When taking care of cats, one of the most important parts you need to consider is where you place the litter box. Not only does the litter box need to be placed in a comfortable environment, it must always be well-maintained and free from any odor. Much like their owners, your cats will have opinions and these opinions will stretch to where they can do their business in peace.
In this short guide, we’ll help you choose the right spot to place your cat’s litter box in your home and teach you everything you need to know if you want to change your cat’s litter box position for your new kittens. You can also use this guide if you plan to buy a new litter box in the future for your adult or elderly cats.
Why Do You Need to Choose the Right Spot for Your Cat’s Litter Box
There is one critical reason why you need to be careful about your cat’s litter box placement. For your cats, peeing or pooping is a sacred and vulnerable time for your cats, which is why they tend to pick areas they deem are safe and where they can be at peace while doing their bathroom breaks.
If the litter is located in a poor location, your cat may avoid it entirely or misuse it until the issue is corrected. Once they start taking their bathroom breaks outside their chosen litter box, it will be difficult to stop them because of scent marking. Even if you clean these areas, you cannot fully mask these scents and they will still be prone into doing their business outside their litter boxes.
Points to Consider When Picking the Right Litter Box Placement
Before bringing your new cat home and bringing a litter box for the first time or if you are purchasing a new litter box for them since they are older, you need to make sure it ticks the right boxes. Here are the top factors you need to include in your checklist when picking the right litter box placement:
Accessibility
Your cat must be able to access their litter box any time they need to use it. It should be in a place where there is no door, a door with a hatch they can fit in or simply a room where the door is open at all times. It must also be in an area that isn’t too busy but still near areas where your cat loves to hang out all the time.
Do not put their litter box in areas where the cats will feel like they are cornered or trapped as they use their litter box. This will trigger their anxiety and make them reluctant to use the litter box, especially if you have a multi-cat household. It may also disable them from relaxing as they do their business because they may feel like they may get ambushed at any time.
It is also recommended that you get an easy-to-enter litter box if you have senior cats or new kittens in your household. As your kittens grow, it is best to adjust the placement of their litter box based on their preferences and do the changes inch by inch each day until your cat is happy with the location.
For elderly and less mobile cats, it is best to place their easy-to-enter litter boxes in accessible spots, specifically in the lower floors of your home. You should also provide multiple litter boxes so they have options wherever they may be. Of course, you need to make sure these litter boxes are in comfortable spots so that they will feel relaxed in using them.
Ventilation
If you don’t want your cat’s litter box to smell, especially if you do not open your windows due to your centralized air conditioning. It is best to put your litter boxes in areas with proper ventilation and not in enclosed spaces like closets or cabinets. It is also best to use open top litter boxes than covered litter since it helps with ventilation. Some automatic litter boxes may have ventilation properties that will ensure it does not cause odor issues for your cats when it is in use.
Visibility
Cats like to see everything around them, especially when they do their business. As mentioned above, pooping and peeing makes them feel vulnerable. With a clear perspective of the things around them as they do their business, they know if someone will ambush them or sneak up on them. Put the litter box in a place your cat has a clear view of everything. If you have more than one cat at home, buy a litter box that has more than its main exit.
Temperature and Humidity
While cat litter is formulated to have excellent odor control for both dry and cool conditions, there are still instances when it fails to activate and make it smell badly. You can purchase unscented cat litter in any pet shop in different types so it is best to determine which works best for your cat and your location.
If the litter box is also placed in a hot or humid area, the smell might get stronger and irritate both you and your cats. Make sure to put your unused litter in dry containers and keep them sealed to prevent any humidity from forming in them. You can use a dehumidifier to keep the air in your storage areas moisture-free.
Located in Low-Traffic Rooms
Cats also love quiet environments while they do their business. It also reduces their stress levels since they won’t have to worry about people or other cats disrupting them. There are also less chances of startling them.
It is highly recommended that you keep these litter boxes away from the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and any devices that can make a lot of noise or automatically start without warning. You can also put an anti-vibration mat underneath the litter box that is easy to clean so that it doesn’t share should their litter box have to be located near noisy rooms in case you have a small home.
Easy to Clean
You should also make sure that the location is easy to move around into when its time to clean the litter box and ensure it stays clean for both you and your cats. Put it close to a visible area so you don’t forget to clean it after a few days or ignore it. Make sure to put trash cans nearby for litter waste and always have a vacuum or a scoop or broom in the room.
It is highly recommended that you scoop the litter box at least once a day to remove the solid waste to prevent it from causing orders. You should also change the litter completely and clean the box once a month.
It is also ideal that you do not put your cat’s litter box on carpet since it will be harder to clean. Always put it on smooth floors. You can also get low tracking litter or litter mats to reduce the onset of your cats tracking their litter around your home. And always be ready to clean after them when they do so.
You can also consider getting clumping cat litter if you want to make it easier to scoop out the used litter once you do your cleaning. If you are worried about the scent of the room, you can also use air purifiers as they can remove any lingering scent around the room. Do not use any abrasive and strong smelling cleaning soaps because it may create scents your cats may find hard to take when they use the litter box again after you clean it.
What Should You Avoid
Aside from these major factors, you should also try to avoid the following issues when it comes to placing your cat’s litter box in certain areas because it may affect your cat’s use of these litter boxes. These issues can also help you determine the best way on how to resolve them to help your cat adjust with their litter boxes.
Do not place them near food or water
Cats understand that eating spaces and bathroom areas must always be separate. It’s a part of their natural instincts. With this in mind, make sure to put your cat’s litter box away from their food or water bowls since this may cause them to avoid the litter box altogether. They may also lose their appetite.
The same principle also applies in putting these litter boxes close to their sleeping areas. Make sure it is far away from these spots to ensure your cat can sleep peacefully. The scent from these litter boxes may make them turned off from their sleep.
Putting the litter box in a noisy location
Cats are sensitive to noise and it is very easy to startle them while they are in their litter box. As mentioned above, avoid putting these litter boxes in areas near appliances that produce a lot of noise.
Ignoring your cat’s likes
Like any other animal, cats also have their own preferences which you will need to take into consideration. Watch your cat’s behavior when it comes to where they tend to focus on for every activity they do, especially when it comes to peeing and pooping. Once you identify the spots in your home where they do it, take note of what makes the space safe for them. Accommodate their needs by placing their litter box there and give them encouragement to use the litter box.
Not having enough litter boxes
For multiple cat homes, it is best to have an equal number of litter boxes in your home to accommodate them. Ideally, if you have two cats, you should have three at home. If you have three cats, have four in your home. This will allow your cats to have a peace of mind when it comes to their needs. These litter boxes should be scattered throughout your home so they don’t fight over these litter boxes.
Stop moving the litter box regularly
Cats like sticking with their habits so disrupting their habits can make them stressed and start acting badly. It is crucial that if you are moving these litter boxes, it is only when you need to clean them or if you are moving to a different home. You should also avoid moving the litter box when you are testing new litter or making renovations in your home.
What to do if the Litter Box Placement is still not working?
If your cat continues to pee or poop outside the litter box despite your efforts, then it must be an underlying medical issue you should get checked. Here are other signs that you should look for to determine if they start avoiding their litter box despite their placement:
- Spraying urine
- Scratching at the litter box and the immediate areas
- Avoids the litter box completely
Speak to your cat’s veterinarian for advice and also check your cat’s behavior to see if you can make changes based on their needs.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right spot for your cat’s litter box means the world for your cats since it means you understand their needs well and care for their well-being. As a pet owner, picking the right spot will help you train them better and reduce the stress it will cause you in the future. With these steps, you will be able to make things smoother for your household and get everything set up properly for your cats no matter how many litter boxes you need to have.
At Grin Like Cheshire, we specialise in everything related to automatic cat litter boxes. We help cat pawrents selecting and maintaining their automated cat litter boxes without unnecessary stress and costs. Contact us for a personalised consultation.
Disclaimer: Grin Like Cheshire is not affiliated with the featured brands and trademark rights remain the property of their respective owners. Above information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with questions regarding a medical condition.