How Many Litter Boxes Do You Need?

How many litter boxes does your cat need? Just one, right? This may seem like a basic question to ask but being a cat parent isn’t easy! Whether you’re a new cat owner or you’re a seasoned feline parent whose current litter box situation isn’t working… Perhaps today’s blog post can help you out! In this post, we’ll answer this question and provide you with 4 reasons why and 3 extra tips on purrfect litter box practices. Whether you live with one cat or more, we’ll cover both scenarios in order to give you all the answers in one place. 

Simple answer: 

The rule states that you should have 1 box for each cat plus 1. From Max’s Corner, they give a formula: x + 1 (x is the number of cats). Easy! That means if you have two cats, three litter boxes is best. 

Why do you need three litter boxes for two cats?

So why is that? Cats are territorial creatures, and they may refuse to use a litter box when they smell other cats in them. Or worse, they may begin to feud and develop sour relations; exhibiting behaviours such as guarding the box or attacking each other. Different cats may also have different preferences for litter type and litter box. Each type of litter and litter box has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and every unique kitty has different sensitivity to certain factors. When cats grow accustomed to something, it is usually difficult to get them to change.

It doesn’t happen all the time, but giving them multiple choices (especially if you live in a multi-storey home) is something to keep in mind or they may use anything (or anywhere!) that’s available. Multiple cats may share the same litter box, but leaving that option for them is important to make them feel at ease. Number 1’s and 2’s are a private experience, and if your kitties aren’t feeling comfortable for whatever reason, you may face some consequences!

Why do you need more than one litter box for one cat?

This doesn’t apply to every cat owner, as many single-cat parents find just one litter box is enough. This is dependent on your living situation; for instance if you live in an apartment with one cat, one litter box can work out just fine. But if you live in a multi-storey house or apartment, it is a good idea to have more. Cats have extremely sensitive sense of smell, according to PAWS Chicago, their smell is 14 times stronger than humans. Even if we can’t smell it, your cat may avoid the litter box if they smell traces of their waste. Having multiple litter boxes may just be a precautionary thing, but it could provide some peace of mind if you’re out for long durations and don’t want to come home to some smelly surprises. 

Image by Pedro Candeias 

More Litter Box Tips

Purr-ivacy, please!

As much as cats can be territorial, they are nervous creatures who prioritise comfort (Aren’t we all!). With multiple cats, place each litter box away from each other so each kitty has their own space to do their business privately. Placing their litter boxes too closely may not work because they can see the whole general area as one. However, in a single-cat home placing two litter boxes next to each other is completely fine, they will use whichever is cleaner. 

Location is Key! 

A quiet comfortable place that is easily accessible with less traffic is ideal. If it’s in the bathroom for instance, make sure it’s always open so your kitty doesn’t get stuck in there! Places like the laundry room can cause issues as the sound from the machines can be daunting to be around. Our kitties have very sensitive senses compared to our inferior ones, so considering their physical comfort is crucial!

Spick and Span! 

Keeping litter boxes clean is crucial in preventing litter box aversion. It is professionally suggested that a litter box is cleaned at least 1-2 times a day. Even if you have less than the recommended number of litter boxes, as long as the box is clean, your cat is more likely to use it. 

Each kind of litter has different usage durations as well. For example, the CatPak 6L Litter is recommended to be changed every 15 days. It is a good habit to clean out your conventional litter box after each cycle as well. Remember to use mild soaps and avoid using substances that contain ammonia, bleach, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or “chemical compounds that contain the word “phenol”” (The Humane Society). More natural substances such as baking soda are also poisonous to cats in large amounts. 

Depending on your living situation, and of course, the number of cats you have, the number of litter boxes you need changes. The general rule many would suggest following is for each cat, get one plus one box. Cats can be sensitive to change and if you are having issues surrounding litter and litter boxes, I’m sure they’ve shown their complaints very clearly. Hopefully this post has helped shed some light on the litter box topic and you’ve found this useful. 

If you are interested in trying out a new kind of litter box, try ours! The CatPak Box isn’t just a litter box, but it makes an effective all natural, recycled and convenient solution. Please remember all the guidelines I’ve covered apply to our CatPak Box as well. In order to make the most use out of your box, please supply at least one for each cat. 

Thanks for reading and have a pawsome day. 

Cat-ch ya later! 

Header image by Fidel Fernando