How To Stop Cat From Tracking Litter?

Living with one cat is living with a dozen cookie monsters that leave crumbs all around the house, but litter is worse because it carries tiny particles of urine and feces.

Some feline owners get so sick of the feeling of litter under their feet that they start walking with their cats like dogs or teach them to use the toilet, but there are better solutions.

In most cases, tracking can be drastically reduced by changing the litter box, its location, litter type, and trimming the cat’s fur.

Why Do Cats Track Litter?

Regardless of your efforts, some litter inevitably ends up scattered across the floor, raising a logical question – why do cats track litter? Sure, some litter particles stick between a cat’s toes, but it can’t be that much, right?

Sometimes, cats jump into the litter box after walking in the bathtub, and crumbling types of litter better stick to wet paws. A cat may also pee on its feet, causing litter to stick (gross).

Many cats have an annoying habit of digging litter for several minutes, causing more waste to end up on the floor and get stuck between their toes. After the cat walks out of the litter box, it steps into the mess and tracks litter further.

Litter tracking is typically worse with longhaired cats because litter particles get stuck in the fur, not solely in the paws but also the tail and belly.

Lastly, some cats have an odd preference for resting in the litter box, which doesn’t help keep the house clean from litter particles.

Change The Litter Type

From personal experience, some cat litter types track more than others. As a rule of thumb, clumping litter with small particles tracks more than non-clumping pellets, but tracking isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing cat litter.

Many feline owners prefer clay litter. It’s the most common and the oldest commercially produced litter type with numerous benefits.

Clay cat litter is easy to clean, effectively absorbs odor, and is all-natural. Unfortunately, clay litter breaks down into dust, potentially causing respiratory issues and making the floor messy.

Furthermore, clay litter particles are tiny and lightweight, so they get stuck between a cat’s toes and in the fur. Clay litter isn’t the best option for cats that have a habit of digging in the litter box for long.

Walnut cat litter is an excellent clay cat litter alternative because it causes less dust, but the particles are also small and stick to a cat’s paws. Furthermore, walnut litter requires frequent stirring to absorb the urine.

Corn is another alternative to clay litter with pretty much the same properties. It’s clumping, easy to clean, eco-friendly, and odor-absorbing, but it tracks a lot.

Paper pellet cat litter has become increasingly popular recently due to its environmental friendliness. It’s highly liquid-absorbent and natural but doesn’t absorb the odor.

Paper pellets are lightweight yet too big to get stuck between a cat’s toes or in its fur, so it doesn’t track as much as clay or walnut litter.

Overall, paper litter is an excellent solution for cat owners fed up with tracking but ready to clean the litter box more frequently to deal with the odor.

If you’re looking for cat litter that doesn’t track and effectively absorbs odor, consider pine pellets – but only if you’re ready to enjoy Christmas tree scent year-round.

Silica gel cat litter may be the strangest on the list. Although it absorbs odor and liquid, it must be frequently stirred around, is expensive, and tracks like crazy because of the lightweight and small particles. Verdict – not recommended.

Note that some cats are very specific in their litter preferences. If your cat has been going on clay litter its whole life, it may be hesitant to use another type.

Get Closed-Top Litter Box

The most popular cat litter box type is an open rectangular box. Open litter boxes are cheap and compact, but that’s where their advantages end.

Open litter boxes provide no barriers to odor, dust, and litter particles, so owners have to commit to cleaning around the box daily. Furthermore, some cats dig in open litter boxes excessively, trying to bury their feces.

Covered litter boxes are significantly more convenient. Although they’re pricier and bulkier, they contain unpleasant odors and prevent litter particles from being scattered around.

Even if a cat digs inside a litter box, less litter ends up on the floor. The cover is also beneficial for cats valuing privacy – some cats even use litter boxes as their safe space when stressed.

The best cat litter box to reduce tracking is a top-entry box. Such litter boxes are enclosed with walls from each side, so a cat can dig its litter as much as it wants without scattering it around.

The cover usually has small holes that work like a sieve, removing litter particles stuck to a cat’s paws as it jumps out. Professional cat breeders find this litter box type a lifesaver because it drastically reduces cleaning frequency.

Note that top-entry litter boxes may not be suitable for kittens, senior cats, and cats with health issues because they are tall. I’ve seen a cat on three legs jump into such a litter box, though, so most cats can get used to it.

Get a Mat

Covered and top-entry litter boxes are pricey. If you don’t want to spend extra money or find them too bulky, put a mat under your cat’s litter box.

Most litter particles will remain on the mat when your cat walks out of the litter box. The mat can be from any material, but it should have some texture to trap litter particles and prevent them from scattering across the floor.

Pick a large enough carpet. The larger the mat’s surface, the less litter will end up on your sofa, bed, and kitchen counter.

Litter Box Location

Consider where to place the cat litter box to reduce tracking. First, take into account the general rules for cat litter box location.

Cats like private, quiet locations, so don’t place the litter box in a busy area in your home, even if the box has a lid. The litter box shouldn’t be close to a cat’s food.

Ensure that the litter box is always accessible – don’t place it in rooms with frequently closed doors or upstairs.

Now, observing these rules, try to find a place as far away from your bedroom and kitchen as possible – these are the places you’re the least willing to find litter.

Don’t place the litter box close to carpeted surfaces. Yes, the litter will get stuck in the carpet and won’t track everywhere else, but it may be hard to remove.

Clean The Litter Box Frequently

Cleaning the litter box more frequently isn’t an obvious solution to litter tracking, but it can help if your cat loves digging in the litter box. Excessive litter digging scatters litter particles around the house and gets on your nerves.

First, you should identify the root of such behavior. Sometimes, excessive litter digging signals health issues, including cognitive dysfunction, stress, bladder stones, and inflammation.

However, if your cat shows no other behavioral or physical abnormalities, the chances are that it simply doesn’t like going to a dirty litter box or thinks there’s not enough litter.

Digging is instinctive in cats. In the wild, cats bury their feces to conceal them from other cats and prevent giving out information about their location and health state.

When a cat believes there’s not enough litter to bury feces, it may dig excessively. If you’re sure your cat doesn’t suffer from a medical condition, try to pour more litter into the litter box and clean it more frequently.

If you have multiple cats, get one litter box for each cat to maintain the litter fresh and prevent your cats from excessive digging.

Play With Your Cat

Another not-so-apparent solution to excessive litter digging and consequent particle tracking is to play with the cat during the day. Some cats perceive the litter box as a playground, jumping in it and digging just for fun.

The problem is prevalent with kittens who have a lot of energy and don’t yet understand the purpose of a litter box, but some adult cats are equally goofy.

If your cat digs litter for fun, spend at least 15 minutes playing with it during the day to drain its energy. You may also buy toys for independent play, such as ball track toys or kibble balls.

Trim Your Cat’s Paws

If you have a longhaired cat, have its paws trimmed by a professional groomer to reduce litter tracking. If your cat is patient and doesn’t mind grooming, you can learn to do it yourself.

There’s no universal answer for how often to trim cat paws. As a rule of thumb, trim them every two to three weeks.

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