Behavior Challenges: Litter Boxes 101
Cats love to be clean, and using a litter box typically comes naturally. Most kittens and cats don't need to be trained to use a litter box — pop a tiny kitten into a box and they know what to do! Read on to learn more about finding the perfect litter box setup that works for both you and your feline companion. end!
Pro Tip: When making any changes to your cat’s setup, it’s important to do it gradually, making only one change at a time.
So, if you're testing out a covered box, use the same litter they're used to. When making a change, a great strategy is to temporarily add an additional litter box with those changes in place. It's important your cat always has at least one litter box they are comfortable using, so keep both boxes until they’ve adapted to the new setup.
Location
Access must be easy! If your cat has to climb up or down a flight of stairs or venture into a cluttered room to find their box, they may struggle. This is especially true for older or ill cats, those new to your home or shy/fearful cats who may find it difficult or scary to make such a trek. The litter box should also be in a quiet part of the home and should not be placed immediately next to their food or water bowls. Many cats like privacy, so something as simple as positioning the box so it's not facing the main room can help a cat feel more secure. If you have multiple cats, it’s also important to place the box in a spot where your cat isn't likely to be ambushed by another kitty while using or exiting the box.
Size
Make sure your cat has room to move comfortably while getting into and moving around inside their box — tight squeezes can lead to litterbox challenges. Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing your setup:
- Are the sides too high for your cat to climb over?
- If the box is covered, can they comfortably get through the doorway?
- Do they have room to comfortably turn in a circle (or two, or three) and sit?
- Do they have room to dig a hole and bury the evidence?
Cover
When adding a cover, height and the ability to move inside the box becomes an even bigger consideration. While many cats enjoy the privacy an enclosed box provides, sometimes finding appropriately sized boxes can be challenging. For larger cats, you could buy a large plastic storage tub with a lid and cut a hole in the top. Pro tip: Top entry boxes can also help keep curious pups out of the litter box.
If your litter box comes with a lid, it may also include a plastic flap. We recommend removing this, as the flap makes the space darker and further confines your cat and the odors in the box, which can be overwhelming for your cat. Remember, your cat has a sense of smell 14 times better than ours (200 million scent receptors for them and just 5 million for us)! No wonder so many cats prefer a very clean litter box.
If your cat prefers an uncovered box and you're looking for something a bit more contained, compromise with a higher-sided box or a piece of furniture designed to hide the litter box. These are often shaped like side tables or floor cabinets that have a large open compartment for a box to fit inside, but don't feel as confining as a traditional enclosed box.
"Self-cleaning" and Automatic Boxes
For owners looking for a slightly cleaner or potentially more efficient litter box cleaning experience — self-cleaning and robotic litter boxes have come a long way! These boxes are covered and designed to deposit all the litter clumps into a tray that can be easily dumped into the trash. If your cat likes their box cleaned right after they use it, if you have multiple cats with different cleanliness preferences or if it's helpful to have help with the scooping, consider investing in an automatic or robotic litter box!
These boxes are more costly, but worth it for some cats and their owners. Some boxes even come with phone apps that will help you track the weight of the cat(s) in the home — a perk that helps monitor their health and the frequency of times they're using the box. When researching models, make sure the internal dimensions of the box are big enough to comfortably fit your cat, as these boxes tend to be enclosed and smaller.
Keep in mind, these boxes can seem scary when you initially introduce them to your cat, so make sure you have their usual boxes available and let them investigate the new one at their own pace. Allow them to explore it or use it before plugging it in. Some cats may benefit from desensitization and counterconditioning training around unfamiliar sounds or novelty.
Number of Boxes
Generally, there should be one litter box per cat, plus one extra box spaced throughout the home. In a multi-cat home, make sure a cat can't get cornered in or near the box by another cat. Multiple boxes can help reduce the amount of waste per box, which can help reduce stress around us not being able to always clean the boxes immediately after use. Additionally, some cats will have preferences about which box they use for what, or which cats use which box, so more options are better.
Litter Type, Texture and Scent
Cats can be sensitive to many aspects of cat litter — from texture to smell. Some cats prefer soft or sandy litters while others prefer grittier litter, pellets, etc. Scent plays a significant role, and while many cats will tolerate relatively neutral odor control agents like baking soda, most cats are less tolerant of artificially scented litter. Scent alone can be enough to make a cat avoid a litter box! Look for litters that help with odor control without relying on added fragrance.
- Non-clumping litters: These are typically safer for kittens and come in a variety of formulas — from clay to crystals, paper, wheat, pine and other plants. These can be a bit more challenging to clean, as only solids can be directly removed, so the full litter box needs to be emptied every 2-3 days. Some cats will avoid using a box that isn't cleaned at least once a day, so this type of litter may not be appropriate for all cats.
- Clumping litters: Most older kittens and adult cats prefer these! Clay is the most common, and you can also find more environmentally friendly litters made from walnut shells, corn, wood, paper and more! While all these litters clump, the texture, size and scent (not including any added fragrance) of the litter itself may vary considerably. Clumping litter is easy to clean and most adult cats are comfortable with this style of litter. Clay litter tends to have the strongest odor control without needing to add additional masking fragrances (like lavender). If you have a sensitive sense of smell, it may be good to consider how you feel about a strongly scented natural litter before introducing it to your cat.
Litter Box Liners
If using a box liner for easier cleaning, make sure they're tightly fitted, and that the box has enough litter in it that your cat is unlikely to dig to the bottom or scratch at the liner itself. Some cats may not like the smooth slippery texture of the liner if they commonly wipe their paws along the edge of the box, so if you're trying liners for the first time, make sure it's only in one box initially and try to observe your cat when they first investigate or use the box. If they appropriately interact with the liner itself or use the box, give them a reward to positively reinforce that behavior.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Everyone has witnessed their cat jumping right into the freshly cleaned litter box to eliminate, which serves as testimony that cats love a clean litter box! It’s important to keep the box scooped daily and some cats prefer the box to be cleaned almost as often as it's used. Depending on the number of cats using the box, litter should be replaced often enough so no wet litter is left sitting in the box from overuse and there are plenty of 'clean' areas for your pet to walk around in the box — your cat will not want to step on their own mess, let alone another cat’s. It's recommended you do a full clean of the box about once a month, but some cats and litters may require you to do this more frequently.
When cleaning the litter box itself, avoid strong cleaning products such as bleach or Lysol (which is toxic to cats) or cleaners with a strong scent. Rather, use plain hot water. If you must use a cleanser, pick a gentle, natural enzymatic cleaning product such as Nature's Miracle or Simple Green. Even when using a gentle cleaning product, make sure you rinse the box thoroughly, so the scent doesn’t linger.
Pro Cleaning Tips:
- Replace the boxes themselves on a regular basis. If litter, poop or pee begins to accumulate on the bottom of the box, it’s time for a new one. Most boxes will need to be replaced on average every six months to two years.
- Do not flush litter! Even the “flushable” types of litter can clog older pipes, so it’s best to dump the clumps in the trash. Not only that, but cat feces can introduce harmful bacteria to the environment.
- For your own health and safety, don’t dump litter into gardens or your yard. Used litter may contain parasites that will not be killed by outside temperatures. Always dispose of litter in a trash can.
- Don’t clean litter boxes where you prepare food! You can use your bathtub, but be prepared to scrub down that area with a bleach solution when you’re done. If you have one, a laundry sink is a great area for this task.
Is Your Cat Having Litter Box Issues?
There are many reasons why your cat may have stopped using their litter box or is struggling to adjust to a new setup. Cats love routine and need plenty of time to adjust to a change. Read our article Behavior Challenges: Litter Box Issues to learn more about troubleshooting this issue.