Litter Box Basics

Cleanliness. Certain cats may demand that their boxes be cleaned every day (in rare cases, even more frequently), while others may be happy to go a week or more between scooping. In general, daily maintenance, even with a clumping litter, is recommended.

Location. An ideal litter box location is both protected and accessible. When entering and exiting the box, the cat should have every opportunity to avoid ambush from other cats, dogs and children.

How many? The number of boxes is determined by the number of cats in the household. Feline behaviorists generally recommend the number of boxes be equal to the number of cats plus one, e.g., two cats should have three litter boxes.

A rainbow of litter possibilities. Cats have preferences and choices for litter that range from large pellet to clumping granule to soft shred, made from potato to pine to green tea. Mud Bay staff can help you find a litter that might suit your cat to a tee.

If a cat stops using the litter box. If a cat suddenly stops using the litter box and begins to urinate in other areas of the house, it’s often a first sign of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder, kidney disease or diabetes. When litter box behavior changes for no apparent reason, it's a good idea to visit a veterinarian to rule out possible medical causes.

We’re not veterinarians. Mud Bay staff are well educated, and our writing is well-researched, but neither the advice of a Mud Bay staff member nor reading Mud Bay's written materials can substitute for visiting a veterinarian. We offer carefully chosen, natural solutions, but we believe that veterinary conditions should be diagnosed and treated by professionals.