Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Entering a new home is stressful to a cat, and not getting a chance
to regroup and relax merely intensifies the stress. Stress has a negative
impact on the animal's immune system, so be sure to give the cat a
break and help keep her healthy. Make sure the cat has a hiding place
where she can go to relax, and make it a rule in your house that when
the cat is in her hiding place, she is to be left alone. If you cannot iso-
late a cat in a quiet room for a break, you might consider placing her
back in her carrier for a while.The carrier can offer safety and solitude.
THE SCOOP ON LITTER BOXES
Proper placement of the litter box in your home is essential if you want
the cat to use it. Ideally, the cat should feel comfortable, safe and undis-
turbed when she eliminates. Often, elimination problems arise when a
cat is unhappy about the location of her box.Areas where you want the
box and where the cat wants the box may not be the same. You will
have to give in to your cat's preferences.
Bedrooms, secondary bathrooms and garages are good locations for
litter boxes. Many owners want to put litter boxes in laundry rooms.
This can work for some cats, but others may be frightened by the nois-
es of the washer and dryer and may choose to eliminate elsewhere.
Starting off on the right track with a good litter box setup will
make both you and your cat happy. Litter boxes are available in a vari-
ety of sizes and shapes.Your cat will probably be more concerned with
the type of litter in the box than she will with the type of box you
choose—but some cats can be very picky about the box, too.
There are two main types of litter boxes: open and hooded. Litter
boxes are generally made of plastic. Almost all cats are satisfied with an
open litter box, but each type has its pros and cons, as outlined in the
table on page 5.
In this high-tech era, there are also electronic litter boxes.These are
the most expensive types of litter boxes, but they offer convenience
because they do not require daily maintenance.
One type, called Litter Maid, is an open box that contains an elec-
tronic sensor that detects the cat's presence, automatically rakes the lit-
ter after the cat has left the box and deposits the waste materials into a
closed plastic receptacle. Owners must dispose of the full receptacles
every few days.The box is filled with clumping litter, and both the box
and rake need to be cleaned regularly.
