Litter Boxes

Following on from my first post on litter box cleaning. I'd like to talk about litter boxes themselves.  These are probably number two in the hot topics list, when the discussions start up about 'why my cat is not using the litter box'.   It is another area where what we think about litter boxes, may be in direct conflict with the cat.

The discussions usually talk about the type of litter box, and the position of it.  Both of these are affected by two major considerations; privacy (ostensibly for the cats), and convenience (for us, and our daily lives).

Privacy, actually isn't an issue for the cat. Sure, they don't want to be ambushed, and probably don't want to be in a very high traffic area but as anyone who owns cats knows they don't have the same taboos about natural functions that we do. Cats have no problem coming to visit their owners on the toilet, nor are they particularly bothered by us visiting them when they are on their litter box.

For animals, bodily functions are nothing to be ashamed of, nor anything that requires privacy as we think of it. It is a short period of time when they are more vulnerable to predation, and cats tend to hide their waste to help keep predators, and rivals, at bay. Not because they are embarrassed by it, or even because they are hygiene conscious.   Cats are both predator, and prey and therefore do mostly bury their waste, but when discussing litter box issues we should recognise they also use both urine and faeces as a messaging system.  Tom cats in particular, but not exclusively, will spray mark with urine, and leave unburied faeces along territorial boundaries, or tracks as markers.

So when we talk about privacy, we can be mistaking our not wanting to see the cat's litter box (and its contents) rather than any requirement by the cat.  In fact, putting a litter box in a corner, where the cat can feel there is no escape, in a totally remote area of the house, or outside (as I have seen for some indoor cats) might be counter productive to good habits. Similarly, the fashion for enclosed litter boxes, may be more about us than them. 

A cat needs to feel safe when in this vulnerable position, and want to hide\bury waste.  But we need to understand what that 'safety' means to the cat.  The ability to see what's going on, and leave quickly, without being disturbed or attacked. Not being watched, is not really a consideration; being able to see who is around may be much more important.  Of course, being within a safe environment (their home) can also eradicate even a basic need for 'privacy'.  While having a rival in the house would heighten any concerns.

A fully enclosed litter box means the cat is at the mercy of everything outside, with only one small escape route. Litter boxes in a corner, can have a similar feel.  So regardless of what else is going on (clean, dirty or potentially scary mechanical cleaners), many cats won't like a fully enclosed box.  I know I have one litter box (a standard open top), that is wedged into the corner of the toilet.  It gets used infrequently; most often when I am using the human toilet - dispelling that privacy myth!

As for convenience, I've found that one of my cats really is like a small child; running to the toilet when in the middle of a game is a real bore.  So I have litter boxes that are transparent (and open topped) in the bathroom near their favourite play area.  She rushes in, keeps her eye on everything that might be happening without her, and rushes back out having done the right thing.  I imagine if the boxes were further away, or enclosed there may be different results on occasion.

Transparent, high sided plastic bins used as litter boxes.
These are originally sold as stackable vegetable bins. 

So when discussing placement, think also about placement from your cats point of view.  Is it just a hassle to troop all the way to the garage to go for a wee? Is it in an area that really doesn't get any use?  Seems perfect to us, but if the cat views a litter area also as a territorial marking spot, do they see any point in marking an area that's not visited by anyone?

For many of us in smaller living spaces, placement is more about 'what's possible' than what's ideal.  I'd be very interested to find out whether people in small houses, or large houses have more problems with inappropriate toileting.  I would guess that in small spaces, problems may be caused by the cat feeling cornered and trapped, or not having enough boxes for multi-cat households. Larger areas might fall into the 'too far away' trap.  I'm interested in your comments on this.

Standard box with litter catcher edge

My compromise is that the transparent litter box is high sided.  This meets my desire for a litter free household (not foolproof - but better), and for cats with a poor aim it keeps the backside in the litter box. Yes, if you are in the bathroom brushing your teeth (or having a shower) you might have company as one of the cats uses the litter box. And yes, you may see a poo.  If you don't like it - scoop it (or maybe animals aren't for you).  

Using litter catcher type edges on standard boxes are also a help with both these issues, but they aren't as infallible as a high sided box.


If we want our cats to use litter boxes reliably, then we have to start putting the cat first. Yes, there will be compromises, but if the cat is the one that's unhappy the only way they can tell us is by taking the initiative, and toileting outside the litter box.