Bringing a new cat litter to your cat can be a delicate affair as the cats may be picky with the litter they use. Overall, cats are known to be creatures of habits and would not like anything to do with their habits and places changed. When it comes to anything that personal like their litter, they may be even more apprehensive to change it. But this does not mean that you cannot change the litter and with some efforts and specific techniques it is possible to do this easily. Here are some common checklist and cheats.
Gradual Mixing at a Slow Pace
In general, the ability to transition to litter depends on one thing – gradualness. Begin by buying limited quantities of the old and the new litter, and then gradually increase it over time if needed. Slowly transition between the current litter your cat uses and the new one by continuing to use the current litter, while also incorporating a small amount (3-5 teaspoons or tablespoons) of the new litter into the mix. Gradually increase the proportion of new litter to the old litter in the colony by adding one to the ratio each day. Ideally, it should be 10-25% more new litter at a time so that there is a constant supply of litter in the market. Ideally, a fully new litter should be achieved within a week to two weeks and rarely should take over 14 days.
It is also advisable that if you are switching between litters, then the changes should be made gradually within a couple of weeks so that your cat has enough time to adjust to the changes in appearance, texture, and smell of the litter. Fluency is the degree of smoothness in performance, which suggests that drastic overnight changes are likely to precipitate stress or avoidance problems. It takes time, which is typically needed but the slow process ensures that both of you are set up for the long run.
Engage with New Litter in Another Box
Another helpful tactic is to put one litter box with fresh litter right next to another litter box with fresh litter simply because the other one is old standby. This way, your cat has all litter they are already used to, but they also have an opportunity to sniff and adjust to the new litter at their leisure.
Put some catnip or some treats in the new litter boxes to at least once in a while to give the cats the indication that this is where they need to go and also to give them something to look forward to every time. If your cat is gradually getting used to the second box and is equally comfortable using both, it is possible to gradually stop using the original litter and only make it available in the main box. At some point in time, the separate box can be closed and the transition fully made, eliminating the possibility of reverting to one methodology.
This will involve paying a close attention to the depth of litter, texture, and scent of litter.
Cats are not just random about what they use as a litter; they have their own inclination on the subject. Some aspects that should be considered include; the depth, texture and smell of litter and attempt to find the closest possible match to the old one. For instance, if you were using sand like litter before and you change to clumping crystals, your cats may dislike this new feel on their feet. And if the previous litter was lightly fragranced then when the new option are fragranced strongly of perfumes their use will also be discouraged.
This is done by selecting a litter that is close to the old litter in terms of how it feels to the paws, how it smells and the actual depth of the litter in the box during the changeover. However, these factors can be slowly adjusted once the new litter is introduced and well settled.
Some factors that can help in maintaining cleanliness and organization of litter boxes are as follows:
It does not matter the type of litter that is used to clean, boxes must be kept very clean, especially when moving from one box to another. Scoop waste on a daily basis and wash/empty or overhaul the litter according to the product recommendations or every 1-2 weeks. The clean boxes will assist in avoiding accidents in the home as your cat continues getting used to the environment.
It also helpful for reducing a resistance level thereby catering to their identified preferences. For instance, if your cat prefers enormous containers with enough space for it to walk around, continue using giant models when you change their litter. Or if they have proven that they have not been properly disposing of their waste by using the litter to cover it, do not be too concerned with the ‘clumping’ ability while changing. It cannot be overemphasized that getting the key appeals right really does go a long way.
Finally, one has to work with the Enzymatic cleaners for Cleaning Remaining Scent Signatures.
I have come across one factor that sometimes plays a role with regards to cats and the litters they prefer, specific scents from previous litter that may be detected on the boxes. Stench related to previous elimination can persist and build up in the process with the duration of the game. Using of old scent cues when presenting a new litter may also disorient some cats during change attempts.
To get the sensory receptors to a blank slate, it is advisable to use an enzymatic cleaner that will clear the odor and stain before utilizing the other two. Then begin the process of associating the fresh new litter smell with or instead of gradually providing fresh scent cues that are mixed with the old ones. This also helps to take out one more obstacle to acceptance.
It is very important to avoid changing both litters and location simultaneously.
If there are any changes that have to be made concerning the litter, ensure that they are not made at the same time as the litter box location. Continue to store boxes in their regular positions within your home before addressing litter transitions first. Many cats can become stressed when new places with unfamiliar litter are introduced, especially if they are used to getting rid of it in those places.
However, if your cat is satisfied and only using the brand new litter in the regular litter boxes for a few weeks, only then it may be time to rearrange the boxes if you have to. It is however pertinent to advise that one should avoid stringing multiple location and litter changes at once whenever possible. Very often, it is detrimental to try to make too many changes at once as this places you at a disadvantage.
In case of any challenge, Stay Positive & Be Patient
Lastly, maintaining a positive attitude while expecting some difficulty is rather helpful. Feline litter changes typically last 2-4 weeks before the cat becomes fully transitioned to the new diet. It is possible to anticipate that employees will experience a moderate opposition, occasional slips outside the frame, or even voiced complaints as they adapt in the initial phases. Most cats will make the change with time: that is if daily incremental mixing is employed, and the cat is provided with good motivations/reinforcements for choosing the new option instead of the old one, and if the plan is patiently adhered to.
It is important not to push the litter too much while at the same time the signs of a shift to the intended litter change are visible. Ideally, litter swaps are kept as least invasive as possible over time and this requires much persistence and patience. Just remain patient and make gestures like petting or talking to her as she gets more familiar with the situation. Encourage the children to utilize the new product through praising them each time they accomplish minor achievements until they find it normal to use the new product.
It is very possible to transfer your cat from one preferred litter to another. As any guideline of such nature suggests, with the right techniques of gradual acclimation blending, appeals to preference, proper pacing, and positive reinforcements, then it can be quite a smooth process. Ensure transition involves a week’s notice at the very least in case a transition plan that takes 2+ weeks is needed. Always ensure your cat exhibits no signs of stress and should do this by taking things slow. Soon enough, your cat will be as happy with the new litter habits as she was before.