Cats of any breed, including the docile tempered Persian, can get picky about their litter box. In this article, I present a few tips to help prevent litter box problems.

Location of litter box:

• Do not put the litter box in an out-of the-way spot to minimize odor and prevent cat litter from being tracked throughout the house.
• Your Persian cat, as well as other cat breeds, may not like their litter box ending up in the basement, next to an appliance or on a cold cement floor
• The litter box should be kept in a spot that affords the cat some privacy, yet is also in a convenient location
• If you place the litter box in a closet or bathroom, be sure the door is wedged open from both sides to prevent he or she from being trapped inside or locked out
• Depending upon the location, you might even consider cutting a hold in a closet door and adding a pet door

Litter:

• Research has shown most cats, which includes the docile Persian, prefer fine-grained litters, most likely because of the softer feel
• The new scoop-able (clumping) litters usually have finer grains than the typical clay litter and are very popular
• High-quality, dust-free, clay litters are relatively small-grained and may be perfectly acceptable to your cat
• If the pet has spent part of his or her life outdoors, he or she may be inclined to eliminate in your houseplants. Try mixing some potting soil with your regular litter. Pellet-type litters or those made from citrus peels are not recommended.
• When you find a litter your Persian cat likes, stick with it.
• Do not be tempted to buy the sale or least expensive litter in any given week. This could result in your pet not using the litter box.
• Many cats do not like the odor of scented or deodorant litters
• It is not a good idea to place a room deodorizer or air freshener near the litter box
• A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling the cat, and odors should not be a problem as well if you keep the litter box
• If you find the litter box offensive, your Persian cat will probably find it even more offensive and won't want to eliminate there
• Always keep one litter box per cat, this helps prevent multiple cats from eliminating in the litter box because it is already occupied
• You might also want to consider placing litter boxes in several locations around the house in multiple cat households
• Place at least one litter box on each level of your house
• Since it is not possibly to personalize the litter boxes for each cat in your household, someone might occasionally refuse to use a litter box after another cat has used it (sort of like people don't like to use a toilet that was just used and not flushed). In this case, all litter boxes will need to be kept extremely clean and additional boxes may be needed.

Covered Litter Boxes

• A covered litter box may introduce potential problems
• To find out which type your Persian cat prefers, you might want to experiment by offering both types at first

Potential Problems of Covered Litter Boxes

• You might forget to clean the litter box as frequently as you should because the dirty litter is "out of sight."
• A covered litter box traps odors inside. It will need to be cleaned more often than an open one.
• A covered litter box may not allow a large Persian cat sufficient room to turn around, scratch, dig, or get into a preferred position
• A covered litter box may make it easier for another cat to lay in wait and "ambush" the user as she or he exits the box

Positive side to a covered litter box:

• It may feel more private and timid Persians or other cat breeds may even prefer it

Keeping the litter box clean:

• Feces should be scooped out daily
• How often you change the litter depends upon the number of cats you have, the number of litter boxes, and the type of litter you use
• Twice a week is a general guideline for clay litter
• If you clean the litter box daily, scoop-able litter may only need to be changed every two to three weeks
• If you notice an odor or if much of the litter is wet or clumped, it is time to change it
• Do not use strong smelling chemicals or cleaning products when washing the litter box. The cat may refuse to use it, and some cleaning products are toxic to cats. Soap and water is sufficient.

Liners:

• Some Persian cats may not mind having a plastic liner in the litter box, while others do. You may want to experiment to see what your cat prefers.
• If you use a liner, be sure it is anchored in place, so it can't easily catch your cat's claws or be pulled out of place

Depth of litter:

• More is not better. Most Persian cats won't use litter that is more than about two inches deep, and some even prefer less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the litter box
• Adding extra litter does not help keep the box clean

Litter-Training:

• Cats are not litter-trained in the same way dogs are housetrained.
• A cat does not need to be taught what to do with a litter box
• Instinct will generally take over
• Provide an acceptable, accessible litter box using the suggestions in this article
• It is also not generally necessary to move her paws back and forth in the litter, and may create an unpleasant experience that is likely to initiate a negative association with the litter box. However, there are some cat owners who feel this is necessary, it is not generally recommended by most cat behavioral specialists.

What if problems still develop?

• If your Persian cat begins to eliminate in areas other than the litter box, call your vet. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat's litter box habits
• If the vet determines your Persian cat is healthy, the cause may be behavior that can be resolved by using behavior modification techniques
• Punishment is never the answer
• Never throw your cat outdoors for a litter box problem
• If you cannot solve the problem yourself, contact an animal behavior specialist who has experience working with cats

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