Cat Litterbox Setup – Are You making one of these Seven Common mistakes?

Is It Really That Important?

Yes. Litterbox avoidance is the number one feline behavior problem reported by cat owners. It's a leading cause of cats losing their homes, as owners get too frustrated with dealing with reeking cat urine and feces.

In my experience as a cat behavior consultant, most times, the fault is with the litterbox setup. So, here are the seven most common mistakes of litterbox setup, at no particular order:

The box is too small -When it comes to litterboxes, bigger IS better. The box should be wide enough, with at least one side as long as your cat is: whiskers to tail.

Not enough litter - Make sure there's enough litter in the box. Your cat digs into the litter, so it shouldn't be too thinly spread. Two inches is a good rule of thumb for most litter types, which brings us to the next point:

Wrong type of Litter - There's a huge variety of cat litter on the market nowadays. In addition to clumping vs. non-clumping, you can also choose the base material which can be anything from the common clay, to silica, shredded papers, citrus peels and more. When you bring a new cat home, you may need to experiment to find out what kind of litter it prefers. Some cats have specific preferences, so if your cat is used to a certain type, do not switch over to something different overnight. A sudden change can make the cat stay away from the box.

The Covered box - Humans seem to prefer covered litterboxes, but many felines do not like them. Yes, it may mean less stink in the room, but would you get inside the box if you were a cat? Covered boxes are not meant for lazy owners. If anything, you need to keep them even cleaner than open boxes. Moreover, your cat may feel intimidated by the prospects of getting ambushed and "trapped" in the box by another pet, or even a child. It only takes one such occurrence for the cat to part ways with the box.

Not Enough Boxes - The rule of thumb here is: Have as many boxes as cats, plus one more. It's not really that much more work to maintain (after all, more boxes does not mean more use), and it does provide your cat with free and uninterrupted access to a litter box at all times.

The Wrong Location - Get the location wrong, and you'll get a derelict litterbox (and poo and pee all over the house). Make sure the box is in a relatively quiet part of your home, away from children, traffic and loud machines. Locate the box away from the cat's food and water dishes. If you're dealing with a scaredy cat, or have multi-pet issues, position the box so that your cat has a line of vision to its surroundings and an escape route out of the box and out of the room. If you need more details, read more here about litterbox location

Not Cleaning Often Enough - I cannot stress this one enough. Nobody enjoys cleaning the litterbox, but it simply has to be done regularly. After each use, or twice a day, is best. Once a day - that is the very minimum. Clean it properly too, without leaving any traces behind. Some cats will hold their nose, so to speak, and use a dirty box, but one day enough will be enough, and they'll find themselves another spot. A self-cleaning box is always an option, but it is not maintenance-free either.

With litterbox issues, prevention is much easier than having to find a cure. Treat your cat's litterbox needs with respect, and keep the box attractive and clean at all times, and you should not see any litterbox problems in your household.