How to Set Up Your Cat’s Litter Boxes

It is important to note that there are numerous articles on this website dedicated to litter boxes, litter, house soiling, spraying, and other things related to the cat’s backend. We will study in this article “How to Set Up Your Cat’s Litter Box“.

This is because of how vital they are.

If it’s not getting what it needs, your cat can become extremely stressed over its backend. (Yes, your cat’s backend has needs.)

When you put up the toilet for your cats, we are in this category. Let us discuss it.

Why Litter Box Setup Matters

Instinctual wants. Security and safety. Personal choice. A lot is connected to how your cat goes about the litter box. This translates into good things when you can meet their instinctual cravings, ensure they feel safe when doing so, and satisfy the demands that may otherwise appear odd.

• This will lower your cat’s stress levels.
• This will make them less reactive to other pets in your home, thereby improving relationships among them.
• It will improve their quality of life.
• The chance of house soiling due to litter box problems is greatly reduced.

A reason a cat soils is always there; house soiling is often why many cats end up in shelters or outside remainders. That’s unfair because the situation behind the defecation problem in a kitten always lays squarely on us as owners who have done this or not done that action, or anything simpler that we haven’t thought about yet.

I work with behaviour consultants, and at least half of them have problems with house soiling. Litter box set up (along with your box and litter choices) are some of the easiest ways to handle soilage or even prevent it from happening at all.

Litter Box Type and Litter Options

This article covers litter boxes and talks about the various types of cat litters. Make them your first step; then, you can move on to setting it up.

Number of Litter Boxes

The general rule is that one box more than the number of cats should be set as a target. For instance, if you have three cats, then four litter boxes are needed. With over three felines, however, it is possible to place them creatively because there will be many boxes here and there. But it’s worth it.

I know what you mean. Why so many? Do cats not share? Absolutely. Even unfriendly cats with each other usually use the same litter box. It’s not about giving each cat their own litter box, but having enough for all their needs.

Some cats prefer to pee in one box and poop in another box. Strange nonetheless, true. That’s why even a single-cat home should generally shoot for 2 boxes, while multi-cat homes need multiple options.

If one box is being used, stinky or dirty, inaccessible, not feeling safe, or otherwise unappealing to your cat, you want him/her to have other acceptable options—multiple litter boxes—otherwise he/she will choose somewhere else that you don’t like/permit.

Litter Box Setup Guidelines

We all have some limitations when it comes to how we can set up our litter boxes and what we can put up with. Do your best with the room you have.

If a suggestion or item doesn’t work for you or your cat, don’t hesitate to try several options. Additionally, be open to things that were not previously acceptable. Once you know why your cat prefers what they do, these requirements will be more significant.

When setting up a litter box, think about this:

Location

Spread litter boxes throughout your home.

If one box is not available, whether this is because it is in use or located somewhere that feels unsafe (for example, the room where your puppy is busy or your toddler is having a playdate), then there will be another option somewhere else in the house.

Try for at least one box on each floor.

In case your cat likes to stay on different floors, you should set up a litter box on every floor. For example, if it is scared of leaving the litter box, it will not move all over as it is supposed to.

Watch out for roadblocks.

Many households have more than one litter box. However, all these boxes end up on the floor of a multilevel house or in rooms down a single hallway. This means that if something is happening near the stairs or in the hallway, it can block access to all of them. These situations are quite common, especially in multi-cat households where there may be disharmony among cats. In addition, this may be an issue if your cat is uncomfortable being around dogs or if there are kids in the house who can sometimes be noisier. Therefore, your cat could feel that passing by them to get to its place for relieving itself would not be safe for it. Be on the lookout for potential obstacles, and make sure that you have boxes on both sides.

Avoid placing litter boxes side-by-side.

Go back to why you must multiply: absent, smelly, insecure, and filthy. Your boxes are all together in one area, and this is just the opposite of multiplicity. If one box smells, the others will also smell. When one is occupied, it is impossible for your cat to go into another box placed next to it. If one appears unsafe, all of them do too. It’s like they’re placed side-by-side with each other. To your cat, that’s like a large litter box with annoying obstacles in its way. Separate some of the boxes that are within a room apart from each other but not too far away so that your cat can locate them easily again when he needs to use the toilet again

Boxes should be away from loud, busy areas but not completely out of the cat’s primary living area.

If you place your feline friend in a box located near the baby’s play area or the noisy boiler that starts every sixty minutes, she might not feel secure. Nonetheless, she does not also want to go to the distant corners of the basement or attic where she would not go normally. However, searching for places within their territory but far from the main traffic routes is advisable.

Open locations are best.

Cats prefer open sight lines when they are using their boxes. They want to know if anything is coming or is about to pounce on them. They also may not like the feeling that they can be easily trapped in a space. It may seem safer to place boxes in larger rooms rather than smaller ones, such as bathrooms or laundry rooms. The box should be put against one wall so that the cat feels secure on one side.

Watch for ambush points.

Cats that don’t like each other should not be allowed to sit near a place of ambush within your house, such as close to the base of a cat tree or on top of doorways where another cat could hide around the corner.

Keep food and water away from litter boxes.

Cats instinctively refrain from defecating or urinating near their water source for fear of making it dirty. Also, they do not pee or poop in the place where they hunt because the smell can be a threat to the prey and attract predators. By placing the litter box close to food and water, we ignore these natural patterns, thereby making them less than perfect places for them to go.

Test out different locations.

Your cat may not use it because the box is likely placed in an inappropriate area. So, if you transfer it elsewhere, they will begin using the box again.

Visibility

Give them some light.

Cats can see well in dim light. Like humans, they also need some light for their eyes. Consequently, cats do not see well in pitch darkness. If your boxes are in rooms that get very dark, your cat may not feel safe using them. This is especially true if the boxes are down a flight of stairs (in a dark basement is common), you have an anxious cat, there are other pets in the home that make the cat nervous, or your cat has mobility issues. They won’t venture into the dark unless it feels safe. Try this simple motion or dark-activated nightlight, which only switches on from as far away as 25 feet.

Accessories

Skip the liners.

I am aware that these make the cleaning process easier. Nonetheless, I have witnessed some instances when lines led to house-soiling. Cats can extensively dig in the box. Those liners might entangle their claws, making them uncomfortable. They pull on the liner, and litter moves around. It is not the best option. After all, why encourage them not to use a litter box?

Litter mats over plastic.

There are good litter mats, such as this one (which I like) or a shaggy bathmat, that could be used to catch stray litter and keep your floors intact. Don’t use heavy plastic, tarps, or other materials that may make noise when walked on. Most cats do not prefer stepping on things that create noise or feel painful under their feet. If you need to safeguard your floor, you can use a carpet protector like this one instead.

We are restricted once more by space, which means you may not be able to follow all of these guidelines for every litter box in your home. But this is alright. Just do whatever you can.

Try as much as possible to provide alternatives. For instance, if a litter box is needed in the cat playroom but the only location is near a cat tree (which could serve as an ambush point), make certain that there are other places where an alternative box can be positioned and one can avoid such points of ambushes. Whenever you have no option other than to place a box on the first floor in a very noisy laundry room, ensure you have provided an easily reached one without noise on the second floor.

How to Get Your Cat to Use Their Litter Box

There is an obvious response to that. You wouldn’t do it. In this respect, however, cats are intuitive about where they piss and shit. Once you set one up, they will often use it.

Litter box training hardly applies to kittens either. They observe what their mother does. If there’s no cat mom, put a little poop in the box for them to understand. But really, that would not be necessary most of the time; they will automatically jump in, scratch around, and realise what a fabulous place to go potty that is.

Let your new cat know where the litter box lives, allow it to look over itself, and it ends there—he or she should find out how to use it on its own from this point on. If he/she doesn’t use it, then probably something about the box arrangement doesn’t appeal to him/her.

Making Scooping Litter Easy

Your goal is to scoop the litter box each day. Making use of a litter waste system can greatly simplify this task. The Litter Champ and Litter Genie are also great options, but personally, I prefer the Litter Champ because it is slightly bigger than the newer one called Litter Genie. Besides, I also like how bags mount and dismount.

However, I have used both and been content with them.

Some members of our team have used Diaper Genies, which are much larger. You even do not need to buy another one when there are several places where you can find used baby products at a cost or for free.

The idea behind these systems is that you do not have to scoop every day and then run outside for disposal in a garbage can or dumpster. They are small bathroom garbage cans. You put refillable bags in the unit. When you scoop, it opens up a series of doors. Drop the waste in, then close the doors again. And so it can keep a week or more of dirty litter yet control the smell somehow until, when full, pull out the bag, throw it into the garbage bin, and replace it with new ones, that’s all!

Cleaning the Litter Box

Every few weeks, it is a good idea to empty and clean out your litter box.

Empty the litter from the box. If you have access to a garden hose, spray off any left-over dirt. If not, use your pooper-scooper to scrape off stubborn poop. After that, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on using a pet-safe disinfectant. Rinsing is optional. If you don’t have a hose pipe, you might like to use an unruinable disinfectant instead. Allow it to dry. Thereafter, refill it and start using it again.

FAQs

Sure! The following often-asked questions (FAQs) concern arranging your cat’s litter boxes:

01: How many litter boxes do I need for my cat?

Generally speaking, one litter box for every cat is advised, plus one extra. You should, therefore, preferably have two litter boxes if you have one cat.

02: Where should I place the litter box?

Put the litter box in a quiet, conveniently reachable spot. Cats like seclusion; hence, stay away from busy settings or noisy environments.

03: What type of litter should I use?

Though their tastes vary, most cats like clumping litter. Steer clear of perfumed litter, particularly if your cat is sensitive.

04: How often should I clean the litter box?

Change the litter totally once a week, and at least once a day, scoop the litter box. During litter changes, clean the litter box with light soap and water.

05: Should I get a covered litter box?

While some cats might feel imprisoned, others choose covered litter boxes for seclusion. See what your cat likes by experimenting. Make sure the cat can comfortably move inside the box.

06: What if my cat is not using the litter box?

Your cat may be stressed, sick, or have a dirty litter box if it abruptly stops using it. See your veterinarian to rule out any medical problems; also, take environmental considerations, including changes in litter type or location.