Cats require that you promptly clean up their litter boxes after they have used it.  Many cat owners like to put off cleaning up the litter box, as it is not exactly a fun task.  If you do not frequently clean up your cat’s mess, they may not want to go to the bathroom in their litter box anymore.  Instead, they may choose to go in the bathroom in another place of the house, meaning you will have an even bigger mess to clean up.  You do not have to worry about this with a automatic litter box cleaner!

There are two types of automatic litter boxes.  One type has an insert that you can lift, and it will bring up the clumped together waste.  (You will need to use clumping litter, like Natures Miracle Odor Control Clumping Litter – 10 lbs).  This type of litter box is much easier than the traditional scoop and go type.  If you do not enjoy the task of cleaning up your cat’s litter box, this is a great solution that is relatively cheap.

A more expensive automatic litter box is an electric kind that will automatically clean the litter box without any work from you.  It is almost more of a household appliance than an actual litter box!  As mentioned before, you will need to use a clumping litter, such as the Natures Miracle Odor Control Clumping Litter – 10 lbs, and this “appliance” will remove waste after each time your cat goes to the bathroom!  There is a built in rake that crosses the litter box once to remove clumps of waste, and then crosses it back to smooth the litter out.

The LitterMaid Elite Mega – Self-Cleaning Litter Box, pictured above, is a genius automatic litter box.  It will automatically clean the litter box exactly 10 minutes after each use.  The LitterMaid Elite Mega – Self-Cleaning Litter Box will move the waste into a seal-able container so you will never have to touch it.  There is also a great safety features that ensures that the rake will NOT move, or will automatically stop if it is already in motion the second your cat steps into the litter box.  This litter box is also large enough to fit more than one cat if necessary.

Cat’s Litter Box:  Of all of the types of cat litter, clay litter has by far the worst impact on the environment.  Not only does clay litter contain harmful chemicals, but it also does not break down in landfills.  Can you imagine all the waste and urine soaked clay litter that just sits in landfills forever?  Not pleasant!   Another negative to clay litter is that it is dusty, which means the dust can enter your cat’s respiratory system and cause them to become ill.

A  better choice is “pine-based” litter, like Feline Pine Natural Pine Cat Litter, pictured above.  It is made of natural pine, which is chemical free.  Being that it is 100% natural, it will easily break down in landfills.  Using pine-based litter is a great way to lessen your cat’s carbon footprint!  The Feline Pine Natural Pine Cat Litter is not dusty (so it will not impact your cat’s respiratory system), and it will naturally neutralize waste odors.

Flea/Tick Repellents for Dogs and Cats:  If you are not using a holistic flea or tick repellent for your pet, chances are that it is not good for the environment.  Check with your vet to find out which flea and tick repellents he can prescribe that do not have harmful chemicals.  Just remember that you can not use a dog flea/tick product on a cat, or vice versa.

Animal Mess Clean-up:  Plenty of pet cleaning products are full of harmful chemicals.  Not only that, but the container the materials come in usually do not break down well in landfills.  However, a very popular brand of cleaner is enzyme-based, and therefore superior to other cleaners.  I am talking about Nature’s Miracle!  They have a variety of products that work wonders.  To name a few, they have paw wipes: Nature’s Miracle No Tracking Paw Wipes – 75 pack, stain remover to use on hard surfaces: Natures Miracle Hard Floor Stain & Odor Remover, pet dander remover: Natures Miracle Pet Dander Remover & Deodorizer, and even skunk remover: Natures Miracle Skunk Odor Remover.

1) Litter Scoops:  Touching your pet’s waste with your hands can lead to disease or infection.  You definitely need a scoop to clean out your cat’s liter box!  Scoops come in a variety of prices.  Cheaper priced ones are generally made of cheap plastic material, and these will most likely not last you a long time.  It is better to purchase a more expensive and long-lasting scoop.  I would recommend the No Tear Litter Scoop, which is made of durable plastic  The No Tear Litter Scoop has a rubber edge that will not tear the litter box liners!  It also helps prevent the scoop from becoming warn down.

Even if you have a self-cleaning litter box, you probably still want to have a scoop!  In between the times the litter box self-cleans, it is nice to get rid of messes.

2) Liners:  Liners make cleaning up litter boxes so much easier!   The liners I use are heavy-duty Petmate Cat Pan Liners.  They come in three different sizes so you can find the one that fits your litter box perfectly!  The only time I would not recommend using a liner is if your cat likes to dig deep in their litter box.  Their claws will get caught on the liner, and trust me when I say your cat will not enjoy this!

3) Mats:  You should put a mat underneath your cat’s litter box, because it will prevent your cat from tracking litter materials throughout the house.  The Litter Round-Up Mat, shown above, is an extra large mat (47X32X45), which is also perfect for keeping the area around your cat’s litter box clean.  Think of mats like the rug that you have near your back door; you put it there so that people do not track in snow or dirt through your house.  Cat mats work just like these rugs because they wipe off your cat’s feet and keep the rest of your house clean!  You may have some items in your house that you can use as a litter box mat.  For example, an old rug or small piece of carpet would work just fine!

Disposable pans which are small cardboard litter boxes are good for shelters, rescuers and breeder, but are not very practical for long-term use of you pet cat.

Simple plastic litter pans are relatively inexpensive and many cat owners still feel that simple is better.

By far, the covered litter pans are growing in popularity, such as the
Sifting Enclosed Cat Panshown above.  A hood and door are the items that keep odors down and prevent dogs and children from getting into the litter. Many covered litter pans, including this one, have an odor filter in the hood. In addition, this litter pan has a sifting system that consists of of two litter pans below a sifting pan with a hood on top.  This eliminate digging through the litter for waste.   Even thought a cover pan helps get down odors, you still need to diligently keep the litter clean.    Cats with asthma should not use a covered litter pan.  They need the increased ventilation of an opened pan.

What ever type litter box you choose, be sure to place it in an area that you cat feels safe and secure.

A great enclosed litter box for your cat to use is the Booda Dome Litter Box.  Cats love the shape and privacy of this litter box and the slide-in dome helps to keep the cat litter from spraying outside of the box.  The rounded corners on the top and bottom make cleaning really easy and quick when using a disinfectant wipe.  This cat litter box is available in three soft colors that look great in any decor and the round shape is space saving, so it fits nicely anywhere you place it.  With a secure, slide-in dome and an easy to wipe top and bottom, you will spend less time cleaning up litter on the floor and less time cleaning out the cat litter box.  

Another great item to use to keep your cat’s litter box area smelling fresher and staying cleaning is the Petmate LitterLocker Plus.  To use this litter locker, just scoop your cat’s waste out of the litter box and dump it into the top of the litter locker into the bag.  Once the litter is placed into the litter locker, close and seal the lead to help keep the odors locked inside of the litter locker.  This litter locker is great for keeping the nasty odors from your pet’s waste from penetrating your home.  Your cat’s litter area will stay fresher and cleaner and you will spend less time deodorizing the area.

For more great cat litter products that make your cleaning job easier, check out GregRobert Pet Supplies!

One solution to this problem is to choose a kitty litter box with an enclosed lid.  One of my favorite kitty litter boxes is the Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box .  This simple-to-use box is great for one cat or multiple cats in your home.  The steps are great for helping to catch the kitty litter before it leaves the box.  It is also easy to clean and offers your cat privacy when using it.  It is also great for keeping the kitty litter inside the box when your cat starts kicking it up.

Another great enclosed kitty litter box is the Extra Giant Enclosed Cat Litter Box by Van Ness.  This kitty litter box is great for multiple cat owners and is great for preventing kitty litter from flying.  The hood and door are designed to keep the kitty litter and smells inside the box.  Your cat will love the large size of the box and the kitty litter won’t end up on the floor.

Once you have chosen the perfect kitty litter box, a kitty litter mat is also helpful for keeping the kitty litter in.  A mat, such as the Litter Catch Mat, is perfect for preventing the kitty litter from your cat’s paws from scattering all over your floor.  Look for a mat that has a rubber backing to help prevent it from moving around on your floor.

With the right type of kitty litter box and a kitty litter mat, you will have less mess to clean up and step on!  For a great selection of kitty litter boxes and mats, check out GregRobert Pet’s Supplies.