Can Multiple Cats Share Litter Boxes? The Real Scoop!
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If you’re wondering if your multiple cats can share litter boxes, the answer is probably yes. As with most things cat-related, however, it depends on the cats.
Research suggests cats don’t really mind who else uses their litter box – as long as it meets their standards for size and cleanliness. I’ve lived with multiple cats for years (currently six, but at one time 10) and broadly speaking I’d have to agree.
But there are still some things to be aware of, so in this article I’ll explore just about everything you need to know about multiple cats sharing litter boxes.
By the end, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about how to set up your multiple cats to successfully share litter boxes in your home. And you’ll know how to best keep things clean, happy, and healthy for all your feline friends.
What science says about cats sharing litter boxes
According to studies, cats who know each other are not terribly bothered about who used the litter box before them. Nor do they have any great issues with any lingering odors. But they much prefer a fresh, odorless litter box to one that is unclean (Ellis et al., 2017).
Cats are clean animals and the preference for cleanliness highlights the importance of regular scooping and litter box maintenance “as the key factor in promoting proper litter box use,” say the researchers.
Keeping litter boxes clean “may be especially important in multi-cat households, due to the increased amount of eliminated materials,” they add (Ellis et al., 2017).
The caveat is that we assume the cats in the home get along. If the cats are hostile toward each other, they may mind sharing a bit more. But not necessarily.
That’s what I meant when I said, it depends on the cats. But it also depends on the whole litter box setup, so let’s look at that now.
How often should I clean my cats’ litter boxes?
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends scooping your litter boxes once or twice daily in a multi-cat household.
AAFP also recommends changing clumping litter completely at least twice a week, while clay litter should, ideally, be changed every day in a multi-cat home.
I’ll be honest, I don’t change our six cats’ litter as much as that, but they do have outdoor access (which they prefer, given the choice) so do not solely use their litter boxes to eliminate.
Also, we use the World’s Best Cat Litter (and it really is the best, in my opinion), which is whole-kernel corn-based and lasts us at least a couple of weeks with regular scooping.
How many litter boxes for two cats/three cats/four cats?
The general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one extra box. So if you have two cats, then you need three boxes.
In the same way, you need four boxes for three cats; five boxes for four cats, and so on. You get the idea.
This doesn’t mean that each cat will have her own litter box and always use the same one. It just means there are plenty of resources to go around and the cats can pee and poop in their preferred location.
Having said that, if you are like me, a proud pet parent of six cats, you may find that seven litter boxes might be a tad impractical.
It’s possible that if your cats get along well enough, fewer boxes could work just fine – as long as they are located in areas the cats are happy with.
You can always experiment to see what works best for your situation. I’ve sometimes placed litter boxes in what I thought was an ideal location, only for the cats to completely avoid them. So work with your cats to find a solution everyone’s happy with.
If you’re introducing a new cat, the best thing to do is keep her separate to start with, with her own litter box. Later, when you start scent swapping to gradually introduce your resident cat(s) to the new arrival, you can also swap litter trays.
How far apart should litter boxes be?
In a multi-cat household, place litter boxes in at least two different rooms (and preferably more) in quiet parts of the home that are easy for the cats to access.
Two litter boxes right next to each other are like one box for the cats, so as far as possible, have a variety of separate litter boxes in different locations throughout the home.
If you don’t have enough space for that, then just distribute them as best you can.
Location and access of litter boxes
Think about the litter box in a basement or up a flight of stairs if you have, for example, older cats with arthritic joints who find it hard to go up and down steps.
Think too about whether your litter box is next to a noisy washing machine or dryer that’s going to scare your cat and make her want to go out of her way to avoid it.
In addition, try to avoid busy locations like hallways or near a doorway. The safer your cats feel, the more likely they are to use their litter boxes.
A good place is a spare bedroom or bathroom, or any other out-of-the-way place that’s not too difficult for the cats to get to.
Keep litter boxes away from a cat’s food bowls, water bowls, and sleeping areas. Cats in the wild don’t combine their eating drinking and sleeping areas with their bathrooms and our domestic cats won’t want to either.
AAFP also advises having at least two ways for cats to enter and exit the box so one cat can’t block the entry or exit of another cat.
Finally, never trap or corner your kitty in her litter box to give administer medication or carry out any other procedures she may dislike because you risk creating a negative association with the litter tray – and she may elect to avoid it next time.
The goal is to make it as easy as possible for each cat to access the litter boxes and be able to do their business in peace and quiet.
Peeing or pooping outside the box in inappropriate places (or inappropriate elimination as it’s officially called) is a commonly reported behavior problem among cat owners. It’s also one of the main reasons cats end up being relinquished to shelters, which is just really sad.
So it’s best to do everything possible to avoid potential problems in the first place.
Size of litter boxes
In my experience, the cat litter boxes commonly sold in pet stores are too small for the average cat.
As per AAFP, cats prefer litter boxes that are at least 1.5 times the length of their bodies, which I would say should be the minimum.
I’ve always used plastic storage containers that are at least 3-4 ft. long, and have also had success with a large PVC window box.
AAFP recommends sweater storage boxes, cement mixing tubs, and small dog litter pans (for dogs up to 35 pounds) as great alternatives too.
Type of litter boxes
Covered litterboxes, while often popular with pet owners because the cat can’t scatter litter everywhere when she digs in it, can make a cat feel trapped.
If a cat feels like she has no escape routes, she might feel anxious and therefore reluctant to use the litter box. So you may find an open litter box is better for your group of felines.
Having said that, research has found that cats don’t necessarily mind covered litter boxes – as long as they’re scooped regularly.
“If boxes are kept sufficiently clean (i.e., once daily minimum cleaning), most cats will not show a preference for either box type,” say the researchers (Griggs et al., 2012).
The best way to find out what your cat prefers is to offer a variety of options and see what they do and don’t use. Their behavior will tell you everything you need to know.
One other important thing to mention here is, going back to our senior cat with achy joints – or any cat with mobility issues – a litter box with high sides can be too difficult to navigate.
A great way to get around this is a cut a rectangular hole on one side of the box, wide enough for the cat to walk through and low enough that she can easily step into the box.
Self-cleaning litter boxes?
While some cat owners may be tempted to purchase electronic self-cleaning litter boxes to avoid the hassle of scooping and cleaning all the time, this won’t necessarily help if your cats are uncomfortable with sharing a litter box for some reason, says feline behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett.
Even cats who are friendly with one another in all other aspects may experience anxiety when they’re both using the same litter box, says Johnson-Bennett.
Best to provide a selection of litter boxes based on the number of cats and just get scooping. It’s really not that bad!
Type of cat litter
There are all sorts of cat litters available and different cats will have different preferences. And so will their owners!
Options include litters made of wheat, corn, paper, silica, and plain or clumping clay. Then, within each category, there are several brands or varieties with different additives (Neilson, 2009).
I’ve already mentioned earlier what my preference is and luckily my cats seem to agree with me. But cats can be particular about texture, so some cats may not like certain substrates.
For example, some litters may feel too harsh or rough, or maybe you have clumping litter and your feline friend prefers something softer or sawdusty.
If your kitty is declawed, she may find digging in certain types of litter uncomfortable or even excruciatingly painful.
Our sweet elderly cat Millie, who we rescued at age 16 from death row at a Los Angeles shelter, was declawed and although she did very well most of the time, she didn’t cover her deposits in the litter box because it was just too uncomfortable for her to dig around. We got around this by using a super soft sawdusty-type litter which helped a lot.
(Note: Some cats sniff and cover their eliminations and others don’t. Both are considered normal behavior, according to AAFP.)
Studies report that cats have an overwhelming preference for the more finely granular sandlike litters, i.e. clumping and scoopable types, over large-granule litters from plain clay or recycled paper products.
Even with the introduction of new litter options such as silica (crystal), clumping litter is still the most preferred option, according to comparative studies (Neilson, 2009).
You also need to make sure you have the right amount of litter. AAFP adds that many cats “prefer a litter depth of approximately 1.5 inches” although again, this depends on the different personalities and an individual cat’s preferences.
I usually have a depth of about 3 inches in our cats’ litter boxes and they all seem to be happy with that.
Scented vs. unscented cat litter
Cats depend greatly on their sense of smell. If they don’t like the scent of their litter, it can be a deterrent to using the litter box.
Having said that, research reports the influence of litter fragrance on cat litter box to be “unclear, with one study listing fragrance as a risk factor for inappropriate elimination and another not.” (Grigg et al., 2012).
The researchers also note that a covered litter box may “intensify litter fragrance, making it aversive to some cats when the box is filled with scented litter.” (Grigg et al., 2012).
Litter box liners
Liners in litter boxes can provide an easier scooping experience, but cats may be deterred by their fragrance or the sensation of their claws getting stuck in the liners when digging the holes to bury their waste.
The one and only time I tried using litter box liners, the litter would all end up on one side of the litter box encased in its liner because the cat had got her claws stuck in it.
Not only did that make cleaning the box quite awkward, it also meant the litter was inaccessible to the other cats when it was their turn to use the bathroom.
Potential problems with cats sharing litter boxes (and solutions)
Having two or more cats can sometimes lead to issues of aggression, territorial issues, and conflicts over resources, such as food and litter boxes.
Aggression/fear/anxiety
Having a variety of litter boxes spread throughout the home, taking into account the points mentioned above, is the best way to instill a successful litter box-sharing culture in your multi-cat home and prevent a single ‘bully’ cat from controlling access to these resources (Crowell-Davis et al., 2004).
Our cat Oakley was rescued from the street in Dubai and tends to be a bit of a bully, most likely due to poor socialization with other cats as a kitten.
Oakley has been known to harass one or two of the other cats either when they’re sleeping or when they’re in the litter box, yowling at them and trying to intimidate them into moving.
Another tactic for some cats is to actually ambush another cat when she’s in the litter box or block access altogether, as mentioned earlier.
This can make the recipient cat anxious about using the litter box or even scared of using it, potentially leading to problems with inappropriate elimination.
This is why it’s so important to have multiple litter boxes dispersed in different locations throughout the home.
Cats are territorial animals but are very good at working out time-sharing arrangments where one cat has access to a resource at a certain time, and another cat at another time.
Meanwhile, pay close attention to your cats and if you see this type of bullying behavior, distract the bully by leading him away by throwing a toy or pulling a piece of string for him to chase.
You do not want the bullying behavior to be successful so interruption is key.
Health issues
Has your vet ever asked you if your cat is peeing and pooping okay? If she has diarrhea? Peeing more frequently than usual?
These are all common questions a vet may ask a cat owner, but it can be hard to know the answer when you’ve got multiple cats sharing litter boxes.
Whenever I’ve needed to provide an answer to questions along these lines, I’ve worked around it by isolating the cat in question in a room with her own litter box. That way you’ll get all the answers you need so you can address any health concerns.
Inappropriate elimination
I’ve already mentioned inappropriate elimination several times now and that’s because litter box issues can be a really big deal for cat owners. No one wants a house that smells of cat pee and no one wants to have to keep cleaning up pee or poop from their best rug or favorite sweater.
This is why how you set up your cats’ environment is so important.
AAFP points out that eliminating outside the box “often signals an underlying medical condition” and that the “earlier the problem is corrected, the better the chance for the cat to return to the litter box.”
Back in the day, one of our first cats, the lovely Loulou, lived with three other cats – all happily sharing litter boxes.
Until Loulou developed oxalate crystals in her bladder which caused her pain when she urinated. She quickly learned to associate the pain with using the litter box, so started to avoid it. Instead, she would urinate elsewhere around the house – carpets, curtains, bookshelves, clothing, bedding… Nothing was sacred.
We fixed the medical problem quite quickly with a special diet, but the problem behavior remained and took us several more months to fix.
Despite our best efforts to set up multiple resources for our four cats, a problem arose regardless. This is definitely something to be aware of.
Why do my cats share a litter box?
Sometimes cats are extremely bonded or, at least, tolerant of each other in a multi-cat home so are quite happy to share litter boxes.
Especially when they have several options to choose from in different places and the extra litter boxes are kept clean.
“I’ve seen situations where five cats shared one box (not recommended, but…) without incident, I’ve met huge cats who would faithfully use a teeny tiny litterbox, or have no problems navigating through an obstacle course of cat flaps and stored junk in a garage to get to their litterbox that was in the most remote corner of the house,” says cat behavior expert Dr. Mikel Delgado.
“But once you’ve got a litterbox problem, you’ve got to solve it, and it’s much easier to just prevent a problem in the first place.”
Amen to that.
Final thoughts
Finally, sharing litter boxes is not just for our domestic house cats either.
A study of free-roaming cats living around a Japanese temple and graveyard placed litter boxes at five popular defecation sites to see if the cats would use the boxes or not. And they did.
The researchers found that providing the litter boxes was actually an effective way of changing the cats’ defecation behavior, thus making the area far more pleasant for its human visitors (Seo & Tanida, 2020).
The researchers were surprised that the cats were happy to share the communal litter boxes because they hadn’t expected that.
To answer the original question then, yes, it’s entirely possible for cats to share litter boxes. Whether free-roaming or in a home environment, just make sure you give them plenty of options and pay attention to their preferences. And above all – keep them clean!
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Resources
- Does previous use affect litter box appeal in multi-cat households? – J.J. Ellis, R.T.S. McGowan, & F. Martin
- Feline Behavior Guidelines – American Association of Feline Practitioners
- How Many Litter Boxes Should You Have? – Pam Johnson-Bennett
- Litter box preference in domestic cats: covered versus uncovered – Emma K. Grigg, Lindsay Pick, & Belle Nibblett
- Litterbox size preference in domestic cats (Felis catus) – Norma C. Guy, Marti Hopson, & Raphaël Vanderstichel
- Social organization in the cat: a modern understanding – Sharon L. Crowell-Davis, Terry M. Curtis, & Rebecca J. Knowles
- The effect of communal litter box provision on the defecation behavior of free-roaming cats in old-town Onomichi, Japan – Aira Seo & Hajime Tanida
- The effect of communal litter box provision on the defecation behaviour of free-roaming cats in old-town Onomichi, Japan – International Cat Care
- The latest scoop on litter – Jacqueline C. Neilson
- When it comes to the litterbox, will your cat tell you what she really, really wants? – Dr. Mikel Delgado
