Litter tray advice please!

[NuzzleandScratch]

So we are getting a kitten soon, but not having had a cat since I was a child, I'm a little out of touch with what's what! What kind of litter tray do people recommend? Covered or open? If it makes a difference, we do also have a dog, so I'm aware we may need to stop him poking his nose in! Also what type of litter?

Many thanks

I have a covered litter tray, I’d definitely want covered with a dog -our old dog used to try and eat cat poop!

We use wood based cat litter. The wet bits just turn to sawdust and, when scooped out, can be buried in the garden to break down so you don’t have loads of litter filling your bin. I just pick the poop out with a poop bag. Don’t put cat poop down the toilet -I can’t believe people have started doing this. Most water companies say not to & it harms marine life. If you get an extra bottom tray and drill holes in the top one then, with a shake, the sawdust drops to the bottom so you only have to top up the tray a few times a week. I scoop the unused litter out to wash the tray out completely each week then put the unused litter back in and refresh. No smells.

Our cat mostly uses an outside litter tray now, so I didn’t get around to making the sifting tray but there are videos on YouTube on how to make one. We have a big planter just filled with compost outside. It means I know she isn’t bothering the neighbours by going in their garden.

Wood based litter can be used from any age, clumping litter can be dangerous, especially to kittens.

Clumping litter contains sodium bentonite, and it is especially dangerous for cats. The sodium bentonite can clump inside of their intestines and cause a blockage. In extreme cases, it can even cause bentonite toxicosis when ingested

Thank you very much for all this info. We ended up collecting the kitten today, so I got some Cats Best, which I'd heard good things about. It says you can flush the clumps made from when they wee, but are you saying that might not be ok? Or is it just poo you shouldn't flush? Will look into the type you describe anyway.

For a kitten I would go with a literal tray (like a tea tray) for the first few weeks so they can get in and out easily. Then progress to deeper sides as they grow. We have never had a covered tray as my cats don't like them but then we don't have a poop eating dog.

You can’t flush cat poo, I use doggy bags for that instead, kittens need non clumping litters. Pets at home sell kitten litters.

Some cats don’t like covered trays, you find out by finding a puddle because they’ve decided they don’t like the new tray.

Thanks, I just got the basic £7 tray from Pets at Home for now, then figured I could get something different in due course if need be. The breeder says she's been very good about using the tray, but stupidly I didn't ask what type it was. Good to know some cats don't like the covered ones though!