Click to Skip Ahead
It seems like such an easy thing that you probably didn’t even give much thought to where you’d put your cat’s litter box when you brought it home. Now, you’re looking around your home, wondering where the best location is for a litter box. Should it be off in a corner, or out in a main room? Is it okay to hide it away where it won’t be seen, or does it even matter?
To your cat, it definitely matters. And truthfully, it should matter to you as well. That litter box can certainly emit some unpleasant odors that you wouldn’t want wafting through your kitchen, for instance. But you can’t tuck the litter box into a hard-to-reach room and call it quits. There must be a compromise so that both you and your cat are satisfied with the placement of the litter box.
Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. We’re going to give you some simple dos and don’ts to follow that will make it easy to pick the perfect spot for your feline to do its business.
Where to Place a Cat’s Litter Box
1. Where Your Cat Spends a Lot of Time
It’s a good idea to put the litter box in a room that your cat is often in. If there’s a particular room or area that you notice your cat gravitating toward, that might be a good place to consider putting the litter box.
2. Somewhere Quiet
Your cat won’t enjoy loud noises while it’s trying to use the litter box. Any loud noises can be a nuisance for your cat during this time, including the TV and appliances like washers and dryers. These kinds of noises can make the space seem scary to your cat, causing it to avoid the area where its litter box is located. Naturally, this can lead to some unwanted behaviors such as inappropriate elimination outside of the litterbox.
3. It Must Be Easy to Reach
If your cat can’t reach the litter box, it won’t be able to use it. While it might be convenient for you to have the litter box tucked way back in a corner, if your cat has a hard time getting there, it will be less likely to use the litter box.
4. Low-Traffic Area
It’s best to place the litter box in a room that doesn’t get much foot traffic. A busy foyer isn’t a great place for a litter box as the constant foot traffic can deter your cat from using it there.
5. Away From the Cat’s Food and Water
This should be a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many people miss it. Just like you like to keep your toilet and kitchen separated for hygienic and health reasons, you should do the same with your cat.
6. Away From Other Litter Boxes
Litter box issues often arise in multi-cat households. Some cats might be comfortable using only certain litter boxes or only in particular areas. When you have multiple cats, the placement of their litter boxes is even more important. Make sure that the litter boxes are all spaced far apart, preferably in separate rooms. Also, make sure you keep more litter boxes than you have cats. For example, if you have three cats, you should have a minimum of four litter boxes.
Where Not to Put a Litter Box
1. Busy Areas
If the room containing your cat’s litter box has people constantly walking through, your cat won’t find it peaceful enough to use. Any room constantly in use makes a poor place to put the litter box. Entryways and kitchens make terrible locations for a litter box because they often have people walking through or congregating there.
2. Places With Limited Access
Don’t put the litter box anywhere that’s not always available for your cat. Sometimes, people put litter boxes in the bathroom, which does seem to make sense. However, if the door gets closed, your cat might end up locked out with nowhere to go except in the house, defeating the entire point of even having a litter box.
3. Anywhere Noisy or Loud
While the laundry room seems like a great place to put a litter box since it’s out of the way but still generally easy to access, the noise of the washer and dryer running could be a major deterrent for your feline. You’ll want to avoid putting the litter box near anything that will scare or intimidate your cat, as these can easily prevent your cat from using the litter box at all.
4. Somewhere Suddenly New
Cats are creatures of habit. Your cat will get used to the litter box being in a certain place. If you suddenly move it, you’ll throw your cat off and it won’t know where to go. Once you set a place for the litter box and your cat adapts, don’t move it. Leave the litter box there, lest you face the consequences of moving it, such as your cat suddenly having accidents throughout your home! If you do need to move, you should do it slowly and gradually over some time.
5. Places Your Cat Doesn’t Go
The litter box needs to be located in a place that your cat actually visits. If your cat never enters a room, then that room is probably a poor choice for placing a litter box. Your cat might even be scared or intimidated by certain places in your home for reasons you’re unaware of. By putting the litter box in one of these places, you might be putting a big barrier between your cat and using its litter box.
Final Thoughts
Placing your cat’s litter box sounds easier than it is, though it doesn’t have to be overly complicated. It must be somewhere that’s easily accessible for your cat, but still quiet and a bit secluded. Your cat doesn’t want to be bothered by lots of foot traffic while using the litter box, and you don’t want to be inundated with the awful smells that generally accompany litter boxes. By following the guidelines we’ve laid out, you should be able to find a suitable location in your home that meets all of these needs. With proper litter box placement, everyone in the household will be happier.
You may also like:
Featured Image Credit: Lightspruch, Shutterstock
