In a multiple cat home, how many litter boxes should you have?How much space do cats need when living indoors?How can I find my cats' secret peeing spot?If I have both a cat and a rabbit, can they (or should they) share a litter box?Can I locate my cats' feeding maze close to their litter-box?Should I keep my cat from playing in her litter box?How can I get my cat to cover their litter?How can I reduce litter/waste odor?How can I have a cat without a litter box?How often should a litter box be cleaned?Is it really necessary to have a litter box for every cat? If so, why?Do cats prefer transparent or opaque litter boxes?How can I teach my 5 months old blind kitten to use the litter box properly?
How much of data wrangling is a data scientist's job?
Today is the Center
How can bays and straits be determined in a procedurally generated map?
Theorems that impeded progress
What would happen to a modern skyscraper if it rains micro blackholes?
Why is 150k or 200k jobs considered good when there's 300k+ births a month?
Is it possible to run Internet Explorer on OS X El Capitan?
What doth I be?
Why is consensus so controversial in Britain?
Is it possible to do 50 km distance without any previous training?
What's the output of a record needle playing an out-of-speed record
Accidentally leaked the solution to an assignment, what to do now? (I'm the prof)
How is the claim "I am in New York only if I am in America" the same as "If I am in New York, then I am in America?
What does "Puller Prush Person" mean?
Alternative to sending password over mail?
RSA: Danger of using p to create q
What typically incentivizes a professor to change jobs to a lower ranking university?
Paid for article while in US on F-1 visa?
What does the "remote control" for a QF-4 look like?
When a company launches a new product do they "come out" with a new product or do they "come up" with a new product?
Does detail obscure or enhance action?
Do I have a twin with permutated remainders?
What is the word for reserving something for yourself before others do?
Modeling an IP Address
In a multiple cat home, how many litter boxes should you have?
How much space do cats need when living indoors?How can I find my cats' secret peeing spot?If I have both a cat and a rabbit, can they (or should they) share a litter box?Can I locate my cats' feeding maze close to their litter-box?Should I keep my cat from playing in her litter box?How can I get my cat to cover their litter?How can I reduce litter/waste odor?How can I have a cat without a litter box?How often should a litter box be cleaned?Is it really necessary to have a litter box for every cat? If so, why?Do cats prefer transparent or opaque litter boxes?How can I teach my 5 months old blind kitten to use the litter box properly?
I have seen a few suggestions in answers to other questions about it. But when I look I can never find it.
If I have multiple cats in my home, how many litter boxes should I have?
cats toilet-training cat-litter
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
add a comment |
I have seen a few suggestions in answers to other questions about it. But when I look I can never find it.
If I have multiple cats in my home, how many litter boxes should I have?
cats toilet-training cat-litter
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
add a comment |
I have seen a few suggestions in answers to other questions about it. But when I look I can never find it.
If I have multiple cats in my home, how many litter boxes should I have?
cats toilet-training cat-litter
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
I have seen a few suggestions in answers to other questions about it. But when I look I can never find it.
If I have multiple cats in my home, how many litter boxes should I have?
cats toilet-training cat-litter
cats toilet-training cat-litter
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
asked Mar 21 at 12:16
James Jenkins♦James Jenkins
18k2583190
18k2583190
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Rule of thumb is n + 1 litter boxes for n cats, this ensures a plentiful supply of this particular resource - with cats behaving more as individuals than a co-operative unit (such as a pack) they are more likely to accept sharing territory with another cat if there is no competition for key resources (toilet area, food, water etc)
It's by no means a hard and fast rule - my two get on just fine with two boxes between them but particularly during the introduction phase ensuring no or minimal resource competition is highly recommended.
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
13
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
4
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
add a comment |
The popular answer is "One box per cat, plus one extra", but I think it's a bit more complex (or a bit more flexible, depending on how you look at it).
You may need more than "cats + 1" boxes if:
- You live in a very large house. You want using a box to always be an
attractive option, and if your cats can't bear to share a box, and
one cat's personal toilet is in the basement and he's on the top
floor and feeling lazy, well... - You live in a very small space and your cats feel crowded and territorial
- Your cats don't get along well, or are 'resource guarders'
- You have an older, UTI-prone, or medically compromised cat that can't 'hold it' well
- Your cats are prone to stress or territorial marking
- You don't want to clean very often (less than once a day)
- Your various cats have different litter or box-style preferences/needs
You can probably get away with less than "cats + 1" boxes if your cats are happy to share, get along well, don't resource guard, are in a smaller-but-also-not-too-cramped space, and you clean the boxes frequently (daily or more often). If you prefer to use very large boxes, that could also possibly reduce the number needed, as long as your cats don't mind sharing.
I have always used 2 boxes for my two cats with good success, and they can share one box for short periods without seeming stressed, but pushing the limits too much can cause elimination issues that are much, much harder to fix than they are to prevent, so I stick with two even though odds are one box would be 'good enough' for my cats as long as I cleaned frequently enough.
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
1
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "518"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fpets.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f24063%2fin-a-multiple-cat-home-how-many-litter-boxes-should-you-have%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Rule of thumb is n + 1 litter boxes for n cats, this ensures a plentiful supply of this particular resource - with cats behaving more as individuals than a co-operative unit (such as a pack) they are more likely to accept sharing territory with another cat if there is no competition for key resources (toilet area, food, water etc)
It's by no means a hard and fast rule - my two get on just fine with two boxes between them but particularly during the introduction phase ensuring no or minimal resource competition is highly recommended.
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
13
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
4
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
add a comment |
Rule of thumb is n + 1 litter boxes for n cats, this ensures a plentiful supply of this particular resource - with cats behaving more as individuals than a co-operative unit (such as a pack) they are more likely to accept sharing territory with another cat if there is no competition for key resources (toilet area, food, water etc)
It's by no means a hard and fast rule - my two get on just fine with two boxes between them but particularly during the introduction phase ensuring no or minimal resource competition is highly recommended.
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
13
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
4
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
add a comment |
Rule of thumb is n + 1 litter boxes for n cats, this ensures a plentiful supply of this particular resource - with cats behaving more as individuals than a co-operative unit (such as a pack) they are more likely to accept sharing territory with another cat if there is no competition for key resources (toilet area, food, water etc)
It's by no means a hard and fast rule - my two get on just fine with two boxes between them but particularly during the introduction phase ensuring no or minimal resource competition is highly recommended.
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
Rule of thumb is n + 1 litter boxes for n cats, this ensures a plentiful supply of this particular resource - with cats behaving more as individuals than a co-operative unit (such as a pack) they are more likely to accept sharing territory with another cat if there is no competition for key resources (toilet area, food, water etc)
It's by no means a hard and fast rule - my two get on just fine with two boxes between them but particularly during the introduction phase ensuring no or minimal resource competition is highly recommended.
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
answered Mar 21 at 12:54
motosubatsumotosubatsu
3,781825
3,781825
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
13
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
4
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
add a comment |
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
13
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
4
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
Agreed with the no hard and fast rule. I have 2 cats who have only ever used 1 large box (I just have to be diligent in cleaning it 1-2x per day). But 1 per cat is the recommended minimum, and try to avoid reducing the amount of boxes you start with.
– Gwendolyn
Mar 21 at 18:23
13
13
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
so if you have zero cats, you should have one litter box?
– JohnOsborne
Mar 21 at 19:21
4
4
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
@JohnOsborne I mean, where else are you gonna go?
– C. Helling
Mar 21 at 19:26
add a comment |
The popular answer is "One box per cat, plus one extra", but I think it's a bit more complex (or a bit more flexible, depending on how you look at it).
You may need more than "cats + 1" boxes if:
- You live in a very large house. You want using a box to always be an
attractive option, and if your cats can't bear to share a box, and
one cat's personal toilet is in the basement and he's on the top
floor and feeling lazy, well... - You live in a very small space and your cats feel crowded and territorial
- Your cats don't get along well, or are 'resource guarders'
- You have an older, UTI-prone, or medically compromised cat that can't 'hold it' well
- Your cats are prone to stress or territorial marking
- You don't want to clean very often (less than once a day)
- Your various cats have different litter or box-style preferences/needs
You can probably get away with less than "cats + 1" boxes if your cats are happy to share, get along well, don't resource guard, are in a smaller-but-also-not-too-cramped space, and you clean the boxes frequently (daily or more often). If you prefer to use very large boxes, that could also possibly reduce the number needed, as long as your cats don't mind sharing.
I have always used 2 boxes for my two cats with good success, and they can share one box for short periods without seeming stressed, but pushing the limits too much can cause elimination issues that are much, much harder to fix than they are to prevent, so I stick with two even though odds are one box would be 'good enough' for my cats as long as I cleaned frequently enough.
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
1
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
add a comment |
The popular answer is "One box per cat, plus one extra", but I think it's a bit more complex (or a bit more flexible, depending on how you look at it).
You may need more than "cats + 1" boxes if:
- You live in a very large house. You want using a box to always be an
attractive option, and if your cats can't bear to share a box, and
one cat's personal toilet is in the basement and he's on the top
floor and feeling lazy, well... - You live in a very small space and your cats feel crowded and territorial
- Your cats don't get along well, or are 'resource guarders'
- You have an older, UTI-prone, or medically compromised cat that can't 'hold it' well
- Your cats are prone to stress or territorial marking
- You don't want to clean very often (less than once a day)
- Your various cats have different litter or box-style preferences/needs
You can probably get away with less than "cats + 1" boxes if your cats are happy to share, get along well, don't resource guard, are in a smaller-but-also-not-too-cramped space, and you clean the boxes frequently (daily or more often). If you prefer to use very large boxes, that could also possibly reduce the number needed, as long as your cats don't mind sharing.
I have always used 2 boxes for my two cats with good success, and they can share one box for short periods without seeming stressed, but pushing the limits too much can cause elimination issues that are much, much harder to fix than they are to prevent, so I stick with two even though odds are one box would be 'good enough' for my cats as long as I cleaned frequently enough.
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
1
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
add a comment |
The popular answer is "One box per cat, plus one extra", but I think it's a bit more complex (or a bit more flexible, depending on how you look at it).
You may need more than "cats + 1" boxes if:
- You live in a very large house. You want using a box to always be an
attractive option, and if your cats can't bear to share a box, and
one cat's personal toilet is in the basement and he's on the top
floor and feeling lazy, well... - You live in a very small space and your cats feel crowded and territorial
- Your cats don't get along well, or are 'resource guarders'
- You have an older, UTI-prone, or medically compromised cat that can't 'hold it' well
- Your cats are prone to stress or territorial marking
- You don't want to clean very often (less than once a day)
- Your various cats have different litter or box-style preferences/needs
You can probably get away with less than "cats + 1" boxes if your cats are happy to share, get along well, don't resource guard, are in a smaller-but-also-not-too-cramped space, and you clean the boxes frequently (daily or more often). If you prefer to use very large boxes, that could also possibly reduce the number needed, as long as your cats don't mind sharing.
I have always used 2 boxes for my two cats with good success, and they can share one box for short periods without seeming stressed, but pushing the limits too much can cause elimination issues that are much, much harder to fix than they are to prevent, so I stick with two even though odds are one box would be 'good enough' for my cats as long as I cleaned frequently enough.
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
The popular answer is "One box per cat, plus one extra", but I think it's a bit more complex (or a bit more flexible, depending on how you look at it).
You may need more than "cats + 1" boxes if:
- You live in a very large house. You want using a box to always be an
attractive option, and if your cats can't bear to share a box, and
one cat's personal toilet is in the basement and he's on the top
floor and feeling lazy, well... - You live in a very small space and your cats feel crowded and territorial
- Your cats don't get along well, or are 'resource guarders'
- You have an older, UTI-prone, or medically compromised cat that can't 'hold it' well
- Your cats are prone to stress or territorial marking
- You don't want to clean very often (less than once a day)
- Your various cats have different litter or box-style preferences/needs
You can probably get away with less than "cats + 1" boxes if your cats are happy to share, get along well, don't resource guard, are in a smaller-but-also-not-too-cramped space, and you clean the boxes frequently (daily or more often). If you prefer to use very large boxes, that could also possibly reduce the number needed, as long as your cats don't mind sharing.
I have always used 2 boxes for my two cats with good success, and they can share one box for short periods without seeming stressed, but pushing the limits too much can cause elimination issues that are much, much harder to fix than they are to prevent, so I stick with two even though odds are one box would be 'good enough' for my cats as long as I cleaned frequently enough.
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
answered Mar 21 at 19:42
MegMeg
6598
6598
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
1
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
add a comment |
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
1
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
What is small for a cat? Jw
– Azor Ahai
Mar 21 at 20:40
1
1
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
Honestly I am not sure how to quantify it, since 'feeling crowded' depends a lot on how much vertical space is available (cat trees etc), and on the relationship between cats, if they are accustomed to being indoor pets, if they are neutered or not, etc. This question has been asked, actually, and the only answer was similarly inconclusive: pets.stackexchange.com/questions/7709/…
– Meg
Mar 21 at 20:44
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Pets Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fpets.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f24063%2fin-a-multiple-cat-home-how-many-litter-boxes-should-you-have%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
