Are you a proud owner of multiple cats? If that is the case, then there are some things you need to do to make them feel even more comfortable in your house. One of which is very important for the overall well-being of your cat. You need to give your cats an adequate number of cat litter boxes. Keep reading below in order to learn why it is ideal to have more than one box and how many cat litter boxes you need to have for your multiple cats.
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Can cats share a litter box?
Sibling cats or any other cats for that matter, prefer not to share a litter box. When cats need to use a litter box, it is just like when we need to use the bathroom. We prefer privacy, and so does a cat. That doesn’t change if it siblings or less related cats.
How many cats per box?
Experts recommend that the ratio of litter boxes per cat is one box for every cat you have plus an extra one. While some cats can share one litter box, it is still beneficial to offer them more. This can help to avoid any possible problem to rise like aggressive behavior among your cats.
Some cat owners who are living with multiple cats for a long time might notice that their feline companions seem to prefer sharing one cat litter box. That is totally fine as long as they are fine with that and no any aggressive behavior arises.
On the other hand, if your cats are not comfortable with sharing a litter box and end up waiting for it to be vacated, then this can eventually result in other cats urinating outside the litter box. For example, if you own two cats, you need to have 3 litter boxes. One litter box for every cat plus one extra box. It will allow your cats to have the privacy they need (let us be honest, no one would want to use one bathroom at the same time).
In addition, you should make sure that the cat litter boxes are placed in separate locations to avoid any conflict among your cats. And even if you only have one cat at home, you still need to have an extra litter box for your feline companion placed in a different location.
Why it’s important to have multiple litter boxes
We know that the comfort of your cat is very important to you. By giving separate areas for your cats to do their bathroom business, they will surely be able to feel happier and at home in their surroundings. Aside from that, cats do not just use their boxes only to poop. They might also use them as space where they can retreat. Thus, if your cats need to share a litter box, chances are they might need to confront each other every time they need time alone and this may result in a conflict.
The disadvantage of shared cat litter boxes
While it’s true that your cat might share a litter box with other cats willingly, there are still some disadvantages by doing so. These advantages are not only for your cats but for you as well.
Behavioral problems
It is possible for your feline friends who share one box to become more aggressive with others. Because every time they need to go to the bathroom, they are competing over a resource. If your cats are sharing one litter box, you may notice social aggression such as chasing, swatting, growling, hissing, or even fighting. Do not subject your cats to these threatening situations and you can only do that by giving them a safe and supportive environment. This is why multiple litter boxes are ideal.
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Common questions about cats sharing a litter box
How many cats can use one litterbox?
According to experts, the rule of thumb when choosing a litter box for multiple cats in a household is one box per cat and additional extra box. Expert cat breeders recommend that new cat owners need to have at least 1.5 boxes per cat. Thus, if you only have one cat at home, you need to have at least 2 litter boxes and if you have two cats, you need to keep three little boxes.
Where should a litter box be placed for two cats?
Since cats are territorial animals, it is psychologically advantageous for your feline friends to have boxes reserved for their own use. Whenever possible, it is a really good idea to provide enough space between every litter box, strategically situating them in multiple rooms and on different floors. At the very least, you can try putting cat litter boxes on a room’s opposite ends to make sure that no conflict will arise.
Do you need to have two litter boxes for two cats?
When cats are doing something private like using the bathroom, sharing the same cat litter box can sometimes be stressful for cats. Ideally, a household with multiple cats need to have the same number of boxes as the number of kitties, plus one extra box. Simply put, if you have two cats, there must be three boxes.
Conclusion
Just like humans, cats also like to do their toilet business privately. In fact, hostilities over sharing one box are the most common cause of a cat’s inappropriate toileting habits. Whether you are bringing home two kitties at once or just introducing a new one at home, each of them will need a separate litter box, plus one extra.
Spread the litter boxes out around your house and ensure that they are placed in a private and quiet spot. You may find that they will end up sharing one litter box sometimes, but you should never throw spare boxes, just in case.
