LITTER BOXES

LITTER BOXES

Considerations

Before you get too carried away in planning new, stylish accommodations for your cat's litter box, keep in mind that cats can be persnickety about their, um, facilities. "Cats can be very finicky regarding litter boxes," says Dr. Jill Hoffman, a veterinarian with Camden Pet Hospital in San Jose, Calif. The presence of a lid, location, litter type and cleaning can be factors, Hoffman says. In general, she recommends considering these factors:

Easy access: Cats, particularly kittens and older cats, need to be able to get in and out of the box with ease.

Coverage: Some cats like privacy, while others prefer fresh air.

Litter type: Hoffman prefers clumping cat litter. She recommends Everfresh litter with activated charcoal.

Frequent cleaning: Once daily minimum.

The number of boxes: The rule of thumb is to keep one more litter box than you have cats.

Placement: Think about convenient access, quiet and an appropriate distance from where you feed your cat.