Cats: # of litterboxes to # of cats

[Silent1CB]

I've heard & read you should have at least 1 box for each # of cats you have. Also, one of each level of your home. I was wondering how many people actually do?

Years ago when we had 2 cats, we had 2 boxes and one was never used.

A few weeks ago, we just got 2 new young cats. We set up 2 boxes on different levels of the house. Again, they are hardly using 1 of the boxes. They both nicely share the one box on the main middle level of our house.

Since they are really only using 1 box, I want to try to take away that box on the main level they are using and get them to use the box upstairs instead. I know I'm probably asking for trouble though.

 

[goofy4tink]

3 cats and a golden retriever at our house. We have one box for all three cats, up on a bureau, in our basement. But, it gets cleaned out every day. When we left for 4 days one time, we left 3 cat boxes, all in the basement. The dog wasn't there, so they didn't need to be out of his 'reach'. When we got home, 1 box was untouched, 1 had some in it, and the third was full. Dopey cats.

 

[SaraJayne]

We have 3 cats and one large,covered litter box. We've never had an issue with all of them using the same box.

It's scooped at least daily, if not twice.

 

[RadioNate]

Nope, we have 2 cats and 1 box. We used to have 2 boxes but like your cats they only ever used one box. The only time they used the 2nd box was if the 1st one was totally nasty...like when we were on vacation and it wasn't scooped for a few days.

Now we have one box. It is scooped at least once a day. Now that ours house is for sale, I do it at least 2x a day. We change it completely each week.

 

[castmemberb4]

I think it depends on the cat. The two females I had for 16 years would not share, one of them was extremely picky. The two boys I have now happily share and are usually in there together, in the room not the box. The only time we ever had one on each level was toward the end of life for the oldest cat she couldn't go up and down the steps as well any more. Before that we had the two in the same room.

 

[DizBelle]

6 cats. 3 litter boxes. All in an upstairs bathroom. It's ok as long as you scoop often. We're pretty much scooping every other day.

I think you'll only run into a problem if one of your cats refuses to use a litter box that was used by the other cat. All of our cats use all of the litter boxes - considerate little things that they are.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have two female cats and one litter box - the LitterRobot. I swear by it!

 

[puffkin]

2 cats. We only have one box and they share just fine. It is in our basement. We don't have a box on the first or second levels, just the one in the basement. I scoop daily.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

I'm the oddball, 1 cat, 2 boxes. The cat started as a outdoor barn cat on 40 acres of land, used to going potty wherever she wanted. We moved and now she is an indoor only cat. She didn't want to use the boxes to start, but now is great about it.

 

[Silent1CB]

Do you think I'm crazy to try to take away the box they've been using the most? Its only been about 3 weeks. I think they are using that one the most because it was the first box they discovered when we got them home a couple of weeks ago. It took them a couple of days to venture upstairs & down to the basement, but now they roam the entire house no problem. Its just they still stick to that first box they used.

I thought I would move the box next to the one I want them to use upstairs, then eventually, just take away one.

I'm home all day and can monitor them. I also scoop the box each day.

Our prior cats had the box upstairs. I'm finding I'm not crazy about having a box on the main floor of our house. Too close to our main areas of the house we live & entertain in.

 

[DizBelle]

Do you think I'm crazy to try to take away the box they've been using the most? Its only been about 3 weeks. I think they are using that one the most because it was the first box they discovered when we got them home a couple of weeks ago. It took them a couple of days to venture upstairs & down to the basement, but now they roam the entire house no problem. Its just they still stick to that first box they used.

I thought I would move the box next to the one I want them to use upstairs, then eventually, just take away one.

I'm home all day and can monitor them. I also scoop the box each day.

Our prior cats had the box upstairs. I'm finding I'm not crazy about having a box on the main floor of our house. Too close to our main areas of the house we live & entertain in.

Not crazy and sounds like a good plan. No reason not to give it a try.

When you move the box upstairs, be sure to take both of the cats upstairs and show it to them.

 

[jspahn]

we have 5 cats, 4 litterboxes spread out 2 on the top floor, none on the middle and 2 in our finished basement.
They use ALL the boxes. And are very picky about it being clean too.

our vet actually recommends one for every cat PLUS one, and again, on every floor of house.

 

[Imzadi]

A few weeks ago, we just got 2 new young cats.

You cannot post a thread that says you got new young cats a few weeks ago and not post pictures of them.

I'm the oddball, 1 cat, 2 boxes.

I have one cat & two boxes, too. They are right next to each other. She started pooping next to the box, so I temporarily added one. I guess she likes to spread out and alternate boxes, so now, it's permanent.

Do you think I'm crazy to try to take away the box they've been using the most?

I think the problem will be if they can remember where the other boxes are, and will they make the trip to them.

 

[Clio]

3 cats and 3 litter boxes and they use all 3. One's upstairs and the other 2 are in the basement. My cats are all boys.
Liz

 

[wdw_girl_18]

We have four cats and 2 litter boxes. One on the first floor and one in the basement. We clean both of them out every morning and night. Then we completely change them, wash with lysol, and put fresh litter in once a week. If we didn't do that they would definitely be going potty elsewhere.

We do have a third litter box in the basement, but for some reason they just wont use it. Which is very odd!

 

[chyam]

6 cats....3 litter boxes...although they use one rarely, I would rather be safe than sorry and if it never gets used that's OK too. I just leave it there. Never had a problem.

 

[HeatherH]

Two cats, two litter boxes, one on each level of the house. They both definitely get used, and often. What am I feeding those cats?

At one point I actually had a third box when one of my cats was ill and having a hard time with one of the boxes. I do scoop both boxes daily, I can't imagine not. The rule I heard also was one box per cat plus one, but I can't imagine having three all the time. Two works fine for us.

OP, I think if you plan on moving down to one box, it's going to be hard to get them to use the one they have NOT been using, if they favor the other one. The LAST thing you want is for the cats to start going outside the box. That is a BAD habit and very hard to break.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

 

[Syrreal]

We have 5 cats and 2 boxes (one on each of the floors the cats can use). One gets cleaned every day (my box) and I have no idea when the other does b/c DH is in charge of it. Though, I would guess never except when it gets changed completely...so never.

 

[michellev]

We have 4 cats and 4 litter boxes. We keep them all together on the same level of the house (in the basement of our bungalow). I think I could safely remove one of the boxes, it rarely gets used, but I wouldn't want to risk having any less than that.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Just got a Litter Robot and absolutely LOVE it!! Two cats and the one box.