Why a closed litter box for a cat is bad and how to choose the right one so that your pet will use it
Today, cat owners are offered a huge selection of all kinds of devices and accessories that make life easier.
But often these inventions of manufacturers are aimed at attracting human attention, and not at making the pet’s life easier.
For example, in practice, not everything is so smooth with closed trays.
What's wrong with a closed tray?
From a human point of view, a closed tray is the ideal toilet option. It looks neat, does not spoil the interior, and the filler does not fly around the room. But a cat may have a different opinion on this matter.
Firstly, the animal feels trapped, because there is no other way out of the litter box. In case of danger, it is impossible to escape from it.
And dangers lurk everywhere. A cat cannot analyze the situation the way a person can, to understand that nothing threatens her in the apartment. However, sometimes it does.
For example, you have several cats, a dog or a child. The cat climbed into the litter box, and a puppy stuck its muzzle in there, wanting to play. Or another cat, deciding that now is the time to sort things out with a competitor. Or the child decided to pet the cat and get it out of the litter box at any cost.
It is stressful for the animal, as it cannot escape. And it is unlikely that after such an adventure the pet will climb into this trap again. It is much safer in the corner of the living room or on the owner's bed.
A cat can also be frightened by a loud sound, such as a screaming child, a TV suddenly turned on, or a dropped saucepan. The animal will start to rush around in the tray from fear, only becoming more frightened and panicked.
In addition, cats initially prefer trays and places with a good view to see if a predator is sneaking up. This is inherent in nature. During eating, sleeping and toileting, the animal is most vulnerable, so it needs a sense of security as much as possible.
The second disadvantage of a closed tray is that ammonia and unpleasant odors accumulate there. It is very important to choose high-quality filler for trays of this design and change it more often.
The third drawback is more related to the owner’s carelessness than to the design itself.
Often owners buy a tray that is too small. The cat simply cannot settle down comfortably, it has to curl up and bend down. Why put up with the inconvenience if there are plenty of free comfortable places around?
Important! The length of the tray should be at least one and a half times the length of the cat's body. To determine the optimal height of the lid, measure the animal in a sitting position from the ground to the tips of the ears and add at least 7 cm.
It is also important to properly accustom your pet to a closed litter box. The first two or three weeks, it needs to get used to it being open, and only then install the lid.
