• Daily Purr
  • Posts
  • 🐈 How do cats know to use the litter box?

🐈 How do cats know to use the litter box?

Tuesday 1/13: Sponsored by Tailfeather - cat retirement village, tailfeather presale, COTD

ā€œCats are proof that calm can be powerful.ā€

Happy Tuesday:

  • šŸ” The retirement village for elderly cats

  • 🐈 How do cats know to use the litter box?

  • 😸 Why your cat will love this litter

  • šŸˆā€ā¬› Cat of the day: Leona

Did You Know?

Clumping litter was first invented in the year _____.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answer!)

The Heartwarming Village for Elderly Cats

Tucked in the English countryside, Shropshire Cat Rescue is home to one of the most heartwarming ideas ever: a retirement village built just for elderly cats. Founded by Marion and Richard Micklewright, the rescue has spent more than two decades saving senior cats that shelters once considered too old to rehome.

Built in 2009, the cat-sized village looks like a tiny town, complete with a storefront, cozy chalets, and even a ā€œMoggies Mansionā€ where residents mingle. Many cats there are well into their 20s, enjoying their golden years with soft beds, sunny spots, and plenty of affection.

Shropshire isn’t alone. Others, like Florida’s Cats Cradle sanctuary, offer similar havens for senior felines. But Shropshire’s village remains one of the most charming, and it continues to expand through its PURR Project, which will add a nursery, hospital, and education center. For these cats, retirement means love, safety, and endless naps in the sun.

Why Cats Instinctively Use Litter Boxes

Cats have a natural instinct to bury their waste, a behavior seen in both domestic and wild felines. This helps conceal their scent from predators and dominant cats, keeping them safe. Our indoor kitties retain this instinct, making litter box use feel natural to them.

In the wild, cats seek out soft, loose textures like soil or sand to dig and cover their waste, minimizing detection and territorial disputes (even tigers!). They also choose spots that feel safe—areas that are quiet, private, and away from food sources. When we provide a litter box with fine, soft-textured litter, effective odor control, and a location that offers privacy, our cats instinctively recognize it as the ideal place to go.

The right litter setup signals to our cats, ā€œAhh yes, this is the spot!ā€ By mimicking their natural preferences, we make sure they feel secure, comfortable, and confident using their litter box every time.

Your Cats Favorite Cat Litter

When it comes to litter, your cat knows best. That’s why Tailfeather is designed with their natural instincts in mind.

Traditional clay litters that crystalline silica, a substance the CDC and OSHA classify as a known human carcinogen when inhaled in significant or repeated amounts. Tailfeather is made from coconut and cassava. This plant-based litter feels like a soft, natural texture similar to what cats would use outdoors—giving them the comfort they crave.

Tailfeather’s lightweight formula is 70% lighter than traditional litter, and is highly absorbant, with coconut husk holding up to nine times its weight in liquid.

Tailfeather is biodegradable and plastic-free, making it an eco-friendly choice that’s better for both your cat and the planet. And with packaging that’s recyclable, you can feel good about the entire product.

Each Tailfeather bag lasts up to 8 weeks, twice as long as most other litters, and is conveniently delivered right to your door.

For the next 24 hours, Revel readers get a $15 credit on their first order with code Purr15.

Thank you to Tailfeather for sponsoring Daily Purr.

Cat of the Day: Leona

Meet Leona, a tuxedo queen with a flair for the dramatic! Samantha adopted her during the pandemic, and she’s been the ultimate combination of silly and shy ever since. While she tends to keep her distance from guests, she absolutely adores her human.

Leona saves most of her energy for the nighttime when she turns the house into her personal playground, complete with joyful screams echoing down the hall. Her favorite treat? Whipped cream, of course.

She also has a sister, Esmeralda, who’s often the audience to her late-night performances.

Image courtesy of Daily Purr reader, Samantha.

Cat’s Corner

From surprise houseguests to cozy getaways, here’s what’s trending this week:

Meet The Team

Daily Purr is brought to you with love from our cats. We hope they can brighten your day, just like they do ours. ā¤ļø

Love,

Olive, Milo, and Yasmine.

🐱 Bite-Sized Treats

🧐 Did You Know: Clumping litter was first invented in the year 1947.

😸 COTD: Give your kitty the spotlight by submitting them for Cat of the Day. Reply to this email with your best photos of your cat, their name, and a short description for the chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter!

šŸ’Œ Reply for a surprise: If you are reading this reply with your cat’s favorite treat for a surprise in your inbox!