Some cats like hooded trays, as they provide a private retreat. Make sure, however, that you choose a model that will give your feline enough space inside. The hood has the advantage that no litter is ejected by pawing. Cats that urinate standing up also have no opportunity to urinate outside the tray.

Hooded litter trays should be placed in a well-ventilated location because the hood contains the odours. This is especially the case if the entrance has a flap. Spare your cat’s sensitive nose by using cat litter that traps odours quickly and securely. The hood can easily be removed to clean the litter tray. Here, too, it is advisable to place a floor mat in front of the tray.

Top-entry litter box

With the top-entry litter box your cat must jump onto the lid of this model to get inside it. As it is a closed toilet, your feline can do its business in a private space. Place the box in a well-ventilated spot to enable odours to escape. A cat litter with good odour-binding properties will help.

To exit the toilet, your cat must jump back onto the lid. The trick here is that the lid contains holes, so that any litter stuck to the cat’s paws falls back into the box when it jumps out. This ensures that the litter stays where it belongs.

Self-cleaning litter box

Self-cleaning litter boxes come in various designs. The big plus factor with these models is that you no longer need to scoop out what your cat has left behind. It is sufficient just to rotate or tilt the container slightly by hand; faeces and urine clumps are then caught in a separate tray, meaning that you only need to remove the litter content. You thus spend less time on daily cleaning. The more complex design can make full cleaning a bigger job, however. Self-cleaning litter boxes also feature an active carbon filter, which keeps odours in check. You’ll find details of the different variants of this model under Self-cleaning litter box – what’s it all about?.

Automatic litter box

Automatic litter boxes are a further development of the self-cleaning models. They are electrically operated and contain a motor. The cleaning process is triggered by a sensor and is automatic: each time the box is used, the droppings are collected in an airtight waste container. A signal is emitted when the container is full. This model is suitable for all cat owners who spend a lot of time outside of the home. The disadvantage is that automatic litter boxes are very expensive and take up a lot of space.

A box to feel comfortable in

Whether your cat accepts the litter box doesn’t just depend on the model: the location, the type of cat litter used and the right cleaning also play a part.

Where should I put the litter box?

Take care to make a quiet spot available to your pet, because cats prefer to do their business in private. Avoid locations close to the washing machine or places that you pass frequently.

How do I clean the litter box properly?

Remove the waste at least twice a day using a scoop. The intervals between thorough cleaning depend on the cat litter used. If you use clumping litter, carry out a thorough clean every 6 to 8 weeks. If using non-clumping litter, you should clean the litter box roughly once a week.

Important: Use odourless cleaning agents, because cats are very sensitive to smells.

Which cat litter should I use?

Opinions are divided on cat litter. Clumping or non-clumping? Bentonite or organic? Carry out a little research in advance regarding the different litter types. In Mineral clumping litter compared with plant-based clumping litter we’ve taken a close look at these types. Want to switch cat litter? Then take a look at our tips.

When choosing a cat litter, focus on:

• High absorption capacity
• Good odour-binding properties
• Low dust content
• Antibacterial properties

Our COSYCAT clumping cat litter will meet these requirements and others.

The advantage of COSYCAT

COSYCAT is a biodegradable cat litter. It offers your feline a natural environment, without fragrances or chemical additives. This creates a conducive litter box climate. Untreated wood from sustainably managed forests is used for COSYCAT. The wood is a secondary raw material obtained during timber processing, meaning that no trees are felled for COSYCAT!

Our organic litter is kind to the environment not just in production, either: transport and disposal are also environmentally friendly. This is because COSYCAT is very light, thus creating a small CO₂ footprint. Once the faeces are removed, the used litter can easily be disposed of via organic waste or in the compost bin. Please observe your local disposal regulations.

COSYCAT offers advantages for cat lovers too:

• Stable clumps
• Economical to use
• Easy to dispose of
• Little weight

The organic litter is very light and economical, making frequent purchasing trips and carrying heavy litter bags a thing of the past. Urine clumps can be disposed of simply in the WC. Because COSYCAT is such a lightweight litter, it tends to stick to the paws. The solution to this is to use a top-entry litter box or a floor mat.

In COSYCAT you have a litter that is good for your cat, for the environment and for you.