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Even if your cat goes out regularly and does the majority of their business while outdoors, you should have a cat litter box in the house so that your feline friend has somewhere to go even during the night or when they can’t get to the cat flap.
The litter box is one of the most important pieces of cat equipment, for you and your cat. Felines are fastidiously clean animals, usually take well to litter training and house training, and a dirty litter box can be as stressful to your cat as it is to the person that has to clean it up. General advice dictates that cat families should have one litter box per cat, plus one extra.
Experts advise that litter boxes should be one and a half times the size of your cat, and should be wide enough that your cat can turn around easily. The length of the cat is measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, and while a box can be considered too small, there isn’t such a thing as a too-large cat litter box. At least not from the perspective of the cat.
Do I Even Need a Litter Box?
At its most basic, a litter box is a plastic rectangular box with raised sides. It is used to contain a substrate or litter material, for example, clay or wood chips, and is used by your cat to urinate and defecate. The cat will usually bury their business once complete, which means kicking litter to cover up solids and liquids.
This action mimics how the cat would bury their business in the wild, therefore preventing it from being tracked by predators, but it is also this movement that tends to lead to bits of litter being scattered across the floor. A litter box allows your cat to perform these actions while providing them somewhere private, safe, and convenient to do their business. It means that your cat shouldn’t have any accidents around the house, which can happen if they feel threatened or if there aren’t enough litter boxes in the home.
How Often Do Cats Use The Litter?
Cats go to the toilet five or more times a day, starting from around seven weeks of age. This includes urinating and defecating and is a rough guide. Some cats may go more or less often, while factors such as age, hydration levels, physical activity, type of food, any treats they’ve been given, and even their general health may mean that they use the litter on a different schedule.
The litter box should be at least 1.5 times the length of your cat’s body, from the tip of their nose to the base of the tail, and wide enough to allow them to comfortably turn, while some recommend at least 13-15 inches in width.
The 4 Types of Litter Boxes
All cats are unique, and most have their own preference when it comes to toileting.
- The basic plastic litter box is popular because it is simple to use, easy to fill, and most cats can learn to easily use them.
- Covered boxes are popular with some cat owners because they can prevent the smell of feces from spreading. Some cats appreciate the privacy, too, but others can feel too penned in and may not use this type of litter box. Some covered boxes can even be designed to look like a piece of household furniture. These have the added advantage that they have storage room for the litter and for other cleaning items.
- Automatic litter boxes will clear the box for you. They usually do this by sifting the litter when they determine that a cat has been into and out of the box. They can be convenient and ensure a clean box, but they can also be noisy and might even put some kittens off.
- Disposable litter boxes are normally made from cardboard. Some are designed to be used for one or two weeks, by which time the cardboard will need to be thrown away. They can be very convenient when traveling, or as a short-term litter clearing solution.
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When Do Cats Learn to Use a Litter Box?
Most kittens will start to use a litter box at four weeks of age, but you shouldn’t worry too much if it takes your kitten one or two weeks longer. They will watch their mothers and learn how to use the box, but if this isn’t possible, for example, because you have adopted a kitten that was abandoned by their mother, start training at around this age.
Show your new kitten to their box, and put them in the litter box after meals and when they first wake up. Praise and reward your kitten when they use the litter box and don’t punish or tell them off if they get it wrong. It may take longer for a kitten to learn from their human parent than from their mother, and it will take longer for older cats to learn, but if you continue to praise and reward the use of the box and you are consistent in your schedule, it will usually come.
If you are struggling to train your cat and would like some additional advice, we suggest speaking to one of our vets.
Final Thoughts – Litter Box Size
Having an appropriate-sized litter box not only ensures that your cat is comfortable doing their business, and has the space to move but can minimize the debris that is spread across the room.
Measure your cat from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. One and a half times this number should be the minimum length of the litter box they are given, and the box should be wide enough to allow the cat to comfortably turn around. You can buy a bigger box.
You may also be interested in:
- Why Is My Cat Kicking Litter Out of the Box? Main Reasons (With Pictures)
- How to Train an Outdoor Cat to Use a Litter Box: Simple Tips
Featured Image Credit: Lightspruch, Shutterstock
