Cat litter boxes and your cat's safety

While a lot of material on the risks of cat ownership will focus on the risks that owning a cat poses to the human residents in the home, there a few threats posed to our feline friends by some of the choices and decisions we humans make. In most cases, these risks can be reduced or totally eliminated, by just being aware of them, and following a few precautions.

Messy cat litters pose a health risk to humans. They are a haven for bacteria, in particular the toxoplasma gondii parasite, which can infect and cause toxoplasmosis in humans. What is less known and considered, is that dirty litter boxes also pose a threat to cats. Cats tend to keep themselves clean by licking their bodies. A cat using a dirty litter box can catch infections when it licks its paws. Common results of this include the infection of the urinary tract. Whilst this type of infection in a cat is rarely fatal, it often is incredibly uncomfortable, and will require proper treatment by a qualified vet. So, keeping a clean cat litter box is good not just for the humans, but for the cat too.

The type of litter box you choose can also pose a health risk to you cat. Clumping litter boxes are very popular because of their perceived hygienic qualities, and convenience, since clumping litters are a staple in self-cleaning litter boxes. That said, some variants of these clumping litters contain a mineral called sodium bentonite, which can be harmful, or even fatal to your cat. Kittens in particular are vulnerable, and so clay based litters should be avoided for them. Alternatives on the market include wheat and corn based clumping litters, sold under brand names such as "Swheat Scoop", and "Littermaid Cat litter".

Non clumping litters are more difficult to maintain and keep clean, since they do not, by their very nature, isolate and absorb urine and faeces like the clumping litters do. People using non-clumping litters therefore need to change and clean them more frequently. It is also advisable to use disinfectants when cleaning these non-clumping litter boxes, to reduce risks of infection from bacteria.

Automatic and self cleaning litters can also pose a threat to your cat and other members of the family. While such injuries are rare, they do happen from time to time. As the name implies, the automatic, or self cleaning litter does just that. Usually within half an hour of the cat using the litter box, a raking or sweeping mechanism is activated, pushing the cat's waste into a sealed bag, or compartment. Injuries occur when a kitten, or toddler plays with the litter box when this cleaning mechanism is activated. Modern versions of these automatic litter boxes have sensors that prevent the activation of this cleaning mechanism when a cat, or other object such as a child's hand is inside the box.

Injuries still occur though, and any cat owner with such a litter box should take some basic precautions. One easy to implement precaution, is to put the litter box in a spot easily accessible by the cat, but more difficult for little children to get to. This has the added benefit of keeping children safe from bacteria which can lurk wherever there is cat waste. Another alternative is to keep the litter box deplugged, and only plug it in to manually begin the cleaning cycle whenever necessary. While some of the convenience of a self cleaning litter box is lost, safety for young children is gained.

Most of the sensors described above are only triggered when a cat is over 5 lbs in weight. As such, cat owners with kittens, or very small cats should take extra care when buying an automatic litter box. Check the manual, understand the safety features incorporated in the device, and make sure you install and use it following the manufacturers advice.
Fully understanding the risks, and how to eliminate them, will make for a safer and more pleasurable cat owning experience.