Good news first: you don’t really have to teach a cat to use a litter tray. Cats are born wanting to dig a hole, go in it, and cover it up. Most kittens learn the rest by watching their mother.
A cat that has lived on the street has spent its life doing this in soil and sand. Moving it indoors means giving it something that feels just as right. Get the tray, the litter and the place right, and most cats work it out within days.
The short version
- A big tray: about one and a half times the cat’s length.
- One tray per cat, plus one more.
- Fine, unscented litter, about 3 cm deep.
- A quiet spot, away from food and water.
- Scoop at least twice a day. Never punish an accident.
The tray
Most trays sold in shops are too small. International Cat Care says a tray should be about one and a half times the cat’s length, from its nose to the base of its tail. A plain rectangle gives more room than corner or oval shapes. A large clear plastic storage box makes a good big tray.
Covered trays keep smells in and give some privacy, but some cats don’t like them, and big cats can struggle to turn round inside. If you use one, take the flap off at first. Skip plastic liners: claws catch in them.
For a kitten, start with a tray with low sides it can climb into easily, and swap it for a bigger one as it grows. Old cats with stiff joints need low sides too.
How many
The usual rule is one tray per cat, plus one more, in different places. That means two trays even for one cat. Outdoors, cats often like separate spots for peeing and pooing, so a second tray suits them. Writing for Cats Protection, the veterinary nurse Vicky Halls admits the rule isn’t based on hard evidence, but says many agree it’s sound advice.
Spread the trays out. In a home with several cats, trays in one place are easy for a bossy cat to guard.
The litter
- Fine and sandy. Fine, sand-like litter is closest to what wild cats use, and many cats prefer the clumping kind.
- Unscented. A cat’s nose is far stronger than ours. Scented litter and tray deodorants can put cats off completely.
- About 3 cm deep. Enough to dig in.
- Don’t keep switching. Cats get used to one kind. If you adopt a cat from a shelter or foster home, use the same litter they did for the first week or two.
A street cat: a bit of earth on top
A cat that has always gone in soil may not recognise a tray of clay or paper as a toilet. Vets suggest adding some soil or sand to the tray. Scatter a little garden earth over the top of the litter for the first days, then use less each time you clean, until it’s gone.
Keep a new cat in one room at first, with the tray in a corner of it. A room with one obvious place to dig makes the choice easy. Our guide to the first weeks covers the rest of that room. A nervous cat may only use the tray at night for the first day or so, which is normal.
Kittens
Kittens usually learn the tray from their mother. An orphan, or one that hasn’t got the idea yet, may need a nudge. International Cat Care suggests putting it in the tray after it wakes up, after meals, and whenever it starts sniffing, scratching the floor or crouching. Kittens can’t hold on for long, so keep a clean tray close by at all times. Not sure how old yours is? Try our kitten age chart.
Where to put it
A cat going to the toilet can’t run away, so it wants to feel safe. Pick a quiet corner, away from:
- Food and water bowls. Cats don’t eat where they go.
- Busy, noisy places like a hallway or next to the washing machine.
- Cat flaps and big glass doors, where an outside cat might stare in.
Keeping it clean
Cats avoid a dirty tray, and they’ll find somewhere else instead. International Cat Care says to:
- Scoop out clumps and droppings at least twice a day.
- Empty, wash and refill the whole tray every two to four weeks with clumping litter, or every week with the other kind.
- Wash it with hot water and a mild detergent, then rinse and dry it well.
- Never use disinfectants that turn cloudy in water. Many contain phenols, which are toxic to cats. More on what’s poisonous to cats.
When a cat goes outside the tray
Think medical first. A cat that suddenly stops using its tray is often unwell. Cystitis, constipation, diarrhoea, diabetes, an overactive thyroid and arthritis can all do it. A cat that links the tray with pain will look for somewhere else. If your cat strains to pee, passes only drops, or can’t pass any at all, see a vet that day. More warning signs are in signs a cat is sick.
If the vet finds nothing, look at the tray. Is it dirty, too small, in a busy spot, or near another cat’s favourite place? Did you change the litter? Stress plays a part too: a new cat, a move, or a cat outside the window can all do it.
Never punish a cat for an accident. It isn’t spite. Punishment only makes it more scared, and a scared cat goes in more hidden places. Clean the spot with an enzyme cleaner made for pet stains, or a weak solution of biological washing powder. Don’t use cleaners with ammonia: to a cat, they smell like pee, and it will come back to the same spot.
Questions people ask
How many litter trays do I need?
One per cat, plus one more, in different places around the home. For a single cat, that means two trays.
How do I get a street cat to use a litter tray?
Use a big tray of fine, unscented litter in a quiet corner, and scatter a little garden soil on top for the first days so it smells like the ground the cat is used to. Use less soil each time you clean.
Why has my cat stopped using its litter tray?
Often because it’s unwell, so see a vet first. If it’s healthy, check the tray is clean, big enough, in a quiet place and filled with the litter it’s used to.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. A cat that changes its toilet habits should see a vet.
Snap your new cat with Island of Cats on its first day home, and keep that photo forever.
