Maine Coons are distinguished by their large size and playful, active character. Therefore, choosing a suitable tray for cats of this breed may not be so easy. as if we were talking about a smaller pet. What are the options for trays and litter for Maine Coons and how can you choose from all their variety the one that your cat will be happy to use?
And is it possible to quickly and easily teach a Maine Coon kitten to use the cat litter box intended for it, and not leave puddles and piles in places not intended for this?
Kinds
Nowadays, you can easily choose a tray for a cat, since their range is very diverse in terms of design and color, so it’s not difficult to choose a tray that matches the color of the interior of the room where it will be placed. But in order to choose the right litter box for your Maine Coon, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of litter box.
Since adult cats of this breed are large in size, they need a fairly large tray, the minimum dimensions of which should be 40x80 cm.
Rectangular with low sides
Almost all other cats can use this litter box successfully.
But it is completely unsuitable for adult Maine Coons.
After all, these cats love to dig up litter.
Because of this, the granules will scatter far from such a tray every time your pet visits it.
For a small kitten of this breed who is just beginning to learn the “wisdom of the toilet,” such a tray will be very good. Kids are not afraid of its appearance, and the low sides allow the kitten to use it independently.
With high sides
Trays of this design often have additional sides that increase their height even more. For Maine Coons, such a tray is quite acceptable, since the high sides prevent the litter from scattering even if the pet vigorously rake it. In addition, cats like litter boxes with high sides as they create the illusion of an enclosed space and make them feel confident and safe.
For Maine Coons, trays with sides and a height of at least 10 cm are suitable.
Closed house
It is a closed structure that resembles a carrier in appearance and is equipped with a hinged door on the side.
One of the advantages of this design is that there is almost no unpleasant odor in the house from such a cat litter box.
After all, trays and houses are often equipped with carbon filters that absorb animal odors. Cats, as a rule, willingly use such trays, since in the toilet-house nothing distracts them from the process.
The disadvantages of closed toilets include their high price compared to other trays and the fact that they are inconvenient to clean if the tray does not slide out or if the top part cannot be removed from them.
Therefore, if you decide to buy a closed type tray, in the form of a house, then you need to choose the model that has a removable top or the one that is equipped with a retractable tray.
The cat shits in the wrong place
Usatii often combines criminal activities with legal ones, i.e. defecates both in and around the litter tray. Sometimes urine/feces in unauthorized places act as territory markers: this is what insecure animals do.
Reasons why a Maine Coon ignores its toilet:
- the cat doesn’t like the tray (shape, size, material);
- the cat is not satisfied with the placement of the tray;
- The cat is not happy with the litter.
You will return your pet to the right path by eliminating the root cause of the crime . The following will help eliminate odors on the floor/walls:
- disinfectant solutions;
- vinegar diluted in water;
- solution of potassium permanganate (weak);
- soda ash.
But if a cat urinates on the carpet, the latter will most likely have to be thrown away.
There are also preventive measures, which, however, do not work for everyone: lemon peels (in “dangerous” areas), special sprays, foil (whose rustling cats cannot stand) and tape (to which tailed animals really do not like to stick).
Physiological reasons
These include genitourinary diseases, colds, worms, constipation and other ailments. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, before punishing your Maine Coon, take him to the veterinary clinic.
Psychological disorders
This category is represented by such cat emotions as:
- resentment;
- attention deficit;
- jealousy;
- revenge;
- sadness;
- high/low self-esteem.
Maine Coons can be alarmed by renovations, moving, and even rearranging/buying furniture . Not finding the old marks, he will begin to mark the territory again. A cat can defecate in an apartment even after other animals appear in it in order to assert its rights.
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Fillers
No less important than the design of the tray is the filler for it. Not only whether the cat will willingly use its litter box or will avoid it, but also the pet’s health status depends on how high-quality and safe it is for the animal. What types of cat litter are there and what are their pros and cons?
Silica gel
They are synthetic granules. This is a rather expensive type of filler, but it is used sparingly and lasts a long time.
Used silica gel fillers should not be flushed down the toilet for disposal.
You also need to remember that if they are used for a kitten’s toilet, then you need to carefully ensure that the pet does not play with the granules of such a filler and does not accidentally swallow them. Since they pose a danger to animals if they enter the stomach.
Clumping
Absorbs moisture perfectly, while collecting into lumps. This type of filler is changed once a day, and it is enough to remove only the part that has clumped into clumps, and then add a little fresh one. Its advantages include cost-effectiveness, lack of odor, ease of cleaning and safety for the animal, which allows the use of clumping type litter even for kittens. The disadvantages include the fact that such filler is not cheap, and also the fact that from a tray that is not equipped with a mesh, it will constantly be carried around the house on the animal’s paws.
Absorbent
After the cat uses the tray, the appearance and structure of this mixture does not change. It absorbs liquid well and retains animal odors. This filler is inexpensive, but it is also the most uneconomical. It has to be changed, albeit not every day, but completely. In addition, if it has been used even halfway, the Maine Coon may refuse to use the litter box.
There are types of absorbent litters designed specifically for kittens.
General care recommendations
Before purchasing a Maine Coon for a family with small children, it is important to consider that they may be allergic to the animal’s fur and secretions.
This needs to be clarified before the kitten arrives. Children and cats tend to get along with each other. To prevent your child from being harmed by the claws of a Maine Coon, you should choose non-contact games, for example, with toys on a string or remote control. If a child handles a cat carefully, he will be happy to play with him. Maine Coons have a gentle character; they will not knowingly cause harm to their owners, but they can do this through negligence.
Maintaining and raising these large cats will require considerable financial costs, especially during the period of their active growth, when Maine Coons need large portions and complexes of vitamins and microelements.
When a Maine Coon girl goes into heat, it becomes a test for the owners: in addition to loud calling meows at any time of the day, the furniture and clothes of the owners may be damaged. If the owners do not plan to get offspring, then it is better to do sterilization. The operation must be carried out before the first heat begins.
If breeding animals is intended, then the appropriate time for the first mating is 10-15 months. A cat of this age is already ready to bear offspring. At the same time, the first estrus in cats appears at 6-10 months.
Organic
They are made from natural materials, mainly compressed sawdust. This filler is safe for cats and is not changed too often - once or twice a week. Organic filler, with the exception of some of its types, is inexpensive and is sold in any pet store and even in grocery supermarkets in the pet products departments. There are no disadvantages to high-quality wood filler, except for the fact that small particles of shavings from which it is made can be carried throughout the house on your pet’s paws.
In addition to wood, there is also a filler made from the inside of corn cobs. It absorbs odors and liquid well, but it can also emit an unpleasant aroma for the cat. In addition, due to the fact that the corn litter granules are very light, it is easier than other types of cat litter mixtures to be thrown out of the tray and carried around the house on the paws of the Maine Coon. This type of filler is somewhat more expensive than wood filler, and is much less common on sale.
Subtleties of education
To minimize the risk of your Maine Coon wandering off anywhere, limit his movements during the first month, leaving access to the litter box, kitchen, hallway, bathroom and one room.
Allowed Methods
At the first sign of anxiety (the cat is spinning and meowing), move it to the tray and place it on the bottom. Lightly rake the litter as cats do.
As soon as the Maine Coon goes into the tray, praise and pet him, reinforcing the skill. If your pet does not have time to reach the tray, blot the puddle with a napkin and put it in the tray: its smell will orient the cat next time.
This is interesting! They say that the Maine Coon is affected by hissing at the moment when he makes a puddle in front of your eyes. But you need to hiss immediately, and not after a few minutes/hours.
Prohibited tricks
Making your cat nervous will only delay the process of litter box training . In the arsenal of erroneous methods:
- screaming, irritation, swearing;
- physical punishment;
- repositioning the tray;
- fillers with sultry aromas.
Special advice to those who like to “poke the cat with its muzzle”: this trick will not work with a Maine Coon (it is not known who will poke whom).
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Selecting a location
Considering that a Maine Coon litter box takes up quite a lot of space, it is not always possible to place it in the toilet.
In this case, you can place the tray in the corridor.
But a bathroom or kitchen is completely unsuitable for placing a cat litter box.
As a last resort, you can place the tray on a glassed-in loggia.
But you need to take into account that the cat must always have access there.
In the cold season, this can create certain inconveniences for both the owner and the pet itself.
The Maine Coon's toilet area should not be located in a walkway or where there are drafts.
The main criteria when choosing a place for a litter box is that the cat feels safe there and that he has time to run to his toilet as quickly as possible, no matter what part of the house or apartment he is in.
Toilet care rules
Cats of this breed have a good sense of smell, so you need to clean their boxes often, and most importantly, on time. An enclosed litter box for your Maine Coon prevents contents from spreading around the house and around the litter box. Cleaning is required 2-3 times a day, the cat box must be treated with a special disinfectant solution as needed. Cats of this breed love to row in litter; for cleaning, you will definitely need a dustpan and a broom, water containers (dirty and clean), and garbage bags, because the used contents of the tray must be thrown away immediately.
How to train?
You need to start toilet training a kitten from the first day it arrives in the house.
In this case, at first it is better to use an open tray with low walls.
The baby will get used to it faster.
In order for the kitten to understand what this structure is intended for, you need to take it there after it has eaten and not let it out until the pet has done its business there. After the process is completed, the pet should be praised and rewarded with something.
Thus, the little Maine Coon will understand that the litter box is not scary, and that if he uses it as a toilet, the owner will definitely praise him, and maybe even give him some kind of treat. When using a tray, you should not allow your Maine Coon kitten to play with the litter or, especially, to swallow it, as some types of mixtures can cause serious health problems when eaten.
After the kitten begins to confidently use a low tray, he should be taught to use another model, with a design more suitable for Maine Coons.
Toilet training outdoors
A Maine Coon recovering in full view of passers-by is, rather, something out of the realm of fantasy. But, if you live in a large country cottage, try setting up a closet in the yard: install a tray, for example, under a tree.
This is interesting! It is better to place the toilet under a canopy so that the pet is not exposed to rain or sunlight. Take your Maine Coon to the litter box after each feeding, supervising him until he starts running there on his own.
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What are they?
You can easily purchase cat litter boxes at pet stores. They vary in size (small, medium, large), structure, strength and color. So, let's look at three options for trays that are suitable for a Maine Coon.
- Rectangular, low sides . This option is suitable for a kitten who has just arrived from the nursery and is adapting to life in an apartment. He is miniature, and the furry baby will not be afraid of him. The kitten can easily climb into the small tray on its own.
Naturally, Maine Coon owners can consider such products as temporary.
- Medium size tray with high sides. This product is suitable for an older cat. High walls will not allow the filler to fly away in different directions, and the playful naughty boy will feel safe in the “closed” space.
Please note that trays with high sides (at least 10 cm) are suitable for Maine Coons.
- Closed tray house. Quite an expensive model, but with clear advantages. This is a closed structure, similar in appearance to a carrier. Its main advantage is the “absorption” of unpleasant odors, since the “house” is equipped with carbon filters. Cats are very fond of such trays, since in an enclosed space nothing distracts them from the process. At the same time, such a toilet is not very convenient to clean, especially when the “roof” cannot be removed.
Therefore, when choosing a model, pay attention to all the “retractable” parts. Otherwise, you will quickly get rid of the product. In addition, the house-tray for the Maine Coon should be large enough and roomy.
Tray for Maine Coon: how to choose and accustom a kitten to it?
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Beautiful and large cats of the Maine Coon breed are distinguished by their mobility and playful character. In this regard, the main task for breeders is to choose the right tray that will suit the characteristics of the pet. The sizes and shapes of the cat litter box may vary. The main thing is to take into account the individual characteristics of your furry pet and make the right choice.
Where to put?
Its location plays an important role in toilet training a furry pet. Since the tray for Maine Coons is quite large, it is not always possible to place it in the restroom. An alternative location will be the corridor. The tray can also be placed on a glassed-in loggia. But in this case, the pet must have constant access to it. In addition, the cat litter should not be located in the aisle or where there are drafts.
It is important that your pet feels safe and comfortable in the litter box. He must get to the toilet without obstacles from any corner of the home.
It is necessary to clean your cat's litter box regularly. For these purposes, you can purchase a special safe disinfectant, which is sold at any pet store. The fact is that a dirty litter box can cause rejection in a Maine Coon, since raccoon cats have a very sensitive sense of smell. Sometimes owners give their pets two trays - for “big” and “small” matters.
For the intricacies of choosing a tray and filler for a Maine Coon, watch the video below.
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