Can Cats Share a Litter Field?

Of course cats can share a litter field — however specialists say it’s essential to contemplate their individual preferences and dynamics. While some cats could also be snug sharing, others could get territorial and like separate bins. Providing a number of litter bins in several places round your home might help forestall conflicts and provide every cat their very own house.

Despite this standard knowledge about having multiple litter field in a multi-cat family, it’s simply not possible in each case. As a loyal mum or dad to 3 cats (sure, three), all of us dwelling in a one-bedroom New York City condo, I’m effectively conscious of that truth. I don’t need my cats to be sad, however I’ve solely received a specific amount of house to work with, and I don’t need my condo to grow to be a maze with litter bins round each nook.

Even for those who dwell in a bigger house, it’s possible you’ll be reluctant to supply multiple litter field in your cats. Having a number of bins means shopping for extra kitty litter, for one factor, and that’s an added cost. It additionally means checking, scooping and cleansing multiple litter field often. Plus, even the perfect litter field doesn’t scent nice, and it’s tempting to chop down on the variety of pungent spots in your home.

So, do you want a number of litter bins for 2 cats — or extra? I requested two cat specialists what they suppose. Here’s what they mentioned, plus their solutions to some generally requested questions on cats and litter field habits.

Can a number of cats share a litter field? 

Do cats want a number of litter bins? Dr. Kelly Diehl, who’s been a veterinarian for 35 years and a cat mum or dad for 55, Senior Director Of Science Communication at Morris Animal Foundation, says that whereas it’s attainable for cats to share, it’s not preferable. “They can share, but many veterinarians and cat behaviorists suggest having one more litter box than you have cats. For example, if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes.” 

Cat behaviorist Stephen Quandt calls this “the N plus one rule, where N is the number of cats,” and agrees that cats shouldn’t should share. “ If you start skimping on the number of litter boxes, you risk causing one or more of your cats to start eliminating outside the box.” While this has by no means occurred to me personally, that may simply be the luck of the draw: My cats don’t have well being issues (knock wooden) and whereas they enjoyment of knocking over lamps and head-butting me so exhausting it typically leaves a bruise (I do know, I do know — simply simply need me to pet them), they’re fairly good about lavatory stuff — although they often fail to cowl up their business after they’re completed within the litter field.

But again to the necessity to present multiple litter field in your multiple-cat family: In much more bummer information for cat dad and mom dwelling in cozy quarters, Diehl says the litter bins shouldn’t be shut to one another. “They should be scattered on different levels of the house, or at least away from each other. Don’t have two sitting side by side,” she says.

It’s not all dangerous information, nonetheless. Even if it’s not really helpful, sharing a litter field does have some upsides — in addition to drawbacks. Keep studying to search out out what they’re.

What are the professionals of sharing a litter field? 

Are there any upsides to cats sharing litter bins? I requested Diehl and Quandt if they may give you any — though their official advice is to supply multiple litter field for multiple cat. 

• It’s simpler for cat dad and mom. “The obvious pro is that it’s much easier for people to not have to separate their cats,” Diehl says. This brings up one other query that’s at all times popped into my head once I take into account attempting to suit multiple litter field in my condo: How do you retain your cats out of one another’s litter bins? (We’ll tackle that challenge later within the story, however the quick reply is you’ll be able to’t.)

• You’ll have fewer litter bins to scrub. I’m lucky sufficient to personal an automated litter field — mainly, a self-cleaning litter field for a number of cats — and I like it. Truly, it’s a sanity-saver for me. Still, I’ve to empty out the litter drawer of the automated litter field and alter the liner often. I additionally want to wash the entire thing down from time to time (a course of that will be a lot simpler if I had a yard and a hose). Only having to do that for one litter field is a professional in my guide, anyway.

What are the cons of sharing a litter field? 

Diehl factors out that monitoring your cats’ well being might be trickier after they share a litter field, whereas Quandt reiterates that sharing can result in messes nobody desires to cope with.

• You could not be capable of inform if one among your cats is having a medical challenge. “The cons can be if one cat is having stooling issues, or urination issues. It can be hard to sort out the affected cat if they share a box,” Diehl says.

• Cats can transmit illness to one another after they share a litter field. Cat feces could include parasites and micro organism — and people can even be shared after they share a litter field.

• Your cats could begin going outdoors the field. “We don’t want competition for resources, as that can lead to conflict,” Quandt says. “Cats have preferences, and choice gives agency. If you give a cat choices for where to go, they will absolutely exercise those choices. Inside the boxes is a much better choice than outside!”

Reasons to have separate litter bins in your cats

Do you want a number of litter bins for 2 cats? In a phrase, sure. In case it’s not but clear from the above, the specialists strongly advocate having separate litter bins for a number of cats. Here’s why:

• It reduces the probabilities of cats going outdoors the field.

• It helps maintain cats from combating.

• It give cats decisions about the place to go.

• You can maintain a greater eye in your cats’ well being.

• Multiple cats can transmit worms via a shared litter field.

Should cats share a litter field? 

The reply appears to be fairly clear, however I requested Quandt yet one more time whether or not it’s OK for cats to share a litter field (as a result of let’s be actual, my cats are going to should maintain sharing their litter field so long as I dwell in a small condo, which is probably going so long as they dwell). “The rule of thumb is there should be one box for each cat plus one,” Quandt says. “So no, multiple cats shouldn’t have to share one box.”

If this information is as unwelcome to you as it’s to me, take a look at some choices for litter field enclosures that stylishly disguise what’s actually happening inside them. Incorporating litter bins into your decor may even flip into a mode upgrade in your house. Plus, your cats will thanks. (Possibly by dragging their cat toys into your mattress — my favourite factor that my cats do to say “I love you.”)

FAQs (People additionally ask):

Should I forestall my cats from sharing a litter field? 

The actual query right here is: Can you forestall your cats from sharing a litter field? And once more, the reply is unequivocal. “No. Cats will use whatever is available to them when they want to use them,” Quandt says. 

And right here’s a reminder that whether or not you have got one cat or 5, educating them to make use of a litter field correctly is a good suggestion. This entails introducing your cat to the litter field, figuing out which kind of litter they like, and inspiring cats to make use of the litter field persistently. Here’s find out how to do it.

How many litter bins do I would like for my multi cat family? 

Remember that N plus one rule Quandt shared above? All the analysis I discovered backs it up. Experts say you want yet one more litter field than you have got cats. (For these holding rating, which means I ought to have 4 litter bins in my one-bedroom condo with three cats. Four. So, the important thing phrase I ought to actually be researching is “How to hide multiple cat litter boxes.”) Ready to begin procuring? Here’s a superb place to begin.

Can two cats share an automated litter field? 

A self-cleaning litter field for a number of cats is an actual time-saver, since you don’t should scoop a number of bins. But the rule stands: Two cats mustn’t should share a litter field, whether or not it’s an automated litter field or an old-school scoop-it-yourself fashion model. Even the perfect self-cleaning litter field for a number of cats is a no-go, specialists say.