Will Cats Share a Litter Box?

Getting your cat to use a litter box is one of the most important aspects of house training a domesticated feline. But what happens when you have several cats? Will cats share a litter box or should they each have a dedicated space for doing their business? Here’s all you need to know.

Will cats share a litter box?

Stats show that U.S. cat ownership stands at 1.8 cats per household. Given that cats are the second most common pet in America, millions of families have two or more cats. So, can cats share a litter box? Absolutely. However, that does not mean that they should. 

There are several reasons why sharing a litter box is ill-advised. The most telling are;

• Cat stools are a great indicator of ill health. Unfortunately, when using a shared litter box, it becomes difficult to know which of the cats has a problem. 
• When cats share a litter box, there is a significant risk that they will fight over it. This can subsequently lead to aggression in various situations.
• A cat that has been pushed away from the litter box may start to urinate and poop in other parts of the home, leading to damaged furniture and foul smells.

Furthermore, indoor cats may get out to urinate outside. However, if your cats are happy to share a litter box, you shouldn’t force them apart. 

How many litter boxes are needed?

As a rule of thumb, it’s always good to have one litter box for each cat, plus one extra. This is because some cats like to have multiple places to do their business. Even if your kittens are OK sharing, you may find that this changes as they mature into adult cats.

Finally, we suggest using quality cat litter at all times. To find out more about taking great care of multiple cats in your home, contact Asheville Pawz today.