5 easy ways to prevent cat litter tracking in the home

We all love our cats and want to provide them the best life and home possible.

How can you not love that sweet face and soft purr? There are certain parts of cat care that can be a little challenging, however; like cat litter tracked all over the house, on the floor, in the bed, on the couch… ugh! All litters track to some extent, but keep reading to discover 5 easy tricks to contain litter in the box where it belongs. 

A little goes a long way

No need to fill the box all the way. Too much means more opportunity for the cat litter to get outside the box. Instead, fill the box no more than two to three inches.

Size matters

There are natural cat litters with larger granules or dense pellets designed specifically to combat tracking. Larger size results in less tracking, especially for longer haired cats or those that like to kick litter around to cover up their business. Be sure to transition gradually if you have a finicky cat.

We recommend

• ökocat original natural wood clumping litter with a heavier, granola like texture 
• ökocat less mess natural wood clumping litter with dense, firm pellets that won’t stick to their fur 
• ökocat dust free natural paper litter has firm but soft pellets that stay in the box 

ökocat natural litter made from wood or paper tend to track less than traditional clay litter, which also leaves dusty paw prints all over. Tiny, sand-like pieces of clay are much harder to sweep and vacuum than larger wood particles.

One size does not fit all when it comes to the actual litter box either. A large (bigger is better), high-sided box is an excellent choice, with room to move around and blockage for any kicking or overflow action. A covered or top-entry box is a good solution if your cat is easily able to get in and out.

We recommend:

• Pet Fusion large high-sided litter box (pictured at top of article). It also has a non-stick coating for fast cleaning.
• High Sided Cat Litter Pan from Van Ness.
  
  

Contain the litter box

When the litter box is contained or just put inside another box, litter is more likely to stay in the enclosure, versus scattering throughout the house. There are various cost effective ways to contain the litter box.

We recommend:

• Cat furniture, a decorative box, table or bench that houses a litter box and plastic grid that keeps the scatter in one place. Haus Panther has several great looking choices.
• Top-entry cat litter box such as modkat, which is also great for diggers and side pee-ers and for keeping dogs out of the litter (does not work well for senior cats or large cats).
• A large storage bin with high sides; simply cut an entry/exit hole in one side and sand edges of the hole 
  
  

Use mats or rugs

There are plenty of mats and rugs designed specifically to catch the litter stuck to your cat’s paws when he exits the litter box. Make sure the mat is large enough so they can’t jump over it. Then lay a shaggy, plush rug or carpet runner leading away from the litter box. This allows plenty of time and space to dislodge the litter from your cat’s paws. Just shake back into the litter box as needed.

We recommend:

• Natural sisal rug, it also doubles as a scratcher!
• Mats made specifically to prevent cat litter tracking
• Deep, shaggy bath mat or throw rug
• Piece of carpet remnant 

 

Daily clean up

Put the litter box in a convenient location for your cat that is also far away from your bedroom or common living areas, if possible. This will help keep litter out of your bed and off the couch. Put it in a carpet-free room for faster clean up.

Additionally, keeping on top of the litter scatter daily in the immediate vicinity of the box helps to keep it from spreading. Keep a broom and dustpan, a handheld vacuum, or even a nonelectric roller vacuum next to the litter box for quick and easy clean-up.

Tracking is an inevitable part of being a cat owner, but these few easy tips will help keep tracking contained so you spend less time cleaning up, and more time snuggling with your cat.

 

Photo by Anton Lochov on Unsplash