One of the most difficult things of having multiple cats at home is dealing with their litter boxes. You would have to make sure that each litter box is filled, scooped and cleaned regularly because if you do not, it’s gonna create a lot of odor for the rest of the home and it will be hard to deal with. There are many options as to which litter boxes work best for multi-cat households, but automatic litter boxes are ideal because of the various features it offers.
But, is it enough?
Here is our quick guide on why automatic litter boxes are perfect for your multi-cat homes and how you can further boost the use of these litter boxes:
Why Do Litter Box Placement in Multi-Cat Households Important?
Cats are territorial and usually like to do things at their own pace and time. They also care about their hygiene, preferring to do it on their own. If they share that time with others, it can create tension and competition. Some cats may even become stressed to the point they may start doing their business outside their litter boxes.
Ideally, you should have one litter box per cat and an extra one as a communal space in case the cat is in an area far away from their litter box. The space must also be open and private so cats can do their private time in peace.
Why Getting an Automatic Litter Box for your Multi-Cat Household is Best?
Automatic litter boxes remove the ‘daily scooping’ part of maintaining your cat’s litter box. Simply put the appropriate amount of cat litter in the machine and it will automatically sift the litter and ensure the used litter is collected in a separate sealed compartment, reducing the odor it produces until it’s time to take it out of the machine.
As it sifts or rakes the used litter, it will leave the clean litter and add more litter to meet the required limit. The machine would then tell you if the waste container is filled and you simply seal the bag of used litter and throw it away.
Here are other reasons why getting an automatic litter box for your multi-cat household is the best:
Capacity
Most automatic litter boxes provide waste bins with a 10L or more capacity, reducing the need for owners to keep refilling its litter and cleaning it regularly. For multi-cat households, this capacity suits up to 3 cats for the base 10Ls units and higher while still ensuring it doesn’t need to be refilled and replaced regularly.
Noise Levels
Automatic litter boxes – when maintained properly – are very quiet, making it perfect for cats with sensitive hearing. It also won’t cause a lot of noise pollution in your home.
Odor Control
Since you have more cats in your home, they will create more waste and make it easier for its odor to permeate throughout the house. Unlike traditional litter boxes that are open and will require constant scooping to remove the scent from used litter, automatic litter boxes have sealed compartments where it stores used litter and come with carbon filters to eliminate odor.
Multi-Cat Compatibility
While not all automatic litter boxes are rated to be multi-cat compatible, some are clearly made for multiple cat use. So double check before you buy. When looking at multi-cat compatibility, you should also take note of the type of cats it can fit because it may affect how well the litter box will fare for all your cats.
Litter Type Requirements
Some automatic litter boxes accept only branded litter for their boxes. But, there are also those which allow specific litter types based on their size and nature. If you are going to use other types of litter for your automatic litter box, make sure it will fit these boxes and your cats like litter when it is used.
Safety Sensors
Unlike traditional litter boxes, automatic litter boxes come with safety sensors that will prevent the box from going through the cycles when your cats are inside. It will also report immediately if there are any issues with your cats’ litter box use or if you need to refill it and clean the waste bin. Some automatic litter boxes also come with alerts for small cats in case they are stuck in the machine by accident.
Ease of Access
Automatic litter boxes come with different kinds of entry access for cats of any size and shape. But, you can get a low-entry or open design one to help for any age. When checking for this feature, make sure to check the type of cats you have in your home to see if they will fit your chosen automatic litter box at all ages. If needed, get a separate litter box for your smaller cats.
Power Supply and Backup
You should also make it a point to buy a backup power system for your automatic litter box for your multi-cat homes, especially if you are located in areas where brownouts are common. Some automatic litter boxes come with battery back ups and manual modes so it can still work even without power.
Custom Features
Each automatic litter box comes with different types of features to make it convenient to use for cat owners. Some come with scheduled cleanups, app reminders and even automatic cleaning.
Easy to Clean
While automatic litter boxes can clean themselves regularly, it will still need manual care in order to ensure it is clean from any debris and other issues. As much as possible, pick models that are easy to disassemble and assemble for cleaning. And make sure to read the manual so you know how to properly use it for your cats.
Durability
Since it is made to hold a lot of litter and move around often, these automatic litter boxes are very durable, come with long warranties and customer support you can rely on. Make it a point to review each litter box review to find which litter box works best for your family home.
Costs
Although some automatic litter boxes will require you to purchase branded litter, they are made to be cost-efficient in the future. Some even offer discounts if you sign up for their subscription program. If you intend to use other types of litter, check their expiry dates and storage requirements in order to extend their shelf life and usage. When it comes to maintenance costs and replacement parts, it is best to review the maker’s website to determine availability of usually worn out parts.
How Many Automatic Litter Boxes Should You Get if You Own More than Three Cats?
The rule is usually 1 litter box per cat and then you leave one extra available. But, considering that automatic litter boxes are capable of handling more litter all at once depending on the unit, you can get 2 to 3 high capacity units then get small ones as spares.
Tips on How to Make Litter Use Organized and Clean for Your Multi-Cat Household
Once you have decided to get an automatic cat litter box, you now need to know how you can make sure your many cats would properly use them and make it an integral part of your home. Here are several steps you can do to integrate automatic litter boxes to their lifestyle:
Introducing the Litter Box
For new cats in your household, it is best that you let the cat have its own food bowl and litter box while letting them acclimatize to their new surroundings and the scent of other cats. Once you believe they are ready, you can slowly introduce them to the other cats and ensure that they have their dedicated litter box and introduce them to the community litter box. This will ensure other cats won’t use their litter box and they are aware of the extra litter box in case theirs gets used all of a sudden.
Litter Box Placement
Make sure that each litter box is separated from one another and not near any loud appliances or high traffic areas. It is also best that you do not place them side by side because it may induce stress on your cats, especially as they may feel crowded or unsafe in their litter boxes. You should also avoid placing it in areas close to where they sleep or nap. It must also be in a place that is safe, open and easy to access at any given time or day. You can also spread them out so that not one litter box is in the same place.
Height and Size
Your cat’s gender, age, height and type may also require some consideration with the type of automatic litter box you should have for your home. For females, the litter box should have higher sides so their pee doesn’t splash out of the litter box. However you may want to have easy to access litter boxes for older cats or cats with disabilities. For smaller cats or kittens, get a small litter box and just upgrade to a larger one once they grow.
Pick the Right Litter
Every cat will have their preferences when it comes to the litter they want to use. Since you have a multi-cat household, you will need one that all cats agree on unless they have special needs or it is required for their ages. Ideally, clumping litter is perfect since when it is used by your cat, it will clump together and make it easier for the machine to collect it and rake it from the clean litter. It must also be unscented because cats are very sensitive with certain strong scents and even be allergic to them. But, there are cats who like scented litter so it is best to check with all your cats if they will like the scent by gradually introducing it to them.
Check their Litter Box Usage
Always make it a point to check how well your cats are using the automatic litter box with the help of the app it comes with. This will allow you to determine if they are doing ok in terms of their litter use or if there is something wrong with their poop or pee. When something is wrong, make sure to bring them to the vet immediately because it may be a sign that something is wrong with their digestion and other medical conditions.
These apps also come with alert notifications that will tell you if you need to clean the waste of the automatic litter box.
Inspect the Litter Box Regularly
Since you are using these litter boxes for multiple cats, it is always best to inspect them regularly outside their maintenance cleaning. This will ensure that the components are still working and you can spot scratches that have collected scents that are hard to clean. If you spot anything that is not working, try looking for ways to clean it. It is also best to look into the litter box’s warranty to see if you can get key parts replaced if they are too battered up or damaged.
If the scent of the litter box doesn’t fade away even after you clean it in person, you should replace it completely.
Final Thoughts
Having multiple cats in your household is going to be a circus most of the time, but cats are creatures of habit that you don’t really have to worry all that much. But, as cat parents, you need to be on top of everything so that your cats remain stress-free at all times. By making their litter box use time more convenient with the help of automatic litter boxes, you know they always have clean litter and it won’t be a hassle to clean up after.
Before you make the purchase, always do your research first and check what your cat’s needs are before making the bid to buy the automatic litter box you need. It will make things easier for you and your cats to relax!