Litter box troubles?

**Cats and their litter box… we could talk about it for hours.** Fortunately, cats are naturally clean and hygienic animals. But does that guarantee flawless toilet habits? Unfortunately not. Cats urinating outside the litter box, refusing to use it, or spreading litter all over the house - if you can imagine it, cats will do it. Are they trying to annoy us? Of course not. Litter box troubles always indicate an underlying issue. Here’s how to prevent most of them.

The litter box must be clean.

Before we go any further, let’s state the obvious: the litter box must be clean. Sounds logical, right? Yet, not everyone is as diligent about this. If you have one cat, clean the litter box daily. With two cats, it’s best to do this twice a day.

The right litter box filling.

Gebruik de juiste kattenbakvulling. Welke dat is, hangt van jouw kat af. Sommige katten verkiezen net een hele fijne zandachtige vulling, terwijl andere net meer houden van een grotere en ruwere versie. Experimenteren is dus de boodschap. Naast de voorkeur van de kat kan je ook rekening houden met je eigen gebruiksgemak. Klonterende kattenbakvulling vergemakkelijkt bijvoorbeeld het verschonen van de bak.

How many litter boxes do you need?

Another common mistake cat owners make is assuming that one litter box is enough, even in a multi-cat household. The general rule of thumb is: provide one more litter box than the number of cats in your home. So, if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes. If you have a single cat that frequently goes outside and has enough outdoor toilet options, one litter box might be sufficient.

What type of litter box?

Litter boxes come in all shapes and sizes—covered, open, with or without a flap. In general, most cats prefer an open litter box, though some enjoy the privacy of a covered one. If you use a box with a flap, be extra mindful of regular cleaning. The flap can trap odors, making it harder to notice when the box needs refreshing. And a smelly toilet is the last thing your cat wants!

Where should you place the litter box?

Cats aren’t usually too picky about where their litter box is placed. Just make sure it’s easily accessible and not near a noisy appliance—so placing it next to the washing machine isn’t a great idea. Also, never put the litter box too close to your cat’s food and water. After all, we wouldn’t want our toilet right next to our dining table either!