Hello, this is Dr. Karin. Read my bio, learn more about me, and meet my five cheerful cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
Do you do something like that when you’re using a public restroom and you block out the thought of how many people were sitting there in front of you? And the first thing you do right after the cleaner comes in? There are also bonuses for standing in line. There’s nothing worse than being greeted by traces of previous visitors. Everyone wants a fresh bowl.
So it’s no surprise that Alex, the youngest and sassiest of my cats, prefers a freshly cleaned litter box. What’s frustrating to me is his timing.
Clean toilets are essential
Keeping your cat’s litter box clean is an essential part of keeping your cat family happy, healthy, and stress-free. One of the main reasons cats develop stress-related cystitis and poor litter box habits is from sharing a litter box with other cats. Therefore, it is recommended that each cat has at least one litter box and an additional litter box. That way, each cat should always have an unused box available.
My cats are very unusual in that they are willing to use trays that are already in use – I say happily, but maybe they are just content. Too often, they seem to quietly designate box 1, box 2, and box 2, leaving the third box largely untouched. In theory, you should have at least six litter boxes for five cats, but over time this has been reduced to three. This is not an arrangement I would normally recommend. But there’s no point in boxes taking up space if they’re always left unused. However, if you’re going out overnight, be sure to bring out an extra tray.
Despite the fact that our cats are all unrelated and joined us at different times and life stages, they all get along very well, not to mention sharing a litter box between cleanings. I’m very lucky to have you. This is a very unusual situation, but it seems to reflect that they consider themselves a family unit.
Go where cats have never been before
Although Alex does not show any aversion to the sharing or considerate approach to litter, he does show a clear preference for a freshly cleaned litter box. Just like Pavlov’s dog, who is so used to hearing the bell at mealtime that he starts salivating at the mere sound of the bell, the sound of fresh cat litter being poured into the tray causes Alex to start salivating all over the house. Run away from anywhere.
He was outside on the patio, barely waiting for me to finish refilling the cat litter, and came running up the stairs before I could name him. No matter what time of day it is, they always seem to save their poop for the day.
He’s not as motivated when I’m just scooping trays. What attracts him is the freshly poured, untouched trash.
Not that I blame him. It’s really fun to be the first to scavenge when you share a bathroom with four other people. Go to places no cat has ever been before. However, if you clean the tray and fill it with fresh cat litter, but someone drops a large amount of sediment into it before you leave the room, you might be a little disappointed. It might be when you finally put away your freshly washed clothes only to find out that the dirty laundry basket is already half full, or when you hang out the last load of laundry and ask someone to remove the pile of dishes you had hidden in your bedroom. It’s similar to having someone bring it to you.
small victories and trivial pursuits
Of course, this was my problem, not Alex’s, and I quickly adapted. Instead of tying up dirty trash bags at the end of cleaning, I just lie back and wait for Alex’s inevitable appearance, and remove any evidence of the visit when he’s finished.
It may seem like a pretty trivial thing, but at least for a few minutes you can leave the room knowing that everything in the bathroom is clean and fresh. It’s a very small victory, but I’ll take what I can get!
This article is part of Dr. Karin’s 5 Hilarious Cats series.
