The litter tray: where, how many and how
Peeing outside the tray is the most common problem cats and owners run into, and it almost always comes down to the tray or to health. Setting it up properly from the start prevents it.
How many and how big
The rule vets who specialise in behaviour use is simple: one tray per cat plus one extra, spread around the house rather than all in the same room. With one cat, two trays is ideal. Size matters more than you would think: a tray should be at least one and a half times the length of the cat from nose to base of tail, and most of the ones on sale are too small. A large plastic storage box with an entrance cut into it works very well and costs little.
Where to put it
Somewhere quiet that the cat can reach without passing the dog or another cat that intimidates it, and away from food and water: no cat likes eating next to its toilet. Avoid spots beside the washing machine, the boiler or a door that slams: one fright while it is using the tray can be enough to put it off. In a house on two floors, one tray on each. And do not move it without good reason: if it has to move, put the new one down before taking the old one away and leave both for a few days.
Which litter and how much
Most cats prefer a fine, clumping, unscented litter, similar to loose soil. The lavender or talc scents people like tend to put cats off. Use a layer of about 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in), enough to dig and cover. If you want to try a different litter, such as silica, plant-based or pellets, put it in a second tray and let the cat choose; do not swap it overnight in the only tray it has. Covered trays with lids trap the smell inside and some cats refuse them; many prefer open ones.
Cleaning, every day
Scoop out faeces and clumps of urine once or twice a day. Every one or two weeks, depending on the litter, empty the tray, wash it with hot water and a mild soap and refill it. Avoid bleach and strong-smelling disinfectants. Daily cleaning also has a health benefit: the eggs of the toxoplasmosis parasite that an infected cat may shed take one to five days to become infectious, so a tray cleaned every day greatly reduces the risk. Pregnant women should hand this job to someone else, or wear gloves and wash their hands well.
When it pees outside the tray
The first step is to rule out a medical problem, because that is the most common cause: cystitis, crystals or stones, diabetes, kidney disease or arthritis pain that stops it climbing into a high-sided tray. A male cat that goes in and out of the tray, strains and does not pee, or only manages drops, may have a blocked urethra, and that is an emergency of hours, not days. Once health is ruled out, look at the number, size, location, litter and cleanliness of the trays, and think about recent changes at home. Never punish it or rub its nose in it: all you achieve is a frightened cat that does it in hiding.
One tray per cat plus one, large, open, in quiet spots and cleaned daily, with fine unscented litter. If it pees outside the tray, see the vet first; if it is a male and cannot pass urine, it is an emergency.
Educational content from Michipedia. It does not replace the advice of a vet or a feline behaviour specialist. Every cat is an individual.