Choosing the right litter box and cat litter

In short: The right litter box and the right litter are crucial for whether a cat reliably uses its toilet. Many behavioural problems in cats can be traced back to an unsuitable toilet situation.

In more detail: Cats often react sensitively to changes in litter, location, or cleanliness of the box.

In detail

• Box size: The litter box should be at least as long as the cat itself plus about 50 percent, so the animal can turn around unhindered.
• Open or covered: Some cats prefer open boxes for better visibility, others prefer covered ones for privacy.
• Litter types: Clumping litter, silica litter, and plant-based litter differ in dust production, odour binding, and disposal.
• Number of boxes: A rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one extra, spread across different quiet locations in the home.
• Cleaning: Daily removal of faeces and clumps, plus regular complete litter changes, prevent cats from avoiding the box.
• Location choice: The box should be placed in a quiet, easily accessible spot, away from food and water bowls.
• Behaviour changes: Sudden urination outside the box can indicate health problems and should be checked by a vet (katzen-verhalten-verstehen, haustier-gesundheit-impfen-entwurmen-tierarzt).