How many litter boxes per cat, and where should they go?
How many litter boxes for one cat? The standard veterinary rule is "N + 1": one box per cat, plus one. That means two boxes for a single cat, three for two cats, placed in quiet, accessible spots well away from the food bowls. Too few boxes, or poorly placed ones, is the number one cause of house-soiling in indoor cats.
Why the N + 1 rule for litter boxes?
Many cats prefer to separate urine and stools between two different boxes. In a multi-cat household, a dominant individual can block access to a single box, driving the other cat to relieve itself elsewhere. An extra box guarantees there is always a clean, available toilet. If accidents persist despite well-set-up boxes, see a vet: cystitis and urinary stones cause the very same symptoms.
Where should litter boxes go in the home?
- A calm room with moderate foot traffic: utility room, bathroom, quiet hallway.
- Away from food bowls and the water fountain (at least 2 m, or another room).
- Never inside a closed cupboard or next to a noisy appliance.
- One box per floor in a multi-storey house.
- Clear sightlines: the cat must be able to watch its surroundings while eliminating.
- Separate locations: two boxes side by side count as one.
What size and type of box should you choose?
The box should measure one and a half times the cat’s body length, i.e. 50 to 60 cm for an adult: most budget boxes (8 to 15 €) are too small. An open box reassures anxious cats; a hooded box (20 to 45 €) limits scatter if your cat accepts it. The litter itself matters just as much: our guide to clumping, silica or plant-based litter helps you decide. To keep the area clean, add a litter mat. Find all the equipment in the care and grooming section of our cat hub.
Frequently asked questions
How often should the boxes be cleaned?
Scoop waste once or twice a day; do a full change and hot-water wash every week (non-clumping litter) or every 3 to 4 weeks (clumping).
Can two cats share a single box?
Some manage, but it is a risky bet: at the first conflict, soiling begins. Stick to N + 1.
Can I move an existing box?
Yes, gradually: a few dozen centimetres a day, or add a second box at the new spot before removing the old one.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Cats universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.