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Percy, our test cat loved it and needed no encouragement to get in. That said, it’s a good idea to keep the doors open so your cat can find it.
Building it is easy enough. That said, we did find the instructions a little more difficult to understand than our first offering. HAS YOUR CAT HAD AN UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE WHILE ON THE TRAY? Has your cat experienced ambush by a companion cat, ambush by a dog, pain, stomach pains while eliminating (from diarrhoea?), human interference while using the tray, a sudden loud noise while on the tray, pain from cystitis, recent illness of any kind, recent trip to vet for something which seems unconnected with litter tray pain but might be. If so, the cat may mistakenly decide that the tray isn’t safe any more or the tray caused the pain. Therefore, experiment with a new (yes, new- don’t be mean – you can use a baking dish if you don’t want to shell out) tray. Overall, K. l., & Dyer, D., (2005), ‘Enrichment Strategies for Laboratory Animals from the Viewpoint of Clinical Veterinary Behavioral Medicine: Emphasis on Cats and Dogs,’ ILAR Journal, 46, 202-216. If you don’t have the space or budget for our first two choices, have a look at Yaheetech’s Cat Litter Enclosure. IS THE LOCATION RIGHT? Cats don’t like going where there is a busy thoroughfare or where there are worrying noises. Nor do they like urinating too close to food bowls or beds. A secluded place like a utility room, under stairs, broom cupboard, but away from noises either on stairs or from household appliances (Heath 2005). Don’t put the litter tray next to a noisy vibrating washing machine, for instance. Some cats may also find it worrying if the litter tray is kept near a shower or lavatory, that are used while they are using the tray (Mills et al., 2013). Cats don’t like being overlooked by cats outside – ie if the litter tray is too close to patio doors where outside cats can look in or too close to the cat flap. If you are not sure, install another tray in a different location and if the cat uses this one instead of the original tray, only then get rid of the original tray.
How can I change my pet’s toilet habits and get my cat using a litter tray?
ARE TOO MANY CATS USING THE SAME TRAY? There should be one litter tray per cat and one over and trays should not be side by side. Some cats won’t go in the same place with other cats. A tray for each cat and one over makes extra sure. A new cat, which was occasionally urinating upstairs outside the tray, stopped doing this when an upstairs tray was installed, as well as a downstairs one. Always worth trying an extra tray – just in case. Place it in a different location to the others. Whereas the other products on this list are desiged to house a litter tray, this IS the litter tray. So you pour the litter directly into it.
Make sure that the litter tray is located in a quiet part of the home, in which they will be able to use it without fear of interruption. This should not be close to their food and water bowls. IS YOUR CAT USED TO DOING IT OUT OF DOORS? For an outdoor cat (whom you want to be an indoor going cat) transfer some soil/sand from where they go. The familiar smell may trigger use. Some cats will use potting compost or peat, rather than other litters. Add some soiled material so the tray smells like a latrine. This is worth trying even if your cat has used litter in the past – it doesn’t cost much to put some soil in a tray. Sometimes out of the blue a cat will stop using the litter tray or litterbox. You may notice early signs of this when your cat doesn’t dig into the litter, or goes into the tray and comes out without using it (Mills et al., 2013). Most owners just think “Oh, an accident!” and clear up. Then it happens again…. And again. Pet cats normally urinate 2-4 times a day and defecate 1-2 times a day (Overall & Dyer 2005). That’s a lot of times if it is not going into the litter tray! Persians seem particularly prone to difficulties in using a litter try (Bamberger, 2006).IS THE LITTER CLEAN ENOUGH? It must be cleaned daily, or better still twice a day. The cat may leave its bottom over the side because it doesn’t feel the box is clean enough. Some cats will tolerate a dirty tray. Others will refuse to use a tray that already has one lot of dirty material. Some cats have a higher standard of cleanliness than their owners! Sometimes a cat that has tolerated a dirty tray, stops doing so. So, if you really can’t clean twice a day, see if adding a second tray will solve the problem.(Neilson 2009). It’s not the odour: it’s the presence of the urine and faeces in the tray which puts them off (Ellis et al., 2017). Ellis, J. J., McGowan, R. T. S., & Martin, F., (2017). ‘Does previous use affect litter box appeal in multi-cat households?,’ Behavioral Processes, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.02.008 Once you add a plant, the whole thing blends into the room very well. You don’t even know it’s there. Especially when you turn the entrance away from view.
Sometimes a cat who has been happy with the existing set up changes his mind. For example a cat that has been happy to share a litter tray with his companion cat now refuses to share. Or a cat that was happy to pee and poo in the same tray changes his mind. Do not assume that because yesterday’s set up was OK, it still is!
Guy, N. C., Hopson, M. & Vanderstichel, R., (2014), ‘Litterbox size preference in domestic cats (Felis catus),’ Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 9, 78-82. We didn’t think a flower pot would be big enough but this thing is massive. It’s 48cm in diametre and 51cm high. Our test cat, Charlie had no problem hopping in and out of it. It’s super easy to put together. We tested the XL model and it took us about two minutes. The four walls are all one piece, all you need to do is unfold them. Then drop in the bottom and internal panels and put the lid on. That’s it.
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