The world of cat litter boxes is surprisingly vast and confusing! How can something your cat poops in be so complicated?
Whether you’re a first-time cat parent wondering which type of litter to buy or a lifelong cat enthusiast who’s curious about automatic litter boxes, we have you covered in this complete guide to cat litter boxes. Let’s dive in!
Every situation is different, so what works for some cats may not work for others. Let’s go over some options to help you decide what type of litter box to purchase.
Traditional litter boxes are comprised of one simple box, which you clean using a separate scoop. Sifting litter boxes have 2-3 layers, one of which has holes for smaller pieces to fall through–like a giant scoop that cleans the entire litter box at once.
Depending on your preferences, you may find these boxes easier to clean. However, their main benefit is if you want to use pelleted litter, which we’ll discuss further when we dive into litter types.
Self-cleaning litter boxes run on electricity and scoop themselves, typically by turning in a circle to dump the litter through a sifter.
Most of them are small and don’t work well for large cats. They also tend to be covered and raised from the ground, though this depends on the style you buy. Some cats are afraid of their movement or noise, though you can usually desensitize them to the experience with time and patience.
On the bright side, self-cleaning litter boxes are convenient and can help people with disabilities who struggle to consistently scoop the litter box. While they do need to be emptied and deep-cleaned, these aren’t everyday chores.
The main thing to watch for with self-cleaning boxes is that they don’t have doors or turn in a way that blocks the entry, even temporarily. If the sensors go wrong in that style of box, your cat may end up trapped inside. Unfortunately, some cats have died this way due to lack of oxygen.
Typically, cats prefer uncovered litter boxes. Some of them won’t use a litter box with a lid, or one that’s enclosed in a piece of furniture.
Covered boxes trap more dust and odors inside, which can make using the litter box unpleasant. They typically only have one entry, which may cause problems in multi-cat homes as it’s easier for a cat to get cornered.
Bad experiences like this can cause a cat to fear the litter box, and they may pee or poop elsewhere as a result.
However, covered litter boxes do have some benefits. If a cat is used to them, they may prefer them over uncovered boxes. They also tend to keep the area around the litter box cleaner, especially if your cat sprays while using the litter box or kicks litter from the box while trying to cover their waste.
Lastly, you’ll want to think about the size of your litter box. Your largest cat should be able to stand fully inside of it and turn around.
If the box is too small, your cat may accidentally poop or pee over the side and onto your floors. It may also be uncomfortable for them to use.
The ideal height of the litter box depends on your cat. Young kittens, seniors, and cats with mobility issues require boxes with low sides so that they can climb in and out easily.
If you have a young adult cat who tends to spray while standing in the box, or who kicks their litter everywhere, you may prefer a box with high sides to reduce the mess on your floors and walls.
Typically, you want to have one litter box per cat, plus one. This means that even in a single-cat home, you should have two litter boxes available. A home with two cats should have three litter boxes, and so on.
Some cats prefer to poop and pee in separate boxes. Others are picky and won’t potty in a dirty box, so the extra one acts as a back-up. In multi-cat homes, it’s even more important to give your cats options since they can be very territorial animals. Having ample resources reduces the risk of guarding behaviors and fights between cats.
The type of litter that works best will depend on yours and your cat’s preferences. Let’s go over a few popular options to help you decide:
Clay litter is most common because it clumps for easy clean-up, is cheap compared to other litter types, and is preferred by most cats (compared to wood pellets or silica cat litter).
That said, clay litter is bad for the environment, and the dust may cause respiratory issues for humans and pets in the home.
Another popular choice is wood pellets. This type of litter tends to be even cheaper than clay litter, which is a definite bonus! It’s also less dusty and more environmentally friendly.
It’s easy to use, but you will need a sifting litter box rather than a regular box and scoop. This is because rather than clumping together, the pellets turn to dust when wet. A sifting box with three layers will allow this dust to fall through the sift, so that you can dispose of it and dump the clean litter into the third layer.
Some people enjoy the smell of wooden pellets, while others find it overbearing and unpleasant. Cats tend to dislike the way the large pellets feel on their feet, and they may be especially problematic for those with joint pain.
Silica or crystal cat litter is made from silica gel. It’s absorbent, lightweight, and produces less dust than clay litter. It also tends to be longer-lasting.
However, silica litter is expensive, harmful to the environment, and may be uncomfortable for cats to walk on.
There’s also a rising trend of cat litter made from various natural materials. Examples include wheat, tofu, corn, almonds, and more.
These litters tend to be more environmentally friendly, but also more expensive. If the litter is made of food, your cat may try to eat it–which can cause blockages, especially when using a clumping litter.
While there are a plethora of scented cat litters on the market, most professionals recommend buying one without any added fragrances. These artificial smells tend to be unpleasant for cats and may cause them to avoid the litter box.
Instead of using scented products to cover up smells, make sure to clean the litter box properly. This includes scooping at least once a day and emptying and scrubbing it at least once a month, or more frequently if you notice residual odor after scooping.
Although it’s tempting to place the box somewhere out of the way, such as in a laundry room or basement, this isn’t a good idea. It can make using the litter box a chore, which makes your cat less likely to do it!
Instead, place the litter box someplace where your cat spends a lot of time. It should be convenient for them to use and they should be able to get to it quickly.
This also helps if your cat becomes sick with diarrhea, for instance, or as they age and it becomes harder for them to get around.
Of course, a litter scoop is essential! We recommend metal scoops since they last longest, so you won’t have to repurchase them. Look for one that’s pure metal (even under the handle cover) so that it won’t break.
If you have multiple litter boxes, a small trash bin can help to make scooping them easier. I have one from the dollar store which I line with plastic grocery store bags and empty daily.
They also sell kits, such as scoops with waste bins attached, but I find that these are typically quite small. They may also be flimsy or difficult to use. That said, some of them will work for people with one to two cats or those who scoop often.
While litter mats aren’t essential, they do tend to make clean-up easier and can protect your floors from potty accidents, as most of them are waterproof.
The right mat can also reduce (but not eliminate) the amount of litter tracked throughout your home. Look for one that’s textured or layered to trap litter effectively.
Another handy thing to keep near the litter box is an air purifier with a HEPA filter. This can help to reduce dust and smells in the air, keeping the area around the litter box cleaner.
Air purifiers are also great to have in general, especially when you have pets. You may be surprised at the amount of dust, dirt, and fur they collect!
If you’re planning any changes to your litter box set-up, remember to make it slowly. Quickly changing the type of litter box or cat litter you use can cause your cat to poop or pee outside of the box.
When switching litters, you’ll want to combine the old and new litter, slowly adding in more of the new litter every few days. Start with 10% of the new litter, then 25%, 50%, and 75%, until your cat is using only the new litter type. If they stop using the box, take a step back and move more slowly, or stick to the old litter.
When switching litter boxes, place the new box beside the old one, keeping the old litter box around until they’re using the new one consistently.
When moving the litter box, move it slowly over a period of days or weeks. Close off the old area or keep a waterproof liner there, as some cats will continue to potty where their litter box was until they get used to the change.
Try to avoid changing your cat’s litter box set-up as much as possible, as they’re creatures of habit. They do best when they know what’s expected of them and there are no sudden changes to their routine.
Remember that you can always disregard the advice you hear, so long as what you’re doing is working for you and your cat! While we’ve discussed what works best for the majority of cats, every individual is different and has their own preferences.
