Kitty litter comes in many shapes and forms - clay, scoopable, paper and even crystal. Now, selecting the right form of litter may sound easy, but with cats, nothing is ever that simple.
Clay litter is the original. It is somewhat difficult to scoop, and it does not control odors very well. It is the most inexpensive type on the market, with some bags only running a few bucks. Most cats quickly take to the clay, but I find that it does not work well in a multi-cat home. It just gets stinky way too soon.
Scoopable litter is my current fave. Both solid and liquid waste clump easily, so you can simply scoop the boxes on a daily basis. They can be scented, which some cats despise but others do not mind. The litter pieces are very tiny, and they are always tracked around the house - be prepared to vacuum frequently.
Paper litter has never been successful in my house. The cats refuse to use it. Some owners, however, do prefer it over the other types. It is often made out of recycled paper, making it a greener choice. It does an alright job soaking up urine, but does not work as well on solids.
The crystal litter has always intrigued me. I've used in the past. The blue crystals soak up the urine, and they turn green when it is time to change the litter box. With a house full of cats, however, the price is too high to justify buying on a recurring basis.
Rule #2 - Clean the Box Frequently
It always amazes me to hear people complain about their pets having accidents outside of their litter box, only to find out that the box is a filthy mess. Each time we use the toilet, we flush - I hope! I cannot imagine having to walk through my own waste several times a day. In my household, the litter boxes are scooped morning and night. If I don't, then one picky kitty will pee right by my dining room table.
As the litter gets low, replace it with fresh product. Once a month, the box needs to be completely emptied, rinsed and scrubbed. Nobody wants to walk into your house and smell cat poop.
Rule #3 - Have Multiple Boxes
As I have already stated multiple times, cats are super picky. They like to have more than one potty selection when nature calls. Some cats will do number one in a designated box and number two in another. For crazy cat lady households, like mine, with more than one kitty, the rule of thumb is to have one more litter box than number of cats. This is the best way to make everyone happy. Plus, they don't have to wait in a line to go.
My cats prefer open top boxes, but I think that is simply because they too fat to fit inside the other kind. Litter boxes with lids give cats more privacy, so go with that model if you have a shy kitty.
These basic rules are easy to follow. By simply giving your kitty a clean box with lots of options, you will not have to scrub avoidable accidents out of your carpet or furniture ever again.