Four Reasons Why Litter Box Liners Are a Bad Idea

On the rare occasion that I spot a liner in a new Teacher's Pet Sitting Service client's litter box I inform the owner that I will remove it on the first visit because it simply isn't convenient for me or for the cat(s) for the following four reasons:

1. Liners don’t always fit perfectly and can fold back into the box as the cat uses her paws to cover her waste.

2. Cats can poke holes in the liners as they scratch allowing urine to seep through to the bottom of the litter box. If cats get their claws stuck in the plastic as they attempt to cover it can create an unpleasant association with the litter box and may choose to retaliate by defecating outside of the box.

3. If there are holes in the liner the litter will fall through in several tiny streams. If urine has leaked through the holes then you’ll have either wet or dried urine on the outside of the liner as well as on the bottom of the litter box.

4. Many cat owners think having liners gives them permission to change them once a week without any scooping whatsoever which is unfair to cats because they deserve a clean box on a daily basis. 

By removing the liner, your cat will appreciate having a litter box set-up that is appealing, clean, and won’t cause his or her claws to get stuck in plastic!

I hope this post encourages you to make a change (get it?) to your cat's litter box!