Owning a cat can be one of the most rewarding experiences globally, especially when you have a good relationship with your feline, but that will take care and effort. Often, you will have to buy things for your cat to improve its quality of life, and it only makes sense that you want the best for your pet.
Cat owners don’t like discussing kitty litter, as nobody is fond of feline urine and faeces, but it’s a part of being a cat owner, and sometimes you have to get dirty. Setting up your cat’s litter box will take some work, and you will need to consider a few things.
First, you will want to think about how many cats you have and the number and style of litter boxes installed. Once you have decided on your litter boxes, you will have to set them up strategically around your home so that the cats will easily find their way to them.
However, there is one thing that many cat owners tend to neglect when setting up their litter boxes: a litter mat. You may not have even heard of one of them, so we’ll discuss everything you should know about these helpful additions to your home so bear with us.
What Are Cat Litter Mats?
First, we’ll have to ensure that all of our readers are on the same page, as we can’t progress any further unless everyone’s following along. A cat litter mat (also referred to as a cat litter box mat) is what you would expect from reading the name.
These products consist of a mat placed underneath your litter box, typically larger than the box so that it extends past the edge, which is crucial to its function. These mats trap any litter your cat would track out of the box, and they do an excellent job of it.
If you are tired of your cat tracking litter onto your carpets or floors, a few solutions will be as effective as a cat litter trap mat. Remember that there are many different sizes, as you will find mats for multiple cat litter boxes, single litter boxes, and everything else in between those sizes.
Cat litter mats are typically made of a material that is easy to clean out, so you won’t have to put too much effort into getting the litter out of it. It is recommended that you clean these mats relatively often not to start smelling if bits of dirty litter end up falling out of the box.
In the end, there are many different kinds of kitty litter mats that you will come across, and each of them has its purpose. You will want to consider the number of cats you own, whether or not there are several litter boxes in the house, and your budget when deciding on the best litter mat.
How A Cat Litter Mat Helps Keep Your House Clean
So what exactly do these mats do to ensure that your home remains cleaner than it otherwise would? There are times when your cat’s paws still have a litter on them after your pet has used the box, and stopping this litter from being transferred to the rest of your home is the primary purpose of these mats.
A litter mat works by trapping the cat litter in it; there are a few different ways this can work. Some models are made with fabric that will absorb litter on your cat’s paws, while others will have channels in them so that the cat litter can fall through and get trapped.
By preventing the transfer of litter to other surfaces in your home, you can rest assured that you won’t live in cat litter. Of course, the need for one of these mats depends on whether the litter you purchase ends up on the paws of your cats in the first place, as that is not always the case.
Some types of cat litter will be particularly resistant to sticking to your cat’s paws, but the simple nature of cat litter means that some will be likely to remain regardless. Unless your litter box already has a built-in mat, you can never go wrong when adding a litter mat to your cat’s set-up.
DIY Cat Litter Mat
You can also make your own cat litter mat, though it likely won’t be as absorbent as purpose-built ones. A DIY litter mat can be a stop-gap measure until you get your hands on one. Here are a few options:
- An old rag or towel that is large enough
- An unfolded cardboard box
- A disused rug
- A tarp
Cats Deserve a Clean Space, and So Do You
Besides keeping your home clean, a cat litter mat can also help improve the area around the litter box, making it more pleasant for your cat. While cats are animals, we often forget that they have many of the same preferences, such as having clean surroundings.
Ensuring that your cats won’t have to live in their own filth will go a long way towards making them happier, as well as ensuring that your house doesn’t start smelling. Everybody wins when installing a litter mat for your feline friend since the home will be cleaner and healthier.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read our cat litter mat guide. We hope you have found all the information you were searching for throughout this article. Feel free to comment below and let us know what you think.
