Can two cats use the same sandbox?

The cats are incredible pets, fun, independent and very clean. And it is that everyone knows that these cats often relieve themselves in a litter box. In fact, this factor is one of the main reasons why many people choose to adopt a cat, since they do not need to go out on the street as often as dogs.

Since feline animals are very sociable, it is common for some people to prefer having more than one cat. It is at this moment when the question arises of how many sandboxes we should have. Many only have a sandbox at home, used by several cats but, is this correct? We have prepared this article to resolve these doubts and answer the question: “Can two cats use the same sandbox?” Keep reading!

How many sand boxes per cat?

As we said, homes that include two felines in their family nucleus are very common. For this reason, many of our readers ask us: “I have two cats, how many sandboxes should I include?”. Well, according to experts in feline behavior, it is advised to have the number of sandboxes equal to the number of cats plus one [1] [2] That is, if we have two cats, the ideal would be to have three sandboxes.

A number of adequate litter boxes is essential to prevent behavior problems, such as urinating or defecating outside the sandbox, and even veterinary problems, such as feline idiopathic cystitis, for example. However, this does not mean that it is a true science, and that is that many households with several cats use a smaller number of sandboxes and do not present any problem. In these cases, the cleaning of the box is essential and cat tutors should clean them an average of four times a day. Remember that the sandbox accumulates a large amount of waste that if not eliminated, can lead the animal to stop using it.

If you live with more than one cat and you have observed that one of them urinates or defecates out of the sandbox and, in addition, it coincides with the fact that both share the sandbox, you have just found the cause of the problem! Cats are territorial animals and, therefore, many of them hate sharing the litter box. To avoid problems, the ideal would be that each one had his sandbox, as we say, and one extra. The box of more, you can place it in those areas where you usually do your needs, since they represent your favorite spots.

Even for those families in which both felines share without a problem, it is advisable to offer an extra box for what might happen.

Types of sandboxes for cats

The type of sandbox is also very important, since it is another reason why a cat may not use it. So, if you live with several cats, you should make sure offer boxes of different types to observe which is the favorite of each of them.

In any case, the box should always be almost twice the size of the cat so that it can move freely and not feel pressured. Likewise, we will choose the most appropriate place to place it and ensure that the animal feels comfortable using it. Which one? He who is far from the noise, who is easy to access, quiet and, above all, away from their bowls of food and water.

Automatic sandbox for cats

If you do not know what type of sandbox to choose, the automatic sandbox is one of the most innovative and excellent options for cat companions who do not have much time to keep it always clean. Its main advantage is that it allows schedule it to do up to four cleanings per day and, even, so that it is cleaned every time the cat uses it.

In the current market there are different models, all with the same concept and objective, pick up the waste of the animal, clean and dry the sand leaving the box ready for its next use. However, its high cost can be an inconvenience for people who live with several cats. Therefore, we recommend using a common box per jack, and use the automatic box as an extra.

Types of sand for cats

The type of sand is also very important to get the animals to use the sandboxes. You must bear in mind that cats have different preferences, since they are very selective animals. Thus, the ideal is to try to find out what type of sand you prefer each of your cats and use it in its box. However, we anticipate that most cats they prefer those sands of finer grains and without odors.

For more information, do not miss our article on the different types of cat litter.

If you want to read more articles similar to Can two cats use the same sandbox?, we recommend that you enter in our Basic Care section.