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If you’ve read us for any length of time, you know that our favorite litter box is the NVR Miss litter box.
When I adopted Ruby in 2011, I didn’t realize that I would be embarking on the search for the perfect litter box. Ruby was a vertical pee-er. I had never had one of those. My regular litter box wasn’t going to work any longer.
Vertical peeing is not the same as spraying. Spraying is usually done by male cats. When a cat sprays, he stands up, typically makes a treading motion with his back feet, quivers his tail and sprays urine onto a vertical surface such as a wall. Spraying is a marking behavior. Ruby started out squatting and peeing horizontally, but slowly and gradually raised her rear end throughout the duration of her peeing.
Say no to covered litter boxes
I never considered a covered box. While some cats seem to like the privacy they provide, covered litter boxes boxes are often too small for the cat to comfortably turn around in and do their business. What’s worse is that they can trap odors inside, making them very unpleasant for the cat to use (the equivalent of a human port-a-potty!) Dust can also be a bigger problem in a covered box, as it becomes more concentrated when cats dig.
A covered box prevents parents from seeing how the cat acts while in the box. Knowing what’s normal for your cat and being able to detect any changes in litter box behaviors can help detect health problems early. A cat who is straining in the litter box may be on the verge of being blocked, which is a life-threatening emergency.
The bottom line: in most cases, covered boxes are for humans, not cats.
The best solution: a roomy, open, high-sided litter box
I didn’t want to use a modified storage container. My litter boxes are out in the open, so they needed to look at least somewhat pleasing to my eye. I was thrilled when I discovered the NVR Miss in 2011. At 11.2 inches high, this was the highest uncovered litter box on the market at the time, and the simple, sleek design blends in well with any decor. Unfortunately, since the maker of NVR Miss is based in Canada, shipping costs have continued to increase over the years, putting the NVR Miss out of reach for many cat parents.
Since then, high sided litter boxes have been easier to find, but so far, noone else has made one as high as the NVR Miss. At 10 inches, the Frisco High Sided Litter Box comes close.
Frisco High Sided Litter Box features
At 24 inches long, 18 inches wide and 10 inches high, this litter box is generously sized so even large cats can use it comfortably. Made from BPA free recyclable plastic, this box is a good choice for eco-conscious cat parents. Slightly rounded corners make cleaning easy.
The litter box comes in navy and a taupe/grey color.
The Frisco High Sided Litter Box is available from Chewy.com.
*FTC Disclosure: The Conscious Cat is an affiliate partner of Chewy.com. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.
