How Many Litter Boxes for 4 Cats? (Explained!)

The general litter box rule is that you should have a minimum of one litter box per cat, plus an extra litter box.

This means, for 4 cats, you should have at least 5 litter boxes spread around your home.

That may sound like a lot, but you have a lot of cats.

Plus, failure to meet their toiletry requirements means they might find somewhere else to relieve themselves!

Cats are clean animals, they need enough clean litter boxes. But don’t worry, it’s not as much effort as it may sound – and providing boxes is easier than cleaning up because you didn’t have enough.

It’s a part of cat ownership that a lot of owners do not talk about, so here’s the rundown on everything you need to know about litter boxes.

How Many Litter Boxes Do I Need per Cat?

This is one of the most common questions I hear cat owners asking – because everyone wants to have as few litter boxes as possible around the home.

I can understand that. Litter boxes are unsightly, they can be smelly, and it’s not always easy to find places for them if you live in a small apartment.

But the reality is that if you do not have enough litter boxes for the number of cats in your home, you risk your cats peeing and pooping around your home.

The generally accepted rule is that cats require one litter box each, an extra litter box.

So, if you have 4 cats this means you need a minimum of 5 litter boxes. I know a lot of owners that have one cat and one box, or even two cats and two litter boxes.

This can work if you keep your boxes clean, or if your cats also go outside. But the more cats you have, the more important it is that you have that spare litter box.

Related – Do cats need access to their litter boxes at night?

Can 4 Cats Use the Same Litter Box?

No, if you attempt to use just one litter box for multiple cats, it’s not going to end well.

Cats are clean animals, they enjoy having their own litter boxes and it’s important to them that their litter boxes are clean.

If you have only one box for four cats, it’s going to be almost impossible to keep on top of scooping out the mess.

Most cats poop at least once a day and will pee more than once. Just think about how many times you’re going to have to clean that one box for four cats!

Can I Put Two Litter Boxes Next to Each Other?

If you want a designated area for all of your litter boxes, I can’t blame you.

I do know some cat owners that have two and more litter boxes next to each other, so it can certainly work.

I’ve also spoken to some owners that tried to place their boxes side by side, but their cats just wouldn’t use them like that.

It’s something you’re going to have to try, and maybe with a little patience and persuasion, you can have your cats using their boxes next to each other.

Related – Required distance between litter boxes and your cat’s food and water explained.

How Many Litter Boxes for 5 Cats?

Using the rule of having one litter box per cat plus an additional box, if you have 5 cats you should have a minimum of 6 litter boxes.

The more cats you have, the more important it is that you have that extra box. If you can provide more than 6 litter boxes, that’s even better.

How Many Litter Boxes for 6 Cats?

Using the rule of having one litter box per cat plus an additional box, if you have 6 cats you should have a minimum of 7 litter boxes.

The more cats you have, the more important it is that you have that extra box. If you can provide more than 7 litter boxes, that’s even better.

That’s a lot of cats and a lot of litter boxes, I think it’s only fair I wish you good luck at this point, too!

In Summary

If you were wondering how many litter boxes you needed for your 4 cats, now you know – the answer is 5 litter boxes.

This is a general rule that you’ll see experts recommending, and I can also from personal experience that it feels like the right number.

It’s a case of the more boxes the better, but obviously, it’s difficult to find a discreet and hygienic place to put them in most homes.

Some people do put litter boxes outside though, as I explain in this post.

Ideally, you should spread the boxes out around your home to make it easy for your cats to find and use their boxes.

But I’ll leave the placements up to you. You know you need five boxes, so if you have space for that many cats I’m sure you have space for that many boxes!

Resources

Image credits – Photo by Dietmar Ludmann on Unsplash