How to Manage Multiple Cats & Kitty Litter

Multiple cat households provide cats a chance to have companions to play with and to better groom one another. Provided you have enough space for more than one cat, your cats provide each other with mental stimulation, social interaction and exercise, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Unfortunately, sometimes managing multiple cats and their litter boxes can become overwhelming unless you take a few steps to make owning multiple cats stress-free.

Things You'll Need

  • Litter boxes
  • Cat trees
  • Cat beds
  • Different types of scooping litter
  • Cat food dishes
  • Cat water dishes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide enough litter boxes for all of your cats. According to the ASPCA, you need to have one litter box per cat plus one extra box, according to the ASPCA. Having enough litter boxes for your cats helps to prevent inappropriate elimination in your home and some behavioral problems between your cats. Place the boxes in quiet, low-traffic areas with easy access and put at least one on each floor of a multistory home.

    • 2

      Scoop the litter boxes daily to prevent odors. Use a clumping litter in the boxes to easily remove waste. Some cats prefer litter with a softer texture or no fragrance. Try different types of litter in the boxes until you find one that satisfies both you and your cat. To deodorize unscented litter, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the litter and stir it in. Cats will not use dirty litter boxes and may eliminate outside of the boxes if you do not clean them daily.

    • 3

      Line litter boxes with disposable litter liners. Each week, tie up the bag to dispose of the litter and replace the liner, refilling with box with fresh, new litter. For families with multiple cats, delegate litter box cleaning tasks to more than one family member, so you don't become overwhelmed by cleaning cat litter boxes for multiple cats.

    • 4

      Switch to electronic litter boxes that scoop the cat's waste after the cat leaves the box to reduce having to scoop the boxes daily for multiple cats. Empty the receptacle where the box deposits the waste daily or every other day, depending on how many cats you have. Change the litter completely weekly or bi-monthly.

    • 5

      Scrub cat litter boxes monthly with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water to eliminate odors and germs. You can also use a baking soda and water paste to scrub off stuck-on litter. Rinse and dry completely before adding new litter. Delegate this equally job to family members if you can.

    • 6

      Provide tall cat perches or trees for your cats to hide in, sleep on or scratch. Multiple cats each need their own safe spots in your home and cat trees provide many hiding spots for your cats to use. Cats also enjoy perching on high places, such as the top of a tall cat tree. When each of your cats has a safe spot, it discourages any possible fighting between them.

    • 7

      Place cat beds around your home to provide separate, safe sleeping spots for each of your cats. Make sure to have at least one cat bed per cat. Put them in different locations in your home, so each cat can have a separate spot from another.

    • 8

      Provide separate feeding stations for multiple cats to prevent certain cats from bullying each other to eat all of the food you leave for them. Leave both a food and water dish together, in separate rooms of your home, so timid cats can have a safe place to go off and eat, without worrying about more dominant cats stealing their food.

    • 9

      Purchase two or more pet water fountains for cats who enjoy drinking from the sink. This also provides a fresh source of water for multiple cats to drink from at the same time.