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For you, the litter box may rank in importance just below your deodorant; something to keep things smelling fresh that you don't spend much time thinking about. But the litter pan and cat litter are two of the most important things in your kitten's life — after his food, of course.
Your kitten has a list of desirable features that have absolutely nothing to do with what you want. He wants plenty of room to move around and dig in, and he wants a clean toilet just like you do. Like kittens, litter boxes come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. You can find many varieties of boxes, including hooded, automated, sifting, self-cleaning, and even plain ol' plastic open litter boxes.
Take into account the size of kitty you're adopting before you choose this important piece of apparatus. A Maine Coon or a bruiser of a random breed will soon outgrow the standard covered litter box.
 | If you decide to use clumping litter, avoid boxes with sharp edges or indentations in the bottom where pee can pool. Those channels make it almost impossible to pick up those clumps sticking to the corners and edges without breaking them. Left behind, those broken pieces will eventually begin to stink. Rounded corners and flat bottoms help cut down on Smelly Box Syndrome and makes scooping easier. |
Some kittens don't like to poop in the same box they pee in. After your kitten pees in the pan to mark it, he may not want to poop in it and spoil his scent. So you may need to invest in two litter boxes, even if you have only one kitten. If you put a second box too close to the original box, the kitten may just consider it another pee box. Keep it across the room.
Hooded or covered boxes
People like hooded litter boxes. Hoods reduce the amount of litter the kitten tracks or kicks outside the box. They also hold in odors and prevent your delicate human eyes from having to watch your kitten use the bathroom. These points translate into disadvantages for your kitten. A covered pan holding in odors may force your kitten to hold his breath while he potties. And if you can't watch him use the box, you won't see him strain to pee or find bloody poop. Another problem is that big cats in little covered boxes can't turn around to cover their poop. That's why you often see cats scratching the area around the box instead of inside. Later, your cat may just decide that getting into that tiny box is too much trouble and go in front of it.
However, covered boxes can provide your kitten with a sense of potty protection if he suffers from prying eyes or harassment from other pets or children. And they do help keep litter inside the box while your kitten's digging to China. These boxes usually cost somewhere between $10 and $20.
Automated litter boxes
Do you want a litter box that cleans itself? It'll cost you. Automated litter boxes don't come cheap. Plus, you must use a premium litter with them, otherwise the clumps will break up, and the box won't be properly cleaned. Two of the most popular of these types of boxes, Purrforma Plus and LitterMaid, use rakes to scoop up the waste. Shortly after the cat uses the box, the rake magically sweeps across the litter, dumping the poop and clumps into a storage area. (Purrforma gives you a covered box option.) Remember, because an automated box requires electricity, you need to keep it close to a power outlet (some can be fed batteries, instead).
 | The manufacturer recommends the LitterMaid for kittens over 6 months of age. However, if you want the advantage of the self-cleaning box, keep it turned off and then switch it when you're present, to empty the receptacle. The kitten gets used to the box in safety, and you still have the advantage of a box that scoops itself. Automatic litter boxes, like the one in Figure 1, are perfect for kittens who are finicky about using a dirty litter box. |
Figure 1: The automated LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box makes owning a kitten even more wonderful.
Sifting and self-cleaning boxes
Non-automated self-cleaning boxes work with clumping litter. These boxes come with an assortment of ingenious ways of reducing your work. You can roll some of these enclosed boxes to maneuver the clumps into a waste drawer. Other boxes incorporate sifters into the box design, which eliminates the need for a litter scoop. Pour the used litter through the sifter or lift the sifter from the bottom of the box. The sifter catches the yucky stuff. Although these boxes save time, the ones that require you to pour litter from one pan to another stir up a lot of dust. But because they don't require a power outlet, you can have many of the advantages of an automatic box anywhere in the house. They run between $20 and $40.
Plain plastic open litter pans
If you don't want to invest in an automated box, check out the plain low-tech open box, because your kitten will probably prefer it. You'll like it too, because at about $10, this litter box is the cheapest. Because these boxes are open, you won't have to worry about your kitten being hemmed in when she gets older. These boxes are so cheap that every few months you can toss them rather than having to scrub down an icky pan. When your kitten is little, start out with low sides that she can climb inside easily. The next time you throw it out, buy a bigger one with higher sides.
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