cat litter pan

Importance of Cleaning Cat Litter Pan

Having feline’s in your home means having the cleaning cat litter pan chore. The importance of cleaning cat litter pan properly and in a timely manner is top priority. Not only is a soiled litter pan unsightly, it is also very smelly and your cat will refuse to use it. To promote good hygiene and health to your feline friends, make a cleaning cat litter pan schedule for at least once a week, or more, if you have multiple cats using the same litter pan.
Cleaning Cat Litter Pan Suggestions
Depending on the number of cat’s that reside in your home and whether or not they are experiencing any health issues will determine how often their pan needs to be cleaned versus just freshen. Cats that are experiencing urinary or bowel issues may require a more vigorous cleaning cat litter pan schedule. Kittens that are being litter trained may use the litter more frequently and also may require staying on top of their cleaning cat litter pan schedule.
A freshen pan is one that has only been used a little and by removing any solid waste and clumps, if using a clumping litter and then adding a layer of new litter, the pan is odor free and useable for another day. A cleaning cat litter pan problem can exist if your cat rejects their litter pan because it is either too full of waste and they can’t get to any fresh litter to dig or the pan smells bad, in which case, they will not use it.
The actual cleaning cat litter pan process is when the pan has been freshened but is now in need of being cleaned of any soiled areas within the pan and around the rim, sides and even the cover entrance if you’re using a litter pan with a lid. Even if you use litter pan liners, there can be accidental punctures of the liner itself allowing waste to filter through to the actual litter pan base.
Cleaning cat litter pan bases periodically with bleach or cleanser, allowing to dry and then spraying with any deodorizing and sanitizing spray eliminates odors and germs making your cats litter pan a healthy area. Using a proper absorbent litter such as cat crystal litter will also help in making cleaning cat litter pan receptacles easier as well as being efficient and conserving the amount of litter needed.
When following your cat cleaning cat litter pan schedule, always have a backup litter pan handy so that you have another pan to take its place while the main pan is being cleaned. Also, be sure any cleansers or sprays you might use to clean the cat litter pan is not harmful to your pets.

Avoiding a Cat Litter Pan Problem

As we all know, just about every mechanism, gadget or machine we use to make our lives easier can have a problem and when it comes to our cats, addressing a cat litter pan problem can be avoided by providing the proper litter pan for your felines.
How to Avoid a Cat Litter Pan Problem
You might think that there can not be a cat litter pan problem with something so simple as just a pan but there can be issues not only with the design of the pan you’ve chosen but also in your cats acceptance of the pan and their individual ability to use it.
There are several types of litter pans available ranging from small standard size pans with no cover, small, medium and jumbo litter pans with covers to sifting litter pans. Each has its own benefit and can address a specific cat litter pan problem. A significant cat litter pan problem that each pan design addresses is the best option for you when it comes to cleaning a cat litter pan.
Standard Litter Pans
Standard litter pans generally run from small to medium in size with short sides making it very easy for kittens and smaller cats to access the pan. A cat litter pan problem with this type of pan is that they do not come with covers and the contents of the litter pan will be exposed and if the pan is not kept freshen this can be unsightly as well as creating unpleasant odors in the area it’s placed.
Jumbo Litter Pans
One cat litter pan problem that should be considered is whether or not the pan is too large for kittens or smaller cats to access which means they may go outside of the pan creating a cat litter pan problem or is the pan too small for your larger breed cats to move around in. Some cats like the option of circling the pan several times to find just the right spot and in this case, a jumbo litter pan would satisfy their individual cat litter pan problem.
Sifting Litter Pans
Sifting litter pans, by far, offer ease of use and eliminate the cat litter pan problem of relying on scoopers to remove solid waste from the litter pan. Scoopers can be useful for light cleaning but you are limited in the amount of waste that can be removed with each scoop, good reusable litter may be thrown away by using a scooper and scoopers tend to crack and break after extended use. Sifters allow more cleaning per sift, less waste of reusable litter and they don’t have handles to break.

Benefits of Using a Sifting Cat Litter Pan

In today’s world, having any time much less enough time to do all the things necessary throughout the day can be a juggling act. We have plenty to do as we struggle with the demands work and commitments to family and friends. Add the responsibility of our pets needs to an already full schedule and any step offered that can help us manage our day is a welcome relief.
For those who are cat caregivers, it is well-know that cats are independent animals and under most circumstances don’t require our undivided attention. They can be aloof and need attention from us on their terms except when it comes to food and providing a clean litter pan. Unlike a dog that can be walked outside to take care of their bodily needs, a cat requires their caregiver to supply a proper receptacle for their waste.
An overly soiled pan can become a huge cat litter pan problem if not addressed and one way to help alleviate the stress of keeping your cats litter pan clean is by using a sifting cat litter pan. By using a sifting cat litter pan not only are you able to keep the sifting cat litter pan clean but it’s also much more efficient than a scooper.
A sifting cat litter pan comes with the actual litter pan plus another piece that is used to sift the solid waste from the sifting cat litter pan. The sifting portion of the pan is placed inside the litter pan and is easily removed when it’s time to clean the pan. These pans are very helpful to cat owners who want the additional benefit of being able to remove the solid waste from the pan by using the sifting mechanism versus using a scooper. The cat litter pan liner is placed on the litter pan base followed by the sifter or sifters, if the model you’re using has multiple sifters, and then filled with litter.
When the sifter is removed from the litter pan, the solid waste and clumps, if using clumping type litter, will remain in the sifter and the loose and unused litter sifts back into the litter pan and can be reused by the cat. There is less waste of still useable litter when utilizing a sifting cat litter pan.
The sifter can then be emptied and cleaned with bleach or cleanser to clean it of any debris. Depending on the number of sifters that came with the pan, there can be a second sifter already in place inside the litter pan. Once the second sifter becomes full, it would be emptied and cleaned and the actual litter pan liner would be removed, tied securely with a twist tie and thrown away. A new liner would be placed inside the sifting cat litter pan followed by the sifter or sifters then filled with fresh litter.

Using a Cat Litter Pan Liner

Cats that stay strictly indoors require the proper litter pan that is well maintained by keeping it clean, smelling fresh and filled with the proper amount of new litter. A key to keeping the inside of a litter pan clean is the use of a cat litter pan liner. You can find a variety of cat litter pan liner products at the grocery store or retail pet store catering to pet needs.
Using a cat litter pan liner helps make the process of cleaning and changing soiled litter much easier. The cat litter pan liner does just what its name implies by lining the litter pan with a thin plastic type covering to contain the litter. When the litter pan has been used by the cat, the waste will be absorbed or covered with litter but it will not leak through to the actual litter pan. As the cat litter pan liner becomes full and needs changing, you simply pull the liner from the pan and use a twist tie to secure the cat litter pan liner the same way you close up a garbage bag. The cat litter pan liner can then be disposed of making the clean up a much easier task.
If enough litter has not been added to the litter pan and you have a cat that digs into the litter vigorously and has very sharp nails, it is possible they can puncture the bottom of the cat litter pan liner. To address this problem, add enough litter to the pan so the cat has what they feel is enough litter to dig in, use a larger and deeper based litter pan or try trimming their nails. If none of these solutions work, purchase a sifting cat litter pan which does not require the use of a cat litter pan liner the same way a standard pan uses a liner.
Another issued to be aware of when using a cat litter pan liner is if you’re using a litter pan that does not have a cover to help hold the liner securely in place around the rim of the litter pan, when your cat begins to prepare to use the litter pan or has finished and is scratching the litter to cover up the waste, they can snag the cat litter pan liner with their nails and pull the liner from the rim of the litter pan. This can be a problem because the more they scratch the more liner they may pull away from the rim. To help prevent this from happening, use a litter pan that has a cover.
Once the cat litter pan liner has been tightly placed around the rim of the pan, place the cover or lid over the rim and be sure it locks securely in place. The cat can enter the litter pan through the entrance of the cover and use the pan and the lid will help prevent them from undoing the liner from the rim.
Keeping the litter pan clean and germ free is important to your cat’s health and a cat litter pan liner will help make this possible.

Advantages of a Jumbo Cat Litter Pan

Whether you’re an experienced cat owner or you’re getting a feline for the very first time, there are useful things you can to learn that you can add to your existing knowledge concerning the care of cats or begin building your experience base.
Besides the very important facts you should know about the proper food to feed your cat, which brand has the best nutrients, grooming your cat, yearly vet visits and dental maintenance, providing the proper litter pan and cat litter pan liner is at the top of the list.
When to Use a Jumbo Cat Litter Pan
Cats are picky and can also be temperamental about many things including their litter pan. If they don’t like it, are afraid of it, it isn’t cleaned often enough and kept fresh smelling, is being used by too many other cats in the family or it just isn’t large enough to suit their needs, they won’t use it and this can become a problem.
To address many of these issues, using a jumbo cat litter pan may solve any problems you currently have or may experience in the future. A jumbo cat litter pan should accommodate the needs of most felines of medium to large size. If you have a cat that still experiences problems because there’s not enough room for them to navigate inside the pan, you can remove the litter pan cover to provide more room.
If you have multiple cats in your home and they’re all using the same litter pan, place an additional jumbo cat litter pan, more if needed, to provide alternate pans for the cats to use. An advantage of a jumbo cat litter pan or using more than one jumbo cat litter pan is that they hold more litter which can allow more usage between changing the litter depending on the amount of soiled litter in each pan. Keeping the pans clean and fresh, regardless of how many cats you have, is mandatory to prevent the cat from using other areas of your home as a litter pan.
Another good use for a jumbo cat litter pan is for training kittens how to use a litter pan. Kittens learn quickly and giving them enough room to move around the pan and investigate the inside and become accustom to the texture and scent of the litter is a good step in the training process. They will scratch the litter in many directions and a jumbo cat litter pan that has tall sides will help keep the litter contained.
Also, if you have elderly or infirmed cats that have difficulty using a standard sized litter pan, providing them with a jumbo cat litter pan will remove the stress of trying to negotiate inside a standard sized pan.

Pros and Cons of Using a Cat Litter Pan Cover

Having felines in your home and as part of your family is a pleasurable and gratifying experience. Although cats are extremely independent creatures, having them indoors requires certain accommodations including a reliable litter pan with a cat litter pan cover.
Reasons for Using a Cat Litter Pan Cover
One of the main reasons for using a cat litter pan cover is to keep the litter inside the pan. Whether you’re using clumping, crystal, clay, pine or standard gravel, the cover will help keep the litter inside and not outside scattered all around the floor. Cats are vigorous diggers and when digging in the litter at the beginning or at the end of their pan session, many times the litter becomes airborne and the floor becomes a mess. Using a cat litter pan cover will help prevent this from happening.
A cat litter pan cover will keep the litter pan and its contents out of sight and this can be important especially if the litter pan is kept in a visible or well trafficked area. The cover also helps to control odor by keeping the odors confined within the enclosed pan. Keep in mind cats can be very picky about using a pan that is overly soiled, so even though a cover can be placed on the litter pan to control unpleasant smells, it is vital that the litter pan be kept clean with fresh litter and liners so the cat will use it.
The cat litter pan cover offers the feline a quiet private place and it’s not uncommon to find a cat curled up in a litter pan that has been cleaned and filled with unused litter.
Reasons Against Using a Cat Litter Pan Cover
There are a couple of reasons for not using a cat litter pan cover. The first reason not to use a cat litter pan cover is if you have a large breed of cat and the cover won’t allow room for them to either dig in the litter or sit inside the litter pan comfortably. To accommodate larger cats, purchase a jumbo cat litter pan which will provide extra space in both width and height.
The second reason for not using a cat litter pan cover would be if you have an older cat or cats that are arthritic and have hip or leg problems that would prevent them from climbing through the small entrance of the pan cover. To override this problem, the cat litter pan cover can be removed and set aside until the cat has used the litter pan and then the cover can be replaced atop the pan.

Choosing the Right Cat Litter Pan

Whether you become the caregiver of one cat or you have a multiple feline home, one of the most important items needed is the correct cat litter pan for your feline friends. You might be saying to yourself that one cat litter pan is just like any other cat litter pan but that would be an incorrect assumption.
Not only are their a variety of styles to choose from, they also come in varying sizes and this is very important when making the right cat litter pan selection.
Cat Litter Pan Styles
The standard rectangle design with 5″ to 6″ inch sides is a very popular style of cat litter pan and is a good choice to use if you are raising kittens, very small cats or elderly felines who may be having difficulty jumping or climbing over tall items. The standard sized litter pan does not require climbing or jumping in order to reach the litter. There are some models that have shorter sides making it even easier for the cats to get inside the cat litter pan.
Sizing a Cat Litter Pan
Besides the standard rectangle style cat litter pan there are also standard rectangle styled pans with very high sides. The high sides help prevent bits of litter from thrown outside of the pan when the cat begins to dig or scratch. Some cats tend to dig very deep holes inside the cat litter pan and this causes much of the litter to end up outside of the pan. This same rectangle style also comes in very large sized pans. These are especially good for multi-feline households and if you have a large breed of cat or over weight cat.
Both the smaller and larger versions of cat litter pans with high sides are also available with a removable cat litter pan cover. A good cat litter pan cover will fit snugly atop the base pan will have ventilation vents and a handle for easy removal. Cat litter pan covers are excellent at helping to keep litter inside the box when the cat is digging and helps to keep odor confined along with keeping the contents out of sight.
One thing to be aware of when using a covered cat litter pan is while the entrance is large enough for most cats to fit through there is limited head space once they are inside. For large breed cats a covered litter pan can be too confining.