Your cat sees his litter box more than just his bathroom. It is his private place, sacred spot, and somewhere he can call all his own. There is a lot of confusion, most especially among new cat parents, about what their litter boxes setup should entail if they have multiple cats. Vets have this general rule of thumb – to have one litter box per cat and an extra “household” box.
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Reasons why you should have multiple litter boxes if you have multiple cats
Give your cat some space
Unlike dogs, cats aren’t packed animals. Thus, even if they’re siblings, there will still be times when every cat wants his own space. Most of the time, when your cat is doing his business and he wants to do it in private, sharing the same box with other cats can be stressful for him. Ideally, a house with multiple cats needs to follow 1 cat = 1 litter box rule and 1 extra “household” box. Simply put, if you have two cats, it’s best to have 3 litter boxes around the house.
Every cat will find its place
Territorial cats tend to mark their travel path throughout the house and if one cat is aggressive towards another cat, the bully could block the entry of the litter box. Denied access can then lead to the other cat’s elimination elsewhere in the house.
However, if two cat litter boxes are strategically placed at your home’s opposite corners, stalking at the pass will be cut off since it is impossible for one cat to guard both litter boxes at the same time. Meanwhile, your third extra litter box can be placed somewhere in the house, ideally between the opposite two litter boxes, or if you have a two-story house, you can place it on the second floor.
Keeping it clean and well-maintained
The golden rule of cat litter boxes is to always keep them clean and well-maintained but unless you’re at home every time one of your kitties goes potty, it is impossible to get rid of waste as soon as it is deposited. Due to the fact that cats are often territorial, each cat will usually claim his preferred box and other cats in the house will seldom use it.
Thus, having multiple litter boxes in the house prevents overcrowding into just one box, where one of your cats has to step on others’ poop and might feel like there is not a place clean enough to do his business. Not finding what he needs in his litter box, he will choose another place where no stepping over others’ waste is required.
Providing your cats multiple litter boxes can also help save your carpet and furniture while making sure your cats feel safe and happy. The bonus is that you can be able to encourage them good behavior as well as avoiding inappropriate adaptations in order to accommodate their needs. That’s the primary job of a cat parent.
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Common questions about litter box issues if you have multiple cats
Can I put two cat litter boxes near each other?
In households with multiple cats, you definitely do not want to put cat litter boxes next to each other. This is because some cats will see the 2 boxes one. And since some cats prefer to defecate and urinate in separate litter boxes, experts recommend maintaining 2 litter boxes for each cat in the family.
Do cats like sharing litter boxes?
While cats may share one litter box, it is still advisable to offer more. It will help a lot to avoid possible behavioral issues like being aggressive among other cats. If you’re living with multiple felines and you notice that they prefer to share one cat litter box, then that is fine as long as they are totally fine with that.
Where should a litter box be placed for two cats?
Since cats are territorial by nature, it is psychologically advantageous for your feline companions to have individually separate boxes reserved for their own use. And if possible, it is a really good idea to place the boxes away from each other, like placing them in multiple rooms or different floors. At the very least, you can also try placing multiple litter boxes on a room’s opposite ends.
Conclusion
The biggest reason to consider placing multiple cat litter boxes for your house, multiple felines or not, is cleanliness. Sometimes, if your intention is for the best, it can be tough to keep the litter box of your cat spotless. And if your cat’s litter box is smelly, dirty, or otherwise unappealing, he is more likely to find a corner or a rug to do his business.
While it’s true that you can possibly get away with just one box per cat, it’s still ideal to have one extra cat litter box in the house especially if you always lack the time to tidy up. At least with an extra litter box, your cats will still have somewhere to relieve and clean themselves.
