Litter Box Etiquette

by Jessica

I can't resist the opportunity to advise
all "felines" on proper "litter box etiquette".

First - always keep a keen ear for when the box gets changed... this is a very important step. When you see your meowmie finally put in on the freshly washed floor and the box is perfectly clean - dive in!! Yes - dive in!! Then roll around - get on your back and kind of wiggle back and forth.. then run into the living room and jump on the sofa, then up the back and jump off. Go back to the box immediately and start digging.. remember the gold rush in California? It's kind of like that. Start in the middle - and throw the litter out the front of the box.. then go in the corner - any corner (depends if you're left pawed or right pawed).. and dig some more... then go in the other corner and dig again... this is lots of work but well worth the effort.

Look around to ensure it is just as you like it... there still has to be litter in the box, AND on the floor on all four sides of the box.

Second, get out of the box and scratch the paper under it.. just to help spread the litter a bit.. stand back - does it look just as you like it.. good, now get IN the litter box --- dig about five more minutes.. this helps move the litter around again.. have a little "pee" - then cover it up. This last step requires great talent cause you don't want to touch the wet spot with yer feet... then leave the box - take a minute or so to clean yourself up a bit.. then race around the house to get the litter off yer fur!!

Purrfect etiquette - don't you think!
Purrs, Jessica

From Alecto:

Since I have a covered litterbox, my human family doesn't share in the litterbox experience as often as they should, so I'll come out with a clump stuck to my nose so they can gaze upon the lovely litter more often. Also, it is vitally important to wait nearby when the litter is scooped so you can use it the second it is clean. It just doesn't smell right in there until someone makes a deposit.

From Megaera:

I live with three long haired humans, and they shed a lot (much more so than us short hairs), and those hairs are soooo tempting that, well, sometimes I eat one. Lemme tell you, those hairs are hard to pass, and on occasion, I need help, so I run up the stairs to where the humans are hanging out and scoot my butt across the floor until they get the picture and yank the hair (and the attached poop) from my butt. It's their hair, so it's only fair that they take care of it.

I'm sure most of you, like me, are very particular about your "Box". There's nothing more disgusting than a dirty, smelly, litter box, and it's up to us to see that our humans keep it fresh and clean for us !! My dad does the "dirty work" in my house. He has adapted very well to my preferences. Every morning I watch while he shovels my "deposits", then I hop in the box and scratch around, making sure he hasn't missed any "stragglers". I then proceed to rake and smooth the litter until it's just the way I like it, before settling down to do some serious work. . My dad's usually on top of the situation, but there are times when I have to do certain little things to remind him to change the litter . When doing business I'll make lots of racket and kick the litter all over the bathroom floor. I also leave my "deposits" uncovered, right on top, so the humans can't help but notice. Hehe.....Mom starts worrying then that I might be sick or something, but dad knows the deal ! "The little guy just wants his litter changed", he says. I supervise the changing of the stuff too. I wait at the door until Dad comes back from the dumpster with the empty box. And I watch while he pours in the fresh litter, to be sure he puts in just the right amount . I then jump in and check it out to see if it meets with my approval. I have to make sure he hasn't changed to a new brand I don't like . And as a reward for his labor, after happily digging and scratching for awhile, I leave him a nice fresh deposit !! Just to say "Thanks Dad" !