Tag Archives: litter box

Cats: To Potty Train or Not to Potty Train

We can potty train our kids, but what about our cats? Do any of the products offering feline toilet training actually work? I don’t know anyone who has a toilet-trained cat. But that doesn’t mean I think they can’t work. Enough testimonials exist for me to believe that potty training kitties is possible, but with one major caveat: it takes a lot of time and a lot of mess. MSNBC Health published an article detailing the feline toilet-training process, complete with interviews with animal behaviorists, cat trainers, and real-life people who successfully taught their cats to use the toilet. Before … Continue reading →

When Litterbox Smells Attack!

It’s Halloween season… time for a horror story! And let’s face it — as cute as our pets are (of all species), sometimes they produce some awful smells. In my work at the cats-only boarding facility, I encounter the whole rainbow of litterbox nightmares. There’s the cat who nearly misses the box, so the mess is half in and half out. There’s the digger, who likes to pepper the walls and floor with dirty litter bits. There’s the one who mistakes bed for box and vice versa. And the odor can range from “barely know it’s there” to “I smelled … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Overnight Entertainment

A paw slips through the gap and taps gently at the door latch. Slowly, the lever lifts and the door springs open! Suddenly, it’s party time at the cats-only boarding facility. Escapes don’t happen all that often, so they’re notable when they do happen. This week, one guest went for a triple escape. When I showed up one morning, there he was, wandering around the main boarding room. He was very neat about his adventure — nothing was spilled or out of place. There was just one weird thing about the first breakout: his door was still closed and latched. … Continue reading →

How To Pick the Purrfect Litter Box

I guess I’ve got a bit of a poop theme going this week. Earlier I wrote about the different kind of pooper scoopers, which applied more to the dog walking set of Families.com readers. But what if you belong to the cat crowd? Well, I also recently had to buy a new litter box for Tabby. The experience made me realize not all litter boxes are created equal. Your Cat’s Needs Obviously your cat needs a place to “go” when the urge hits, but which box will suit your cat best? Here are some things to consider for their comfort: … Continue reading →

Cats and Litter: An Odd Perspective

Have you ever noticed that each cat approaches the litter in the box differently? I know this sounds odd, but if they will let you watch (and some won’t), it is a very interesting view of animal nature to observe how each cat has a different modus operandi. Traditionally, it is said that cats cover their feces so that their scent will not be left for their predators to find. This certainly makes sense in a feral, jungle setting, but in the private litter-box corner or corners of your home? One interesting point is the WAY cats cover their stuff. … Continue reading →