20. Toileting: domestic cat

Domestic cats also prefer to toilet in a safe and private location, away from their food and water source. Toilet locations need to be accessible, but away from busy areas of the house. Cats generally like a fine sandy substrate similar to that of the savannah environment with enough depth to be able to bury their deposits. An individual cat’s preference for a toileting substrate is formed early on in life, as is its flexibility to use different substrates.

A kitten which always used the same litter is more likely to refuse to use a different litter material later in life, than one that was exposed to a variety of substrates as a kitten.

All cats are individuals. Some prefer the extra privacy of a covered litter tray, whereas other cats may feel too enclosed.

If your cat is experiencing a toileting problem or change in toileting behaviour please contact your vet to have a health check for your cat.

Did you know

The golden rule in the home environment is one litter tray per cat plus one extra.

Cat tolieting outdoors

A sandy substrate

Original image URL - http://www.flickr.com/photos/77436208@N00/3584274506 Image author - Erica_Marshall , licence - CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Well placed litter tray

A private location

Image author - Cats Protection/VET Team, licence - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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