Can our cat make do with just one litter box?

traveler5

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Make that do-do
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We own a rambler style home (finished up stairs and finished downstairs). We've had our cat for about 2 months. He's a 9 month old male that we picked up from a shelter. To accommodate our new cat we've had two litter boxes, one for up stairs and another for down stairs. He spends most of his time up stairs -- it's really more like a 60/40 percent split. To reduce costs, we're thinking of eliminating one of the litter boxes. Both litter boxes get used but the up stairs box doesn't get used all that much compared to the downstairs box. Will our kitty get use to doing his job in one place or are we setting ourselves up for accidents?
 

white cat lover

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IMO, only using one box is asking for trouble. You don't know how your kitty will do - you may well end up with a cat who has accidents - and once accidents start it's harder to get a kitty back to using the box. I'd keep both - even if it is a bit more pricey - it's not worth bad LB habits.
 

mrblanche

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I'm having a hard time seeing how an extra litter box costs any more than having one, once you own the box. If you scoop it, no more litter will be used in two boxes than in one. The cat has a finite output, after all!
 

catmom2wires

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I am in a 2 story home and have one receptacle--a Litter Robot---downstairs. Three cats happily use it.

When I added each of my two youngest cats, I would keep a conventional box upstairs as well during their adjustment period. Once I observed they were using the Robot, I'd remove the conventional box.

I've had ZERO accidents. I'd say it's worth a try!

Cally
 

jack31

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What type of litter are you using and how often are you doing a complete change?

I can see how one box is less costly than two--a second box requires filling and litter costs money.

Jack only had two boxes in our apartment one on each floor--he had two until age 11 months. We have two boxes now for two cats and they are side by side in the basement.

Leslie
 

kara_leigh

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Both Nora and Milo like to poop in one box and pee in the other. Nora uses one box for poop and the other for pee, and Milo does the opposite. lol They are side by side in our laundry room. We definitely use a lot more litter with two boxes than we ever did with just one for Gus.
 

alleygirl

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When I just had Riley, I only had one box and he was fine. However, since your cat is used to having 2 boxes now, going to just one might upset him. Riley only ever had one box.
 
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traveler5

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It will be interesting to see what happens -- but maybe not so pleasant.

I am hoping he'll use just the one box down stairs since that's where he does most of his pooping.

As for litter costs, it is expensive to have both. Not only that, but it's a hassle to maintain two of them at the same time (one up and one down). If we can get him to used to using just one of the boxes, it would make me happy. If we start to see accidents we'll go back to the two. I think it's worth the try but I wanted to get your valuable input.
 

howtoholdacat

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I've always been pretty lucky in that my cats aren't terribly picky about litter boxes or who they share them with but then I keep my boxes very clean. Personally, I'd try for one but be prepared if he doesn't comply and don't punish him if he goes where his old box was. Some battles aren't worth fighting.
 

the_food_lady

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Originally Posted by Traveler5

It will be interesting to see what happens -- but maybe not so pleasant.

I am hoping he'll use just the one box down stairs since that's where he does most of his pooping.

As for litter costs, it is expensive to have both. Not only that, but it's a hassle to maintain two of them at the same time (one up and one down). If we can get him to used to using just one of the boxes, it would make me happy. If we start to see accidents we'll go back to the two. I think it's worth the try but I wanted to get your valuable input.
I don't really see how it's more expensive to use 2? Are you using scoopable litter? If so, the only cost I can see is for the box itself, and the original fill of the litter....but beyond that, you're either scooping the one (lone) box twice as much and therefore replacing with more litter......or scooping each one less, thereby using less litter, thereby having to add less litter to each box. Seems it would all work out even in the end.

Not sure where you buy your litter, if you buy expensive stuff....but places like Walmart sell very very reasonably priced scooping litter (their brand is "Special Kitty") - comes in big 40 lb boxes, here in Canada it's about $8 a box, that would last a long time for one cat (I have 5, so I'm comparing). It comes in a variety of types: scented, non-scented, multi-cat, one with baking soda, etc..all scoopable.

Plus, I've found that if you start off putting ENOUGH scoopable litter in a box, it helps with usage. I really fill my boxes to start out with.......3-4 inches high.......as high as possible......that way when kitty pees, there is less chance the urine will make it's way to bottom of the box/greater chance it will form a nice round clump.....and then you end up using less.
 
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traveler5

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Originally Posted by the_food_lady

I don't really see how it's more expensive to use 2? Are you using scoopable litter? If so, the only cost I can see is for the box itself, and the original fill of the litter....but beyond that, you're either scooping the one (lone) box twice as much and therefore replacing with more litter......or scooping each one less, thereby using less litter, thereby having to add less litter to each box. Seems it would all work out even in the end.

Not sure where you buy your litter, if you buy expensive stuff....but places like Walmart sell very very reasonably priced scooping litter (their brand is "Special Kitty") - comes in big 40 lb boxes, here in Canada it's about $8 a box, that would last a long time for one cat (I have 5, so I'm comparing). It comes in a variety of types: scented, non-scented, multi-cat, one with baking soda, etc..all scoopable.

Plus, I've found that if you start off putting ENOUGH scoopable litter in a box, it helps with usage. I really fill my boxes to start out with.......3-4 inches high.......as high as possible......that way when kitty pees, there is less chance the urine will make it's way to bottom of the box/greater chance it will form a nice round clump.....and then you end up using less.
Your thinking is correct on this to a degree, but I'm still certain that with two boxes we'd still be using more litter than what's necessary. The down stairs box is fairly large, the upstairs box a little smaller. The thing is, he's just not using the up stairs box enough each day to justify keeping it there. Most of his poop is down stairs in that box, adding the up stairs poop to the down stair's box still wouldn't fill the down stair's box. Right now, when we change out the litter boxes each week or so, we're throwing out two boxes of litter and refilling them. I want to decrease that to just the one larger box. I feel it will accommodate him just fine -- I hope.

The second issue that I have is the inconvenience of maintaining two different boxes. If I can consolidate it to one box that would be wonderful.
 

cococat

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If he is used to two, keep it. Some cats need two litterboxes, I wouldn't chance litterbox issues by taking it away if he is going like he should in both. If accidents occur they may become habit and you may not be able to find them all, so he will keep going there since he can smell it
If it ain't broke.....
 
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traveler5

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But, like I say, if it becomes a problem (the one litter box is getting too full each day or he starts pooping on the floor) we'll switch back quickly to the two boxes.
 
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traveler5

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Originally Posted by cococat

If accidents occur they may become habit and you may not be able to find them all, so he will keep going there since he can smell it
If it ain't broke.....
That is a concern I have. We'll have to speak to him about not doing that.
 

jack31

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You are completely dumping every week? That seems like a lot. I only completely dump once a month. I fill with about 4 inches at the beginning of the month and scoop once or twice a day, refilling usually once a week. I use about 40lbs a month 20lbs in each box.

Leslie
 

howtoholdacat

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I dump weekly. I can't imagine my litter lasting a month! I did just switch to crystals and have found they're lasting longer. Yeah!!!
 

persi & alley

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Originally Posted by Traveler5

Make that do-do
.

We own a rambler style home (finished up stairs and finished downstairs). We've had our cat for about 2 months. He's a 9 month old male that we picked up from a shelter. To accommodate our new cat we've had two litter boxes, one for up stairs and another for down stairs. He spends most of his time up stairs -- it's really more like a 60/40 percent split. To reduce costs, we're thinking of eliminating one of the litter boxes. Both litter boxes get used but the up stairs box doesn't get used all that much compared to the downstairs box. Will our kitty get use to doing his job in one place or are we setting ourselves up for accidents?
There used to be only Persi. One cat, one floor, one litterbox. Then came Alley. Two cats, one box, zero problems. Then baby Shelby comes to live with us for a couple months. Shelby had her own box but would not use it. She wanted to follow the big cats into their box. Three cats. One box. No misses. Shelby moves away. Back to two cats and one box. Some time later the cats are uprooted and start living in a hotel. One cat then gets quarantined. Then both end up living in a strange home for a month. Back to one box. And then the ultimate, we move to a three story home. We decide to press our luck. Two cats, three floors, one box and zero misses in six months. One hundred percent true.
 

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Lucky needs two boxes.... one is in the bathroom, and the other is in the hallway close to my room. They are somewhat close to each other, but she does use both of them. She usually poops in one, and pees in the other.
 
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traveler5

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Originally Posted by Jack31

You are completely dumping every week? That seems like a lot. I only completely dump once a month. I fill with about 4 inches at the beginning of the month and scoop once or twice a day, refilling usually once a week. I use about 40lbs a month 20lbs in each box.

Leslie
No. We completely dump the litter about every 3 weeks. That would get expensive. We clean out the litter boxes once a day. I mislead on the weekly statement. That is incorrect.
 
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traveler5

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Originally Posted by carolinalima

Lucky needs two boxes.... one is in the bathroom, and the other is in the hallway close to my room. They are somewhat close to each other, but she does use both of them. She usually poops in one, and pees in the other.
You may want to try and consolidate into one box.

Knock on wood, no accidents today.
 
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