Litter Box Training, Done Right

Cats are naturally wired to bury their waste, so litter box training is usually much easier than house-training a dog. Still, small details make a big difference.

Getting started right

Place your cat in the litter box after eating and after waking up — natural times for them to need to go. If you see them digging or circling somewhere, gently carry them to the box.

Location matters a lot

The box needs to be in a quiet spot, away from food and water, and easy to access. If you have multiple floors, consider having more than one box.

The box-count rule

The standard rule: number of cats + 1. So with two cats, you'd want 3 boxes spread across different spots — this avoids "competition" over one box.

Why did my cat suddenly stop using the box?

• Not clean enough: cats are very sensitive — scoop daily and fully change the litter weekly
• A sudden litter change: transition gradually over a week
• A health issue: sudden refusal can signal a urinary tract problem — don't ignore it, see a vet
• Stress or environment changes: a new visitor, new furniture, even moving the box itself