# Cat litter box question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241 "2008-06-17T19:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/1 "2008-06-17T19:05:29Z")
I’m fairly new to the “kitty game”, since my mother hated cats and wouldn’t have them in the house. We have two kitties, the oldest one was litter trained when we got him. We got the younger one as a baby, and the older one fairly much litter-trained him. We keep the litter box in the kitchen, in a corner under the table (we don’t eat at the table, thanks). Now we have to move the litter box. We want to move it to the bathroom, which is on the second floor, directly above the kitchen. I think we should let the kitties use it in its accustomed place a couple of times, then move it to the bathroom when it’s not quite clean, and they will find it by smell. My hubby thinks that the kitties can’t figure that out, and we’d better move it incrementally: into the dining room, then onto the landing of the stairs, then into the upstairs hallway, and finally into the bathroom. I think his way might be _more_ confusing to the cats. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/2 "2008-06-17T19:09:09Z")
My general advice about litter boxes is to not mess with success. Your cats are using a box in the current location. I would leave the box there and add a second in the upstairs bathroom. Only after the new box is being used should you eliminate 😉 the downstairs box. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/3 "2008-06-17T19:16:03Z")
When we moved house, we simply showed the cat the new (clean) litter box and he got it right away. I think litter has a strong enough smell on its own that you don’t need to leave the box dirty for the cat to find it. If I was moving the box from one place to another like you described, I would have two litter boxes for a while, one in the old place and one in the new, until the cats are used to it. I think they can handle finding the new box, but on the off-chance they get briefly confused, you wouldn’t want an accident. After a week or two, remove the old box. But really, they will probably be okay with just the new box. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/4 "2008-06-17T19:24:48Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] My general advice about litter boxes is to not mess with success. Your cats are using a box in the current location. I would leave the box there and add a second in the upstairs bathroom. Only after the new box is being used should you eliminate 😉 the downstairs box. [/QUOTE] Well, we wouldn’t mess with the current location, but we need to. ☹ See, summer is here. We have an air conditioner in the living room that’s big enough to cool the living and dining rooms, but not big enough to handle the kitchen. So the kitchen door has to be kept closed. During the day, it’s not a big issue, as the cats will let us know when they need to get into the kitchen. But at night, well, they leave us “presents” in the dining room. And who can blame them? I mean, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go. But I never thought of just getting a second box. That sounds perfect! I’ll do that! ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/5 "2008-06-17T19:39:08Z")
A good general rule is to have as many litter boxes as you have kitties. This is not always necessary but it allows kitties to each have their own box or to each be using the bathroom at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/6 "2008-06-17T19:54:38Z")
Two boxes is likewise awesome, but you may find yourself with one cat ‘claiming’ the second box and the other cat still leaving you presents. I’ve always had good luck with closing the cats in the new location until they use the box, to make sure they recognise that it’s in there. I’ve never had a problem after that. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/7 "2008-06-17T20:23:28Z")
My experience is that already litter-trained cats would find the new box if you just moved it, no problem, assuming the new location is otherwise acceptable to their sensibilities (not noisy, unstable, etc.). Making sure they see the new box when you set it up would be an easy additional step. I think your husband’s idea (no offense) is about the worst way to do it, since it involves the cats repeatedly learning multiple locations. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/8 "2008-06-17T20:27:14Z")
Another option is to add the second box in the new location, then stop (or reduce) cleaning the old box. Many kitties will travel to the nice, clean box rather than use the grubby one. I’ve never had trouble with any litter-trained cats once I’ve shown them where the box is. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/9 "2008-06-17T20:36:46Z")
[QUOTE=redtail23] I’ve never had trouble with any litter-trained cats once I’ve shown them where the box is. [/QUOTE] Plenty of people do have trouble, however. The second most common reason for euthanasia of cats, after “illness”, is inappropriate elimination behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/10 "2008-06-17T20:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Plenty of people do have trouble, however. The second most common reason for euthanasia of cats, after “illness”, is inappropriate elimination behavior. [/QUOTE] That’s so horrible we need a cite or a winking face to indicate you are joking. By the way, we moved our 3 cats boxes from the ground floor to the basement without “telling” them. They found them and adjusted immediately. It helps that they are obsessed with anything we do to the boxes and watched as my wife and I moved them. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/11 "2008-06-17T20:52:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] That’s so horrible we need a cite or a winking face to indicate you are joking. [/quote] Didn’t think I’d need to support my claim, as it is something I do daily. From:[First source on google](http://www.petorphansfund.org/litter_box_and_spraying_issues.shtml) > [@](#): > > Indeed, “inappropriate elimination” is the most common behavioral problem seen by veterinarians. In 1995, 41 of the 62 cases of feline misbehavior treated at Cornell University’s Small Animal Clinic involved this frustrating and perplexing condition. Tragically, house soiling/spraying is the number one reason for last resort feline euthanasia, over and above any other single behavioral or medical condition. Somewhere after house soiling is “moving and new lease doesn’t allow pets”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/12 "2008-06-17T20:57:10Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] That’s so horrible we need a cite or a winking face to indicate you are joking. [/QUOTE] When my older cat went through a period of pissing on everything in sight, including two of my backpacks, you’re damn right I was about ready to kill him. We now have a large litterbox downstairs and a smaller one upstairs, which has mostly solved the problem. Unfortunately, upstairs is so small that it has to be in my room at the foot of my bed. Highly unpleasant, but I don’t see that I can remove it without him pissing on everything again. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/13 "2008-06-17T20:58:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Plenty of people do have trouble, however. The second most common reason for euthanasia of cats, after “illness”, is inappropriate elimination behavior. I assumed that poster was discussing healthy cats who are already using the box in some location. I’ve had cats for 42 years. Not one of my healthy cats has failed to understand the litter box move. I set up the new box (or, as **norinew** suggests, move the old box). I pick up the cats and plunk them in front of the box in the new location. If it’s a clean box, they sometimes urinate in it immediately. If it’s a cat that is easily alarmed by change, I give it a treat by the new box. I remove the old box (if I haven’t relocated it to the new spot) and clean the area around that location, typically with a wash, then Lysol, then a sprinkle of baking soda that I then vacuum up. I’ve never had a cat toilet in the old location. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/14 "2008-06-17T21:10:10Z")
We’ve moved the litter boxes around here twice, and never had a problem. We let the girls see us pick up the boxes and move them, and they then know where they are and wat they are for. No huhu. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/15 "2008-06-17T21:33:38Z")
[QUOTE=susan] I assumed that poster was discussing healthy cats who are already using the box in some location. [/QUOTE] Not to beat a dead horse 😉 , but the majority of cats I’ve euthanised due to inappropriate elimination behavior were once healthy cats who used a litter box. Something as minor as changing from an unscented to a scented litter can cause problems. Adding another cat to the household can lead to problems. Going from an uncovered to a covered box can cause a problem. I do not mean to spread alarm, but litter box usage is one of the most important factors in keeping a household happy. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/16 "2008-06-17T21:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] Plenty of people do have trouble, however. The second most common reason for euthanasia of cats, after “illness”, is inappropriate elimination behavior. [/QUOTE] Ah well yes, I meant from simply moving the litter box to another cat-acceptable location. Wasn’t counting other IEB problems. Should have been more clear, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/17 "2008-06-17T22:00:40Z")
Well, under this excellent guidance, tomorrow I will: Buy a new litter box and install it in it’s new location Physically show the cats where it is Stop cleaning the current one, encouraging them to switch to use of the new one When they’ve more or less stopped using the current one, I will clean, disinfect, and “de-smell” the area (which I was planning on doing anyway). ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/18 "2008-06-17T22:15:45Z")
Just to show how adaptable cats can be – we, too, kept the litter box in a corner of the kitchen. When I wash the kitchen floor, I move all the trash cans (3, recycling) way down the hall to the living room, basically the other side of the house, and set the litter box on top of it to minimize how much space is used up. Yup. When the floor had dried and I came to move the cans and the freshly cleaned litter box back…it had been used. Multiple times. All by themselves, the little darlings had located the litter box balanced atop the trashcans and used it, undeterred. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![evangelinagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@evangelinagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evangelinagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/19 "2008-06-18T05:03:08Z")
I am going out on a limb here, but here goes. What about training the cats to use the toilet? It can be done. A friend of mine had four cats that she successfully taught to use the bathroom. The cats are all different ages…one year to six years. When you go visit, the cats would disappear into the bathroom. However, only two could flush. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241/20 "2008-06-18T14:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=evangelinagirl] I am going out on a limb here, but here goes. What about training the cats to use the toilet? It can be done. A friend of mine had four cats that she successfully taught to use the bathroom. The cats are all different ages…one year to six years. When you go visit, the cats would disappear into the bathroom. However, only two could flush. 😃 [/QUOTE] Wow. Now I have this mental image of the cats lined up outside the bathroom door while I do my “morning routine”, with their legs crossed! 😃 Seriously, though, I’ve heard of this. I’m not opposed. But how in the world do you _do_ this? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-litter-box-question/453241.md?page=2)