At 57.5cm long, 53cm wide and 48cm high, it’s a decent size. It would work well as a lamp table, bedside table or bathroom cabinet. DOES YOUR CAT HAVE CYSTITIS OR SOME OTHER ILLNESS? As many as one in three cats who uronate outside the tray may have cystitus or bladder problems (Ramos et al 2019). Cystitis symptoms include straining, pain when urinating, blood in urine, frequent urination, urinating in the wrong place, lots of tiny urinations instead of several large ones. The pain may make the cat dislike the litter tray or the need to go so often means it cannot get to the tray in time (Gunn-Moore 2002). Sometimes cats with cystitis go in multiple places because they use a place, experience pain there, and feel they must find a new place. More common in long haired, overweight, neutered males. Diabetes, kidney problems or any illness which involves lots of drinking may also result in urine outside the litter tray. Geriatric confusion can also lead to litter tray difficulties (Bowen 2010).

Adding the divider also increases the sturdiness and weight limit. Without the divider, the weight limit is 50kg so you can’t sit on it. When you add it’s double the weight limit to 100kg. The medium size has a 50kg weight limit. Building it is easy enough. That said, we did find the instructions a little more difficult to understand than our first offering. 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. ACT NOW. Cats learn to feel a certain substance under their feet. For most cats this will be the litter, itself. But if (for some other reason) the cat has not been using the litter, it will start getting used to the feel of, say, carpet. And once carpet becomes the substance which triggers urination or defecation, you are in trouble.

Cat Uses Plant Pots As Litter Tray!

You can have the entrance panel at either end and the entrance hole is huge at 30.5cm high and 23.5cm wide. A small dog could get through 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.

IS IT THE RIGHT LITTER? Offer several types of litter and see which is used. Then slowly change once the tray is being used (see above). In general cats prefer thin-grained litter to large grained (Neilson 2004). I use fine grained litter which is expensive. But it clumps well and works out not too costly because you can lift out the soiled area. If that doesn’t help, get a cat behaviour counsellor. An outside person can often see what an owner cannot see. 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. 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 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!

Encouraging Your Cat to Use the Litter Tray

IS THE CAT FRIGHTENED ON ITS WAY TO THE TRAY? In a multi-cat household a bullied cat may be being ambushed while on the tray. Add trays where the cat can reach them without having to pass through enemy territory. It’s unkind to make a cat run the gauntlet of its enemies to get to the litter tray. That’s why you need a litter tray for each cat and one extra in different locations. If you want something other that a piece of furniture, take a look at the Good Pet Flower Pot Invisible Litter Tray. Have you noticed that your cat would rather use a plant pot to urinate or defecate, rather than their litter tray? Many cats like to eliminate in soft places, and it’s not particularly uncommon for them to shun the litter tray in favour of their preferred place(s). This can extend to bedding, clothing and furniture, as well as soil. You have to work your way through ALL of these possibilities since you can’t ask the cat what is wrong with the existing set up. So try the most likely and if this doesn’t work, try the unlikely. What is unlikely to you may make perfect sense to your cat.

IS THERE ENOUGH LITTER? There should also be enough litter for a cat to dig properly (Neilson 2009). Some cats will stop using the tray if you are too mean with the litter. Put in more. About two inches of litter is a minimum though some cats like to dig deeper. Despite what some experts say, evidence suggests that cats are OK with covered litter boxes. As long as they’re clean. Why Trust Us? Some people might say there is a major difference between open and closed litter boxes, but this isn’t necessarily true. Most cats simply want a clean place to use the bathroom…” There are certain smells that are very off-putting to cats, and these can be used to discourage your pet from eliminating in your plant pots. Unpleasant scents that fall into this category include citrus smells such as lemon.

QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOUR CAT STOPS USING THE LITTER TRAY

It comes in two pieces and is dead easy to put together. The top half clips to the bottom and and then you just need to add the plant.

It has two front doors and the lifting lid is also a nice feature too. It makes scooping, hoovering and cleaning easier as you can go in through the top instead of having to kneel down. The hinges are quite stiff but that means the lid will stay open while you’re cleaning. It also stops the lid from slamming shut. If you don’t want to use the lid, it looks lovely with a plant on it. 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. Bowen, J., (2010), ‘Neurological disease and behaviour’, Proceedings of the Southern European Veterinary Conference. Available at: www.ivis.org/proceedings/sevc/2010/lectures/eng/Bowen2.pdf Accessed 12 July 2011. DO YOU HAVE A LITTER TRAY? If you don’t, you must install one NOW. All cats, even those who usually go outdoors, need a litter tray. It’s no good expecting a cat to lead its life according to your standards. A cat that is urinating/defecating in the house may be afraid of doing it outside. So install at least one tray now. NOTE. Using Feliway Classic, while appropriate for cats that are marking their territory with urine, can be counter productive if the cat is merely having trouble with its litter 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. No one likes the sight of their cats littler tray. Still, hidden cat litter boxes aren’t super common. 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).