Litter boxes and new-cat checklist
How many litter boxes you need and where to put them, plus a checklist for a new cat's first week.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent to this site. Results are planning figures, not veterinary advice. For a medical decision, ask your vet.
What it is
A short calculator and checklist. The calculator gives the number of litter boxes for your home, and the checklist walks you through the first week with a new cat or kitten.
How to use it
- Enter how many cats you have and how many floors or separate living areas.
- Follow the checklist. Tick items off as you go, or print it and keep it on the fridge.
How it works
The common rule is one litter box per cat, plus one. Boxes should be spread over the home so one cat cannot guard all of them, and a home with more than one floor needs a box on each. A box about one and a half times the length of the cat gives room to turn and dig. Unscented clumping litter is the most widely accepted by cats.
Place boxes in quiet spots with two ways out, away from food and water and from noisy appliances. Scoop at least once a day and wash the box every few weeks with mild soap.
What it cannot do
Litter-box problems have many causes, and the box is only one of them. If a cat that has used the box reliably starts to go elsewhere, or strains, cries or passes only a little urine, call a vet the same day. A blocked bladder is an emergency, especially in male cats.
A new cat needs time. Keep the first days quiet, keep the cat in one room with its things, and let it come out when it chooses.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026