Glossary

Litter box

A shallow tray of absorbent material where an indoor cat urinates and defecates, kept in a quiet spot and cleaned daily.

Also called: litter tray, cat toilet, litter pan

A litter box is a low-sided tray filled with litter, where an indoor cat can dig, eliminate and cover the waste. Cats follow this instinct from kittenhood, so most learn to use a box within days with little teaching. Boxes come open, covered, with a high rim, or with a low entry for kittens and older cats.

A common rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one extra, placed in quiet spots away from food and water, and not all in one corner of the home. The box should be roughly one and a half times the length of the cat so it can turn around and scratch comfortably. Most cats prefer unscented litter at a depth of a few centimetres. Scoop solids with a litter scoop at least once a day, and empty and wash the box on a regular schedule.

A cat that suddenly stops using the box, strains, cries, passes blood or goes very often is not being naughty. These can be signs of urinary pain or another illness, and a male cat that cannot pass urine is an emergency. Call a vet the same day. Changing the brand of clumping litter suddenly can also put a cat off.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Clumping litter Cat litter that binds urine into firm lumps you can scoop out, leaving the rest of the box clean and reusable. Litter scoop A slotted shovel that lifts clumps and droppings out of a litter box while letting clean litter fall back through. Cat-proofing Checking a home for hazards a curious cat could chew, swallow, climb, squeeze into or fall from, and removing or blocking them. Automatic feeder A device that releases set portions of cat food at programmed times, or only for a cat it recognises by its microchip or tag.

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