Can Cats Share a Litter Box?

Taking care of **cats** always involves a **litter box**. Many **cat lovers** begin with one cute little kitty, only to fall for its **lovely fur** and fun games.

If you are about to adopt another cat, you might want to ask yourself if a single litter box would suffice.

Cat behaviour is considered very peculiar, and if you are new to parenting a cat, it might take some getting used to. Moreover, a single cat in your house will behave differently than it would if she had a cat-buddy to keep her company.

This behavioural change can be seen in the way cats use their litter box too.

If you are confused about whether you need two or more litter boxes for your cats, you are in the right place.

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about pet cats and their take on sharing a litter box.

Can Your Cats Share a Litter Box?

The real question now arises, can your cats share a litter box? The answer is, yes but they really shouldn't.

Cats are some of the cleanest animals you can have as pets. They are very particular about where they do their business, and if they are not satisfied with the conditions that you provide them, they will take it elsewhere.

While you can keep a single litter box for more than one cat, you should know that this litter box will get dirty twice as fast as it would have if you had a single cat.

Cleaning it will be a painstaking task in itself. Additionally, there are chances that your cats completely disregard the dirty litter box and begin to relieve themselves in other places around your house.

How Many Litter Boxes Should You Have?

The number of litter boxes you need to keep in your house depends on the number of cats you shelter. While there is no hard and fast rule as to how many litter boxes you must keep, it is advised you provide every cat with its litter box.

When you ask yourself, can two cats use a litter box, you should know that it is entirely up to them.

If your cats are comfortable using a single litter box at home, you can just remove the extra one and keep it aside. However, it is always better to be safe than having to clean cat poop from your couches!

If you live in a small apartment, you can opt for a giant litter box and see if both of your cats are comfortable using it.

Otherwise, you can also get litter boxes that are very inconspicuous and look like any other piece of furniture to save space and maximize utility.

Why Cats Don't Like Sharing a Single Litter Box

One of the strangest yet most endearing features of cats is how unpredictable they are. While years of studies have given us a direction into cat behaviours, we still aren't entirely sure why they do the things they do!

One thing we are certain of is their dislike for using a single litter box.

Many cat parents often wonder, “Can two cats use a litter box simultaneously?”

Well, you never know if they get used to using a single litter box, but there are a few reasons why they would be averted from using it.

Here are three of the most common reasons why your cats refuse to share a single litter box at home!

1. Privacy

Cats enjoy their privacy just like us when we want to use the bathroom. This is especially true when they want to relieve themselves.

While people understand that they must wait their turn if someone else is using the bathroom, cats lack this ability.

They do not like being seen or disturbed when they are at their most vulnerable, and if more than one cat is using a single litter box, this can be extremely difficult to achieve.

2. Cleanliness

Cats by behaviour are some of the cleanest animals you could have as pets. They despise dirt and waste and can often be seen cleaning themselves as they lounge around the house.

If a different cat soils the litter box they use, chances are they would reject using the box entirely. After all, what cat wants to shove their paws in a different cat's feces even if they are siblings!

3. Territoriality

You might have heard about big cats marking their territories in the wild to keep other big cats away. Well, this behavioural characteristic is not just true for big cats, but it applies to your domesticated furry friends too.

Cats mark their territories with the help of their scents.

Their waste is considered to be the most prominent mark of territorial behaviour. So, if one cat uses the litter box you have set for them, the others will smell them on it and immediately refuse to use the same litter box.

This territorial behaviour is also one of the reasons why most house cats become aggressive and begin fighting with each other.

Here's how you can avoid territorial aggression at home:

Install separate litter boxes for all your cats.
Make sure they are kept clean.
Make sure you feed your cats from a clean bowl.

What Are the Disadvantages of Your Cats Using the Same Litter Box?

There are two major disadvantages of using the same litter box for two or more cats. Here's what they are.

1. Territorial Aggression

Territorial aggression is when all your cats start to fight each other to assert dominance and establish their territory.

Having a single litter box can be one of the reasons why cats begin to show signs of micro-aggression towards each other that can grow into something bigger.

2. Health Concerns

You must maintain sanitary conditions for your cats to do their business. Dirty litter boxes could be the root cause of urinary infections in your cats.

Additionally, a dirty litter box could also cause kidney and bladder infections in your cats. This happens when your cat squats over dirty fecal matter in the litter box, and the bacteria travel up its urethra.

How to Train Your Cat to Use the Litter Box?

Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained too. Training a feline is a lot harder than training your dog. However, it is possible.

You can potty train your cats and teach them how to use the litter box correctly.

Now that we have established that it is not conducive to using a single litter box for two cats, whether three cats can use a litter box cannot even be considered.

Additionally, if you have numerous cats, you will have to train them to separately use their respective litter boxes.

Here are a few tips to help you train your cats into using a litter box!

1. Get All the Supplies You Need

Make sure you have the litter tray, ample litter, and even a few toys to keep your cats engaged when you try to train them.

These supplies can be bought online or even from your nearest local pet store. You can also get multiple litter boxes for a single cat to make them feel more comfortable around the house.

2. Introduce Your Cat to the Litter Box

Take your cat to the litter box and play with it around it. It would be best if you introduced it to them so that they get more comfortable with the idea of relieving themselves in the box.

You can also take your cat to the litter box after meals and naps when they are most likely to use the box.

3. Give Them Treats

Every time your cat successfully uses the litter box, you can give them a treat. This will encourage your cat to use the litter box for the incentives if not for anything else!

4. Clean It Properly

If your cat accidentally makes a mistake and soils your couches or any other place in the house, make sure you do not yell at them.

Instead, you should clean this spot properly using an enzyme free cleaner so that they don't use the same spot to do their business again!

Conclusion

Having multiple litter boxes is the best way to avoid creating any unnecessary messes around the house. Maintaining sanitary conditions for your cats is important, so having clean litter boxes is a must-have for every cat parent.

Make sure to install numerous litter boxes around the house and give your cats a chance to explore them.

Having a separate cat litter box for each cat will not only benefit them health-wise, but it will also keep your house clean and smelling fresh!

FAQ's About Cats Sharing A Litter Box

What Happens if the Litter Box Is Dirty?

If you fail to clean the litter box regularly, your cats will either stop using it or contract severe urinary infections.

Should I Let My Cats Use the Same Litter Box?

If your cats are comfortable sharing a litter box, it is fine for you to use the same litter box. However, you must keep it clean.

How Often Should I Clean the Litter Box?

If only one cat is using the litter box, you should clean it every other day. However, you must change the entire contents of the litter box every two weeks.

It is not enough to just clean parts of the litter box. You need to empty all its contents from time to time.

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