Litter and Litter Hygiene

So, you've got your cat back in your home and you're very excited to let it quickly settle in and become a part of your family, you've brought the kitten starter pack from the pet shop along with some toys, food and litter. Probably the most important thing you need to worry about is actually the Litter and Litter tray.

A kitten or cat needs access to a litter tray if it is intended to be an indoors cat with no access to outside. (Yes, out doors cat's will use the loo outside!) Even really young, kittens are inherently very clean and will generally not soil their bed.

In some cases, a crate or a cage may be used to help settle the cat/kitten in but make sure it is large enough to have a litter tray inside.

In terms of the kinds of litter and litter trays available there are quite a large range to choose from, ranging from plastic trays to covered models with entrance flaps and even filters to minimise the odour. If you are feeling particularly fancy, you can even get a self cleaning litter tray. However, regardless of which litter tray you go for, the point is that they must be easy to clean and be able to withstand frequent washing and disinfecting.

Toxoplasmosis is a kind of infection which is sometimes present in the faeces of a cat that it can shed without showing any signs of the disease. It is hazardous to humans, particularly pregnant women. It is important that you clean the litter tray and dispose of any faeces less than 24 hours after passing it. This will help curb the spread of the disease.