"The rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one extra," Galaxy says. As a cat foster mom, I recommend that new adopters have at least 1.5 litter boxes per cat.
Follow this simple rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three boxes. Making sure everyone has their space can help ease elimination issues. Some owners prefer a hooded box, but some cats don't like them.
The magic litter box ratio
“Basically what it means is that you should have one more litter box than the number of cats you have,” according to the experts at Preventive Vet. So, even if you only have one cat, providing two litter boxes is ideal, giving your kitty a choice on where to do their business.
The cardinal rule of the litter box says you need one box for each cat plus one extra for the household. Have a multi-level home? Each floor needs a dedicated cat box. You'll want to make sure two litter boxes aren't right next to each other, which can be confusing for the cat.
Multiple cats need multiple litter boxes
For a household with three cats, for example, experts suggest that you have four litter boxes. This assures that each cat has its own place to go and an extra one if all of the litter boxes are dirty or otherwise disagreeable—you know how cats are.
Litter boxes are like good friends… you can never have too many of them.
Wondering if your two or more feline friends can share a litter box? It's a good question to ask but as a general rule, individual litter boxes are most likely the best option especially in a multi cat household.
Your cat should have more than one place to do his/her business. Make sure the litter boxes are placed in different areas of your home. Place litter boxes in separate, socially important areas. Litter boxes should not be in a dark corner in the basement, garage, or hidden.
Basements and laundry rooms are popular choices but not actually recommended. Instead, Geller suggests the bedroom. "Your bedroom is a good location for a cat litter box since it's usually a quiet place," she says.
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
How often should you scoop a litter box? For best odor control, you should scoop the box twice a day. If you're busy or you just forget, you can probably go with a daily single scoop. You don't want clumps and lumps to sit undisturbed for longer than a day though.
Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business. There are self-cleaning litter boxes available that use a sensor to tell when a cat has entered and then left the litter box.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.
After months of testing, our overall favorite is Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter, which clumps well, absorbs scents even better, and won't spread dust everywhere. We've found it to be especially effective in multi-cat households.
Size. For a multiple cat household, we recommend selecting a litter box that has more than 400 square inches of litter surface area.
Ideally, the litter box should be placed in an area away from the cat's food and water dishes, as well as away from busy areas like the kitchen or foyer. If you live in a spacious home, you may be able to place the litter box in a seldom-used bathroom or guest bedroom.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.
"It's certainly not ideal for a cat to sleep in the area where she urinates and defecates," Wieber explains. "It could lead to bacterial infections of the eyes, ears, and perhaps the bladder." Skin infections can occur as well.
Your cat will let you know where they prefer their litter box to be placed – or, to put it more bluntly – they will simply refuse to use a litter box that's in a location they don't like! Possible places where a litter box could go depend on your home but the bathroom, living room or bedroom are all possible options.
However, Cats Can Share Water Bowls
There also is usually a lot more water, enough for everyone. Although, cats can drink from the same water bowls throughout the day, have at least 2 bowls of fresh water out in a multi-cat household. Place water bowls in different rooms and on different floors in your home.
If you are unsure of whether cats are bonded, there are some things to look for. These include enjoying playtime together, and also sleeping next to each other. Other bonded behaviors include rubbing their bodies and faces against each other, and eating food at the same time.
You'll always need at least one litter box more than the number of cats. For example, if you own two cats, you'll need three litter boxes placed at different places inside the house. You may have to increase the amount if you own a large house.