With the recent addition of my second void, I thought I would share some things that I’ve learned from having my first black cat. Starting with the litter box. Every cat owner needs one, even if you have an outdoor cat. It’s always difficult to choose what kind of box, what kind of litter, how to clean it, how to make it not smell, etc. And there are so many options, it’s hard to decide where to start. Well, hopefully, this can be a helpful starting point!
I didn’t grow up with cats; my family only had dogs until I went to college. My mom was the one to start the cat trend in my family. She helped me choose many of my cat’s things, most of which we still use today!
The litter box I chose for both of my cats is the Purina Tidy Cats Breeze XL.
As the name implies, the litter box is very large. It helped me as a renter since I didn’t need multiple small litter boxes throughout my home. If you have a large cat, it also provides them with enough space. Of course, the downside is with its size, it does take up quite a bit of room.
The Breeze XL also takes pellets for litter rather than a clumping one or a finer sand-like material. This can be an upside or downside for cat owners. The upside is that litter tracking isn’t as annoying since the pellets are easier to pick up and clean off the floor. The pellets allow for solid waste to stay in the basin while liquids are absorbed into a pad underneath.
The downside is if your cat has a preference for litter type, there isn’t an alternative. Given the Breeze XL’s design, small materials may get through the grate into the pad below. If the litter is too fine, most of it may not stay in the basin as intended.
The pads can be purchased scented or unscented. I found that the pads absorb smells well as long as owners change them on time. You’ll know very quickly if a pad needs to be changed out.
Speaking of odors, cat owners can try out an array of litter deodorizers to help with the smell. I have two favorite options and one that didn’t quite work out for me.
Let’s start with what seems to be everyone’s favorite and the top choice in grocery stores: The ARM & Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer. It’s simple but effective and combines a nice scent with baking soda to help trap odors. Due to its finer consistency, I find that my cats tend to accidentally track it or kick it out of the litter box. However, it’s easy to clean with a vacuum.
My other favorite is the Fresh Step Cat Litter Crystals. It added a nice light fragrance to the litter box that my cats didn’t seem to mind. The crystals themselves are water soluble, meaning that they’ll dissolve over time rather than stay in the box. Sometimes they didn’t dissolve completely, but it didn’t appear to be an issue for my cats nor the scent.
My least favorite option is the Rocco & Roxie Odor Eliminator. This does get 4.4 stars on Amazon with ten thousand reviews, so it appears to work well for others. I didn’t particularly like the fresh scent to begin with. I found that the scent does not last for very long and perhaps made the smell even worse as it absorbs odors. So, I found myself putting in more and more to get rid of the smell. This is the most expensive option of the three, so I found that it wasn’t quite worth the money.
Another item I found to help with the smell was the Litter Genie. I have the Standard Pail size, but there are larger versions; however, the standard size has worked well for me, even with two cats.
The genie helps with blocking odors, even if waste is kept inside. Changing out the refillable packages and removing waste from the bin are both very simple and nearly odorless tasks. The standard size is small enough to have out and not get in the way of anything.
My last recommendation for cat owners is to get a litter enclosure. My preference is the XL unipaws Litter Box Enclosure. I found that it is large enough to house the Breeze XL and provides privacy for my two cats. It’s designed to have out in your home in case you don’t have room for a designated litter box space. Guests think it’s a great idea and barely notice that they house litter boxes. It does a decent job at keeping the odors in one area, but some smells still tend to escape.
The biggest downside, and from personal experience, is the assembly. It’s a heavy piece of furniture, and while I was able to manage it on my own, I don’t recommend it. When finished, it takes about two people to carry it, which makes moving with it somewhat difficult. Even with that as a downside, I still think it was a very worthwhile purchase, even with the cost.
As cat owners, figuring out the litter box situation is an ongoing process. Cats and owners alike have preferences. Cats need the litter box, and owners must find ways to manage the smell, clean-up, and space. I hope that this was a helpful guide or staring point for any cat owners out there!