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The Behavioural Impact on Cats during a Transition from a Clay-Based Litter to a Plant-Based Litter
Jennifer Frayne1, Michelle Edwards2, James R Templeman1,3
1Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|April 23, 2022
Summary
Transitioning cats to new litter products over 6 days appears adequate, with no significant changes in elimination behaviors observed. However, cats showed increased sniffing during the transition period, suggesting careful monitoring is still beneficial for litter box acclimation.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Veterinary Science
- Feline Studies
Background:
- Current veterinary guidelines recommend a gradual 6-day transition period when switching cat litter products to minimize feline stress.
- Understanding feline litter box behavior is crucial for pet well-being and owner satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the current 6-day litter transition guideline for domestic cats.
- To observe and analyze feline behavioral changes during a transition from clay-based litter to a plant-based litter product.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen adult domestic cats were divided into two cohorts and transitioned from clay-based litter (CLAY) to plant-based litter (PLANT) over six days.
- Litter box behaviors, including urination, defecation, covering, and digging, were monitored remotely throughout the transition (Period 1) and an subsequent eight-day period on the new litter (Period 2).
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in urination, defecation, covering, or digging behaviors between the transition period (Period 1) and the established plant-based litter period (Period 2).
- Cats exhibited increased sniffing frequency in Period 2 compared to Period 1.
- During the transition (Period 1), cats sniffed the partially transitioned litter boxes more often and for longer durations than boxes with only the new plant-based litter.
Conclusions:
- The 6-day litter transition period appears sufficient for most cats, as key elimination behaviors remained stable.
- Increased sniffing during the transition phase suggests cats do notice the change, even if it doesn't disrupt core behaviors.
- Litter transition success may be influenced by the specific types of litter products involved (clay vs. plant-based).
