The Pros And Cons Of Flushable Cat Litter

By Ned D'Agostino
If you have cats, no doubt you know that keeping the litter box clean is one of the biggest chores you face. And the odor can be a constant problem no matter what you do. To this end, marketers have tried to come up with ways that will make this chore easier. One of these ways is using flushable cat litter.

Flushable litter can be convenient for owners because instead of having to dispose of clumping or other types of litter in waste receptacles, you can simply flush it down the toilet and get rid of smell and mess in one instant. And indeed, this can be a great convenience for many cat owners.

These litters are often also lighter in texture. Typically, the cost is roughly the same as other types of litters in cost per use. They may appear more expensive because of their lighter weight (for example, if regular clumping clay costs 20 cents a pound and the flushing type costs three times that, this looks more expensive, but you should remember that it will weigh less per use and thus can go farther). They can be hard to find as well, but availability of Internet shopping makes this a relatively minor problem, since owners can have it shipped to them if it is not available in their area.

However, you should know that this has its drawbacks as well. One of these is that you exchange contributing to landfill waste with used litter, for water waste and extra sewage. Therefore, it may not be any more environmentally sound than simply disposing of used litter in the trash. Its advantage is that because the soiled mess is flushed instantly, there is usually much less lingering box odor. In addition, some types of litter can be composted once dried stools are removed. This may be the way to have the least environmental impact from your cat's box.

One other consideration with using flushing versus conventional litter is your cat's "opinion" of the litter itself. Many cats are so used to the regular texture and feel of clay that they will not use the flushing type. In this case, of course, the most important consideration is whether or not your cat will use the box at all. You should keep careful watch to see if you cat does or does not like the flushable litter.

You may be able to get him or her to use it if you began by mixing a small amount of the flushing litter in with your cat's regular litter (without flushing this at first, of course, but disposing in the trash as usual) and gradually increasing the amount of flushable litter and decreasing the amount of the clay until you're using 100% flushable. Even with this type of "break-in" period, some cats never get used to the flushing type and will only stay with tried-and-true clumping variety. However, if your cat does like it, it may be a viable alternative for you.

In short, if you have a cat, your litter box use is going to have at least some environmental impact that will be detrimental. However, flushable cat litter can give you a much "cleaner" way to manage waste than other traditional types. Because they can be flushed and do not have to be thrown away in the trash, it generally makes for much less smell and mess than traditional clays do. The choice is yours, and as always, you should make the best one possible for your lifestyle and preferences. Just remember your cat will likely have the final say.

By Ned D'Agostino
If you have just gotten a new kitten, chances are it's already litter box trained. This is because cats who have been raised by mothers who use litter boxes themselves have already been taught to use a box by their mothers. If the mother is trained, then the kitty, too, is going to be trained to use a box. If not, though, the kitten will need to be taught cat litter training.

If your kitten was raised by a mother in the wild or is an orphan, chances are you're going to get a kitten that is not trained. Not to worry, however. By nature, cats are very clean creatures, and would prefer to have one special place to go to the bathroom. Therefore, even though your little guy (or girl) may "do his business" in indiscriminate locations throughout your house when you first get him, it's very easy to train a kitten how to use a box if he does not know how to do so already.

Remember that if the kitten is very tiny (less than six weeks old) and/or has been orphaned, then it may not have had a mother to show it how to use litter properly. It's very easy to show him how, though. First, get a box or container with low enough sides that even a very tiny kitten can climb in. One of the best containers to use is an old dishpan with one side cut out so that it's only a couple of inches high. This is low enough that even the tiniest of kittens can climb in easily. The box must be easy to get into for your kitten to be able to use it. Immediately after you've set up the pan, put just a small amount of litter (no more than half an inch or so) on the bottom and put your cat in. Instinctively, even tiny kittens will usually like to scratch around even if they don't exactly know what it's used for.

Now, the next time you feed your kitten, immediately after he eats, turn on him over on his back (often, you can even do this in the palm of your hand with a very tiny kitten). Cover your index finger with a warm wet rag or washcloth and massage his lower belly very gently with it using downward stroking motions, going toward his tail. What you're doing is stimulating him to eliminate as his mother would by licking him.

Immediately after you do this once or twice, turn him over on his feet and set him down in the box. He should feel the need to go to the bathroom almost immediately. He'll eliminate and once he does this, take his front paw and very gently scoop litter over his waste. Very soon, he'll get the idea and want to do this himself. As we said, cats are very clean creatures and instinctively bury their waste anyway, so he'll get the idea very quickly. You may need to help the little fellow clean himself off at first until he understands how to do that himself, too, and this, again, is done with a warm wet rag or washcloth.

For the next few days up to two weeks, every time you feed your kitten, take him to the litter box immediately and set him down in it. After the first two or three times, you should not need to stimulate him by stroking his belly. If he does not cover his own waste, remember to use his own paw to cover it up for him until he gets the idea. Training should be very easy as long as you're consistent.

Remember that your box always needs to be kept in the same location so that your kitten can always find it. Cats are very smart and remember things like that very easily, so if you keep it in the same location, he'll know to go to the box as soon as he knows he has to go to the bathroom. Very soon, you'll have a trained kitten with very little effort.

One final thing to remember is that because cats are so clean, their boxes must also be kept very clean. If your kitten has been trained and all of a sudden begins eliminating in various places in the house, it's likely that it's either a health problem or dirty litter box that's making him do so. If the box is dirty, make sure you clean it and keep it that way. If the accidents throughout the house continue, take your cat to the vet immediately, as this could signify some serious problems such as a urinary tract infection or constipation.

With a little effort from you, cat litter training should be very easy for your new kitten.