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. Some owners prefer a hooded box, but some cats don't like them.
And when they are doing something as private as elimination, sharing the same litter box can be stressful for some cats. Ideally, a multi-cat household should have the same number of litter boxes as the number of cats, plus one extra box; in other words, for two cats, there should be three litter boxes.
Are you overwhelmed with the number of conventional litter boxes in your home? The Humane Society and other sources suggest having 1.5 litter boxes per cat. That means three litter boxes for two cats and five litter boxes for three!
If you have more than one cat, make sure you provide enough litter trays - we recommend one tray per cat, and a spare is also a good idea.
In general, bigger is better and many litter boxes are too small. Litter boxes should be 1 ½ times the length of your cat from the nose to the base of the tail. The litter box needs to be large enough to allow your cat to enter, turn around, scratch, and eliminate.
"The rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one extra," Galaxy says. 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.
However, Cats Can Share Water Bowls
But, cats tend to get thirsty and drink at different times. So, it is less likely that multiple cats will try to drink at the same time from the same water bowl. There also is usually a lot more water, enough for everyone.
Place litter boxes in separate, socially important areas.
Keeping litter boxes out in the open might not be your ideal scenario, but it's ideal for your cat, and it can solve litter box issues. If you have multiple cats, do not place the boxes side-by-side, right next to each other.
When setting up litter boxes for multiple cats, it's best to have one litter box for each cat and then one extra. So, how many litter boxes for three cats? You'd want at least four boxes. When you choose the boxes, make sure that they're appropriate and accessible for all the cats in your home.
There's a litter box rule of thumb: n+1.
In the veterinary profession we have a litter box "rule of thumb," it's called the “n+1 rule.” And basically what it means is that you should have one more litter box than the number of cats you have.
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.
“Cats are very sensitive to sudden changes to their environment. They may not take the time to look” for the box's new location.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
Whisker fatigue doesn't exactly mean the whiskers are tired, rather, they've become stressed from overuse. The most common cause of whisker fatigue is something a cat does every day – eating and drinking. Small, high-sided bowls typically used for feeding a cat's food and water are usually to blame for whisker fatigue.
Dr. Chris Miller, AtlasVet DC: The good news is that drinking after your cat is very unlikely to cause any significant health concerns. Cats can be finicky drinkers, but the amount one cat drinks compared to another can be highly variable.
Experts recommend cleaning the litter box monthly, but maybe more frequently depending on the number of kitties, the type of litter, your cat's output and health, and your preferences.
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.
Justine A. Lee, a long-time veterinarian, believes the box should be scooped daily but admits it's OK if you do it every other day. “We neurotic types clean litter boxes daily. If that's too much for you, litter boxes should be scooped out at least every other day,” she said in this post on Pet Health Network.
Covered litter pans help contain litter “scatter”, and they can also confine odors. Unfortunately, while these attributes make covered boxes a preferred choice for cat owners, they are not preferred by our feline friends. While urinating or defecating, cats are in a vulnerable position.
Litter trays should be placed in discreet corners or adjacent to walls so that your cat has a full 180° view of approaching danger but is protected from behind.
YOUR CAT MIGHT NOT LIKE it.
Self-cleaning litter boxes aren't ideal for all cats. Larger cats may not comfortably fit inside many models, and some cats are put off by the appearance and sound of the machinery. Bottom line: if your cat doesn't use it, it's not worth it.
For most people, two to three cats are enough. For others 5 to 10 might be manageable. For the occasional feline aficionado with time, the patience of a saint, and money to burn, even larger numbers of cats can be successfully managed.