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.
If you use too much litter it'll end up getting kicked out over the box and you'll end up with it getting tracked everywhere. Even if you have a covered litter box, if there's just too much litter in there it'll easily find its way onto your floor or carpet.
Most cats won't use litter that's more than about two inches deep. Some long-haired cats prefer less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the box. Adding extra litter won't reduce the amount of cleaning necessary for a litter box.
UTI And Other Bladder Problems
If their litter box is full and super dirty, they aren't going to go in there to do their business, even if they really need to. One of two things will happen: they'll go somewhere else, or they'll hold it in until the box is clean.
If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
Healthy cats will generally visit the litter box between three and five times each day, and this includes going both number one and number two. If your cat is relieving itself more than five times each day, this doesn't necessarily point to a health issue.
Having multiple boxes prevents overcrowding into one, where your cat has to step on others' waste and may feel like there's not a spot clean enough to “go.” Not finding what she needs in her litter box, she'll choose another spot where no stepping over waste is required.
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.
Dr. Lee's rule is if the clumps are bigger than a petite woman's clenched fist, then they're too big.
A good rule of thumb is to change your cat's litter every 2-4 weeks. However, you might not need to change it that frequently because it all depends on your pet and their bathroom habits. It also depends on the number of cats that use the litter box and the type of litter that you use.
How Big Should the Litter Box Be? 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.
Kitty litter and cat feces can wreak havoc on your plumbing system and can even contaminate the municipal water supply. Instead, be sure you're disposing of kitty litter the right way – not putting it down your toilet or your drains.
Your cat could be just trying to maintain her scent in the box, even though you're cleaning it. Animals usually go to the bathroom to give us a message. If it's outside the litter box, they could be stressed or in need of a clean place to go.
For the most part, all experts agree…the litter box should be scooped 1-2 times each day. “Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business,” said By Dr. Stephanie Janeczko in this featured post on Petfinder. Dr.
Most of the best cat litter brands last around two to three weeks if you're cleaning the tray each day.
If you have multiple cats, they may be comfortable enough with each other to share the same litter box. However, there are several reasons, including territorial behavior, why some experts would advise at least one extra litter box in your home.
Each cat in your home should have its own litter box plus one extra. For a household with three cats, for example, experts suggest that you have four litter boxes. This assures that each cat has its own place to go and an extra one if all of the litter boxes are dirty or otherwise disagreeable—you know how cats are.
A female cat is able to have a litter of kittens at least twice per year – although it's certainly not recommended.
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. Litter trays should always be made of robust, non-toxic, sturdy and durable material.
If your cat frequently enters her litter box and seems to produce only small amounts of urine, she may have a urinary tract infection. See a veterinarian to rule out this possible medical problem. Feline interstitial cystitis is a neurological disease that affects a cat's bladder (“cystitis” means inflamed bladder).
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. Of course, this depends on how many cats you have. The more cats you have, the more frequently the boxes should be scooped out.
Healthy cats poop about one to two times a day following a meal's approximate 12- to 20-hour journey through the digestive tract. But the amount of time it takes for a cat's meal to go from bowl to litter box, and how many times she goes, depends on several factors.
Most cats are able to make it through even an eight-hour drive without using the litter box, but there's no sense in tempting fate.