There are a few ways you can stop cats from using a sandbox where your child plays as a litter box.
If your cat is the offender, for instance, you can build a barrier, use cat deterrents, or consider keeping your cat indoors. Although it’s not an easy task, you normally don’t want to overlook the problem because doing so could endanger the children who play in the sandbox.
The rationale behind cats utilizing sandboxes as toilets.
In the wild, cats naturally excrete on sand or soft ground to facilitate simple burial. They sweep their paws behind them to cover their excrement. This instinct in cats that visit or hang around in your yard finds a natural outlet in the backyard sandbox. There aren’t many differences between it and the indoor litter box your cat uses.
It could be harmful for people if cats are allowed to urinate in the sandbox, though. Since cat feces can harbor parasitic diseases like toxoplasmosis and round worms, children may come into touch with these conditions while playing. Most parasitized cats also don’t show any symptoms. Even if your cat is healthy, stray cats or your neighbors’ outdoor cats may still be spreading deadly diseases.
How to Stop Cats from Peeing in the Sandbox
The cause of this behavioral issue is clear-cut, but the cure is not. Use your severe tone and find a diversion that is more appealing than the sand. This is especially true if you have to deal with stray or neighborhood cats, whose behavior you have little influence over.
Closing the sandbox
The simplest approach to stop cats from getting into your kids’ play sand is to make it a routine to cover the sandbox whenever kids aren’t using it. As soon as possible, empty the sandbox, wash it with a solution of 3/4 cup household bleach to each gallon of water, allow it to dry completely, and then re-fill it with fresh, clean sand.
Prepare It
Cat poop or faeces in a sandbox where kids are playing is merely disgusting and filthy, and the fragrance may attract more cats to your yard.
A store-bought sandbox could have a cover that serves as an animal and weather barrier while not in use. Another choice is to construct your own cover out of thick outdoor materials, such as wood, lattice, screening, or metal.
Employ sprinklers
An alternate strategy for animal deterrence is to install a device like a motion-activated water sprinkler. They are often used in gardens, therefore these are frequently found in the gardening section of hardware or big-box stores.
If a sprinkler is put right next to the sandbox, the cats will probably get the message. The disadvantage of this strategy is that the sandbox could also get wet depending on how the spray is directed.
Use natural deterrents
There are a variety of natural obstacles you may use to keep cats out of the sandbox. A non-toxic anti-kitty mixture can be made using any of these components, either separately or in conjunction with others. You will need to reapply them frequently though because rain, sun, and wind reduce their effectiveness.
- Since cats don’t enjoy the scent of vinegar, spraying a vinegar-water mixture around the sandbox’s perimeter may be of assistance.
- They also don’t like the smell of citrus. Peels from oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits can be kept and thrown around the sandbox.
- Cats can’t stand the smell of coffee, therefore the sandbox can be covered in coffee grounds.
Mist with store-bought repellents.
A variety of commercial sprays made to discourage cats are regularly used by gardeners. They contain substances that cats find disgusting but are safe for kids and cats. Make sure you thoroughly read and follow the manufacturer’s directions listed on the product label.
This kind of spray may be useful to use along the border of a sandbox. The spray must be often reapplied because rain and sunlight will eventually degrade it.
Change to a cat that lives only inside.
If your cat appears to be the cause of the sandbox mess, you might need to make her an indoor-only cat. Start the process by providing the cat with at least two indoor litter boxes and train it to use them. The normal rule is one box per cat, plus one extra at first. Once the cat has been trained, you can reduce to just one box.
When your cat is outside, keep an eye on it.
If your yard is free from predators and other cats can’t get in, you can still periodically allow your cat outside, but this will only work if you can keep a watch on the cat at all times. Even better, some cats enjoy fetch just like their canine counterparts, so you can teach them to play outside.
Every time you observe your cat moving closer to the sandbox, pick it up and move it. Since every cat is different, you might need to try a few deterrents or deterrent combinations before you find one that works for your specific situation. Eventually, your cat will learn to stay away from the sandbox.
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your family pet, know the pet’s health history, and may make the best recommendations for your pet.
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