Cat Litter Trays 

For most cat owners, one of the biggest drawbacks of owning a cat is the dreaded cat litter tray. Few people like to clean litter trays. After all, they aren't just smelly. Litter can be quite dusty and people that change litter are more susceptible to some cat diseases that can be caught by humans.

Luckily, there are several new litter tray designs that make the task of changing cat litter much easier. One popular design is the hooded litter tray. These trays provide privacy for more sensitive cats, but they also help keep down litter dust. The hooded tray is ideal for a single cat, as long as the cat's owners can change the litter frequently to keep it smelling clean and fresh. For people who don't want to handle the soiled litter, there are removable liners for these trays. Simply lift out the whole liner filled with soiled litter and discard it. Lay down a new liner, add fresh cat litter, and replace the lid.

Another popular cat litter tray design is the self cleaning litter tray. This tray is ideal for families with multiple cats, as cats do not like to use dirty litter trays. The rake removes soiled litter into a removable receptacle and leaves the tray fresh and clean. The cat owner can easily discard the dirty litter without having to do anything more than pulling out the receptacle containing the dirty litter and throwing it away.

It is fairly easy to teach your kitten to use a litter tray. The most important things for you to do are to position the litter tray in the right place and to keep it extremely clean. Litter trays should never be placed next to your cat's sleeping or eating spots, as cats do their best to keep these areas clean.

Once you put the litter tray in a convenient place, it is time to teach your cat what the tray is for. Begin by placing your cat in the tray and raking your fingers through the clean litter. Your cat may just decide to start using the tray right away. If so, praise him lavishly. If he simply hops out, play with him a few minutes and then place him back in the tray. Repeat this procedure several times, but do not overdo it. You don't want to frustrate your cat.

When your cat eats, wait approximately ten or fifteen minutes and then place your cat in the litter tray. If he uses the tray, praise him. Also, when your cat is napping, keep an eye on him so that you can take him to the litter tray when he awakens.

If your cat does not use the litter tray, do not scold him for his accidents. He will just become angry and frustrated. Instead, place the tray in the spot where he most frequently has accidents and encourage him to use it.

Once your cat uses his litter tray a few times, he should continue to use it. If he stops using the tray, be sure it is clean. If the litter tray is not dirty, he may have a health problem, so be sure to consult your veterinarian.