If you only have one cat, you can probably get away with a single litter box because there won't be any other cat using it. However, if your house is quite large with an upstairs and downstairs, it's best to put one litter box on each floor.
Put a litter box on every floor.
If you live in a multi-story home, have a litter box on every floor. Cats can have occasional accidents if they don't have a litter box nearby when they need to go.
The cardinal rule of the litter box says you need one box for each cat plus one extra for the household. Have a multi-level home? Each floor needs a dedicated cat box. You'll want to make sure two litter boxes aren't right next to each other, which can be confusing for the cat.
Basements and laundry rooms are popular choices but not actually recommended. Instead, Geller suggests the bedroom. "Your bedroom is a good location for a cat litter box since it's usually a quiet place," she says.
Although the risks are small, you could become ill if you contract Toxoplasmosis, worms or you're exposed to too much ammonia. More likely, the noise and smell of your cat doing their business in it will either wake you up or keep you awake when you should be sleeping.
Instead of making a sudden change, move the litter box a few inches each day towards the new location. This gradual approach allows your cat to get accustomed to the change without feeling overwhelmed.
Fill the box and scoop often
We recommend 2-3 inches to provide enough depth for the clumps to form and rise to the top, leaving the bottom clean, no scraping or dumping needed. Don't fill it up too much though if your cat is a digger or a kicker or takes half the litter with them out of the box.
If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks. If you use a non-clumping litter and have only one cat, changing the litter twice per week is a good guideline. If you have more than one cat, every other day may work better.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.
Let Tidy help you do the math. Follow this simple rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three boxes. Making sure everyone has their space can help ease elimination issues.
As a cat foster mom, I recommend that new adopters have at least 1.5 litter boxes per cat. So if you have one cat, you need two litter boxes; two cats, three litter boxes. Some cats just don't like sharing litter boxes, and this ratio lets each cat claim his own.
Why do cats eliminate outside the litter box? Your cat may have litter box trouble for any number of reasons, including medical problems, an aversion to the litter box, or a preference for urinating or defecating in places outside the box.
A litter box that is not cleaned regularly, especially in a multi cat household, can turn a cat off from visiting his litter box. He may instead choose a more pleasant place to go, such as on the living room carpet. We recommend cleaning the litter box every day, especially if you have multiple cats.
No, they do not. Cats will urinate outside the litter box because of medical problems, stress, anxiety or improper litter box management, not because they are spiteful.
On one hand, too much litter in your cat's litter box can cause overflow and spillage problems all over your bathroom floor. On the other hand, too little litter in the box can create smelly and messy poo problems when your cat isn't able to dig enough litter to hide their solid waste.
How often should you change cat litter? Ideally, you should spot-clean your cat's litter tray every day and replace the litter at least once a week. If the tray is left to become dirty, your cat may prefer to use the floor instead!
If you can, you should aim to replace cat litter at least once per week. However, if you scoop the litter frequently, it is possible to stretch litter changes to once every two weeks. We find that the easiest way to stay on top of litter changes is to schedule it for the same day every week.
Some cats object to the feel of the liners, especially ill-fitting ones that end up with lots of folds. This may lead to litter box aversion if the box becomes an unpleasant place.
Many cat owners who haven't used a tight clumping litter before might be used to complete tray changes every week. With Natusan, however, one 10l bag of litter is usually enough to last one average indoor cat for a whole month!
Filling the Litter Box with Litter Your Cat Loves
Most cats and humans prefer a clumping cat litter. Humans like it because the urine clumps into scoopable masses that they can remove easily when cleaning. Cats like it because no urine or strong odor is left behind after scooping.
To increase the chances of your cat using the bed you have chosen, however, you can make sure that it is placed in a quiet place, away from any draughts. A warm place, next to a radiator or in the sun, is usually ideal.
But cats are born with the instinct to dig and cover their waste. Theoretically, she says, if you place an appropriate litter box in a room, a cat or kitten will use it. Stray cats transitioning from outdoor to indoor life also know what to do, but they might insist on using your houseplants rather than the litter box.
Keep Cat Bowls Away from the Litter Box
Food and litter boxes should be kept a considerable distance apart. The main reason is to avoid cross contamination that may occur when cats cover up after themselves. If litter particles end up in the food or water bowl, they may get eaten and cause your cats to become sick.