A litter box, sometimes called a sandbox, litter tray, litter pan, or catbox, is an indoor feces and urine disposal box for cats (as well as rabbits, ferrets, small dogs such as Beagles and Chihuahuas, and other pets that naturally or through training will make use of such a repository) that are permitted free roam of a home but who cannot or do not always go outside to relieve themselves. Many owners of these animals prefer not to let them roam outside for fear that they might succumb to the elements or get hit by a car (Tufts Veterinary School, among others, report indoor cats live, on average, ten years longer than outdoor cats). A litter box makes it possible to shelter pets from these risks.
In the wild, cats naturally excrete in soft or sandy soil for easy burial. To stimulate this instinctive desire, a litter box's bottom is filled typically with an inch (2.5 cm) or more of cat litter. Litter box filler is a loose, granular material that absorbs moisture and odors such as ammonia. Some litter brands contain baking soda to absorb such odors. The litter material also satisfies a cat's instinctive desire to use an easily-dug material. The most common material is clay, although recycled paper "pellets" and silica-based "crystal" variants are also used. Sometimes, when an owner wishes to stimulate the cat's natural instincts, natural dirt is used.
Read more about Litter Box: Types of Litter Boxes
Other articles related to "litter box, box, litter":
... Originally made of wood, the cat box today is typically a plastic tray with outwardly-sloped sides 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 in) high ... some allegedly desired privacy to the pet, as well as keeping the litter out of sight ... To facilitate emptying and cleaning a litter box, plastic liners may be used ...
... A litter box, sometimes called a sandbox, litter tray, litter pan, or catbox, is an indoor feces and urine disposal box for cats (as well as rabbits, ferrets, small dogs such as Beagles and Chihuahuas, and ... A litter box makes it possible to shelter pets from these risks ... To stimulate this instinctive desire, a litter box's bottom is filled typically with an inch (2.5 cm) or more of cat litter ...
... Originally made of wood, the cat box today is typically a plastic tray with outwardly-sloped sides 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 in) high ... desired privacy to the pet, as well as keeping the litter out of sight ... To facilitate emptying and cleaning a litter box, plastic liners may be used ...
Famous quotes containing the words box and/or litter:
“Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. With no relatives, no support, we’ve put it in an impossible situation.”
—Margaret Mead (1901–1978)
“Sunday morning may be cheery enough, with its extra cup of coffee and litter of Sunday newspapers, but there is always hanging over it the ominous threat of 3 P.M., when the sun gets around to the back windows and life stops dead in its tracks.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)