Flushing litter into a septic tank can cause problems, so even those litters which claim to be flushable probably should not be – and clumping litter can definitely not be flushed. Regardless of claims made by the litter companies, there is something illogical about disposing of pounds heavy clay in a system not designed for this use.

If you still want to try flushable litter, first call your builder or the manufacturer of your toilet to see whether the plumbing or the septic system can handle cat litter. You might also want to contact your local building department to find out what the local rules are in your area before you flush that handle!

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

You’ll want to make sure there is enough room for the cat to defecate or urinate in a couple of areas and still have a clean place to put its paws. If the space is so small that a single “deposit” in the box uses up a lot of the litter surface, your cat will be discouraged from wanting to step back in there and use it again.

What you want to avoid is having one out-of-litter-box event – that can all too easily become a hard-to-break habit.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

It’s easy to create a safe, outdoor enclosure on your porch or lawn so you can finally feel the wind in your fur. Complete with zippered doors, nylon netting for ventilation and visibility, and weight bags for stability, the Funhouse is tougher than it looks. It’s even safe for small dogs that need a temporary space or a breath of fresh of air, too. Find it at 
www.amazon.com/Feline-Funhouse.

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If you want the cats you are vacation-sitting to love you – and since you are a dog person you indeed DO want everybody to love and approve of you because that’s how you’re wired – DO clean the litter box every day. Cats have to prance around in the box to do what they do. How would you feel if your box were full of last night’s dinner? Cats love dog people (and dogs) who take care of them.

Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, click here to follow them on Twitter.

Go to the pet store and buy the most highly recommended cat toy you can find. Don’t even try to pick it out yourself. Dog people will pick up a useless rope tug toy or a big heavy kong. Let the salesperson guide you. (And do not be cheap. Heaven forbid Kitty chokes on your cheap chicken feather covered scrap.) Then, enter softly, rustle the bag, and whisper, “Who’s your daddy?” as you bring out that catnip toy on a fly fishing rod. Bet you’ll have that cat eating out of your hand in no time.

Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, click here to follow them on Twitter.

Why does this simple herb have such a hold on cats? There is a chemical in catnip that mimics the effects of a pheromone. It is nontoxic to cats and has some good uses – it can act as a stimulant and encourage activity, it can be used in training, and, for some cats, it actually mellows them out.

Of course, if your cat is climbing the walls or trying to fly, you might want to cut back for awhile.

My sister has a much cheaper and efficient system she calls the relay system. She has two litter boxes (check a dollar store for really cheap boxes). When one needs changing, she puts it on the porch and then sets up the other one in its place. She uses newspaper in the bottom to collect leakage and a 30 gallon trash bag, which is much cheaper than bags made for litter boxes. She then empties the dirty one and puts some dish soap and water in it and lets it sit out on the porch to deodorize. And the best thing? You can even be lazy and clean it the next day.

For those of us who like to hit up a little catnip every now and then (and keep in mind that’s only about 60% of us), we like it fresh. So if you’ve got a bag of old stuff in the closet that’s been there for several months… toss it and buy some new stuff. Such an action will be highly appreciated.

Never fear, there’s a new type of house available for a fraction of the price – the cardboard cottage. These houses are naturally attractive to cats for scratching and hiding. They can even climb in them. Two choices under $40 are available here and here. These are easy to assemble and you cat will thank you, as he plays in the cardboard box it came in.