Litter box training is generally easy with cats, because they are naturally clean animals that seek a place to bury their waste. However, you must keep the litter box clean, or your cat might refuse to use it and soil outside the box. You should scoop every day and clean the entire box at least once a week. The more cats that are using the litter box, the more frequently it needs to be cleaned out and the litter replaced. Old boxes should be replaced.
There are many different types of litter, including clay, pine pellets, recycled paper, silica gel crystals, and others, but most cats prefer small, clumping particles (such as clay-based products). Cats can be sensitive to smells, so an unscented litter is often recommended.
Larger litter boxes are better. Cats like plenty of space to dig and be able to turn around.
Many cat owners prefer covered litter boxes to contain mess and odor; however, open boxes have more air circulation, and some cats do not like to go into enclosed spaces to pee or poop. But some cats like the privacy of a hooded box. Offering multiple litter box types might be helpful.
A general rule is that there should be at least one more litter box than the number of cats in the household. In houses with multiple floors, it is also a good idea to provide a litter box on each floor. In general, the more litter boxes there are available to a cat, the less likely they are to soil outside the box (unless they are sick or unusually stressed).
The litter box should be placed in a secluded, low-traffic area that your cat can easily access. Owners often make the mistake of hiding the box away in the basement or garage. Your cat might not want to use the litter box where there are noisy appliances or cold, hard floors. The location needs to be comfortable and appealing to the cat. Keep the litter box away from the cat’s food and water.
The preferred location and type of box will vary from cat to cat, so you might need to try different types in multiple locations.
The type of litter box your cat uses might change over time. For example, older cats with arthritis might need litter boxes with lower sides so that they can enter and exit easily.
Once you find a litter that works for your cat, try not to change types. Sudden changes in the type of litter or the location of the litter box can cause your cat to soil outside the box.
Soiling outside the box can be a sign of illness or behavior problems and requires veterinary attention. Straining in the litter box can be a sign of a life-threatening emergency, especially in a male cat.
