A useful starting point is one litter tray for each cat, plus an extra tray, placed in separate quiet locations. Size, access, litter preference and cleanliness matter as much as the number. A change in toileting can also signal illness, so buying a different tray should never delay veterinary advice.
This guide explains how to plan a practical litter-tray setup for one cat or a multi-cat home. It covers the everyday choices that owners can review, while keeping medical concerns separate from household troubleshooting.
Count usable locations, not just plastic trays
Cats Protection's litter guidance recommends one tray per cat plus one extra. That means two for one cat and three for two cats as a starting arrangement. More space or a particular cat's needs may justify additional locations.
Two trays side by side offer much less choice than two trays in genuinely different places. A cat still has to approach the same doorway and pass the same other cat to reach them. Think about the route, not simply the quantity on your shopping list.
Draw a rough plan of your home. Mark sleeping places, feeding areas, water stations, noisy appliances and narrow passages. Then consider where a cat could toilet without being disturbed or cornered. You do not need a designer floor plan; a few notes can reveal why an apparently convenient spot is difficult for your cat.
Choose size and entry height around the individual
A tray should allow your cat to turn, dig and position themselves comfortably. Compare the usable interior rather than the external dimensions, particularly when a cover or raised rim takes up space. A tray that suited a kitten may be cramped once that cat reaches adult size.
Entry height also matters. A high-sided tray can contain scattered litter, but a cat with reduced mobility may need a lower entrance. Our guide to making the home accessible for an older cat covers related changes to routes and resources.
Watch how your cat approaches the tray. Hesitating, balancing on the edge or avoiding a high step may be reasons to reassess access and speak to your vet. Do not assume these behaviours are stubbornness, or conclude from them that the tray is the only problem.
Open or covered: let the cat's preference guide you
A covered tray can be appealing to an owner who wants a tidier room. That does not establish that every cat will prefer it. Consider whether the opening is generous, whether the cat can turn inside and whether another pet could block the exit.
Cats Protection's toileting advice explains that tray type, positioning and cleaning can all affect use. If you are trying a new design, offer it alongside a familiar option rather than removing every existing tray on the same day.
Observe without hovering over your cat while they toilet. A quiet note about which tray is used is enough. You are looking for a workable preference, not trying to persuade a cat to accept the option that best matches your furniture.
Find a quiet, reachable position
Avoid placing the only tray beside a washing machine that suddenly spins or a door that regularly slams. Keep litter facilities separate from food, water and sleeping areas. A tray hidden behind stored boxes is not meaningfully accessible, even if the room itself is quiet.
For a home with several floors, consider how easily your cat can reach a tray from their favourite resting places. This is especially relevant overnight, when internal doors may be shut. Include the usual evening layout in your planning rather than assessing access only while every door is open.
In multi-cat homes, notice whether one cat waits in a corridor or guards a resource. Separate routes and locations can be more useful than repeatedly moving trays within the same contested corner. Our everyday routines and safe-space guide discusses the wider environment.
Make litter changes gradual and observable
Cats can have preferences for texture and scent. A heavily perfumed product may please an owner while being unwelcome to the cat. If your current litter is working, there is no need to change it simply because another product is fashionable.
When a change is necessary, keep an established option available and introduce the alternative separately. Record what you changed: the litter, the tray design or the position. Changing all three at once makes it harder to interpret the result.
Read cleaning and disposal instructions for the particular litter. Do not assume that every clumping product, liner or deodoriser is suitable for every setup. Keep packaging accessible so another household member can refill the tray correctly rather than guessing.
Create a cleaning routine people can maintain
Decide who will remove soiling and who will carry out the fuller clean. Keep the scoop, bags and appropriate cleaning supplies together, away from food preparation. A routine that depends on everybody assuming somebody else has done it quickly becomes unreliable.
Follow the tray and litter manufacturers' instructions and use cleaning products suitable for the purpose. Rinse and dry as required. Avoid experimenting with strong fragrances to disguise a dirty tray; address the cleaning and refill routine itself.
Inspect the tray for damaged edges and awkward-to-clean corners. Replacement can be sensible when equipment deteriorates, but a clean familiar tray should not be discarded solely to keep up with a new style. Think about the cat's experience as well as ease of housekeeping.
Use observations to recognise a health concern
A tray can provide useful information about urine and stools, although it cannot provide a diagnosis. Note repeated visits, straining, blood, apparent discomfort or a marked change in output. Our guide to cat digestive health and stool changes offers further context for digestive concerns.
Cats Protection identifies inability to pass urine as an emergency. If your cat repeatedly tries to urinate but passes little or nothing, appears painful or becomes unwell, contact your vet urgently. Do not wait to see whether a new litter or supplement solves the problem.
For non-emergency changes, arrange veterinary advice rather than assuming a behaviour problem. A photo, the timing of changes and a clear description can help the discussion. In a multi-cat household, explain if you are unsure which cat produced the urine or stool.
Frequently asked questions
How many trays do two cats need?
Three is the usual starting point: one per cat plus an extra. Place them in separate useful locations and adjust around your cats' access and relationships.
Do outdoor cats still need a litter tray?
An indoor option is useful when outdoor access changes, during illness or when a cat is kept inside. Do not rely on an outside route that may become unavailable.
Will a covered tray stop all smells?
No. Cleaning, litter management and the individual setup still matter. Consider your cat's comfort and ability to enter and leave, rather than selecting on appearance alone.
Should I punish a cat that toilets elsewhere?
No. Seek veterinary advice and review the setup calmly. Punishment does not identify a medical problem or make a tray more accessible.
Can supplements fix a litter-tray problem?
They should not be used as a substitute for diagnosis or a suitable environment. There is no single supplement that solves all changes in toileting.
Make one useful change at a time
Review number, access, location and cleaning before introducing several new products. Our Cat Wellness collection includes wider everyday care options; this article does not recommend a nutritional product as a remedy for urinary or toileting problems. General guidance cannot replace a veterinary assessment of a cat whose habits have changed.