How Many Litter Boxes Do Two Cats Need in a Small Apartment?
Two cats need at least three litter boxes — one per cat plus one spare — and they should be in separate locations rather than side by side. In a small apartment that usually means one in a bathroom, one in a bedroom corner and one in a quiet corner of the living space, each away from food, water and busy walkways.
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Key points
- One tray per cat plus one spare is the widely used rule.
- Two trays next to each other count as one resource to a cat.
- A tray should be about one and a half times the length of the cat.
- Sudden toileting outside the tray is a veterinary matter, not a training matter.
Why the spare tray matters
Cats avoid a soiled tray and can be reluctant to pass another cat to reach one. A spare gives a cat somewhere to go when its usual tray is dirty or occupied, which reduces stress and indoor accidents.
Placement in a small flat
- Separate the trays: different rooms or at least opposite ends of a room.
- Never next to food or water bowls.
- Avoid corridors, doorways and noisy appliances such as a washing machine.
- Keep an escape route: a cat should not feel cornered.
- If you use a covered tray, make sure it is large enough and ventilated.
Litter and cleaning
- Most cats prefer a fine, unscented, sand-like litter, in a layer several centimetres deep.
- Scoop at least once a day, twice with two cats.
- Change the litter fully and wash the tray with unscented soap regularly.
- Do not use strong disinfectants; some, including phenol-based products, are toxic to cats.
If a cat stops using the tray
Book a veterinary appointment. Urinary and bowel problems, pain and arthritis frequently show up as toileting changes, and urinary blockage in male cats is an emergency. Once health has been ruled out, look at tray number, size, litter type, cleanliness, location and conflict between the cats.
Space-saving ideas that still meet the cats'' needs
- A high-sided tray under a sturdy shelf rather than inside a closed cupboard.
- A furniture-style enclosure with a wide entrance and removable top for cleaning.
- Vertical resources elsewhere — shelves and cat trees — reduce competition generally.
Read next
Sources and further reading
This practical tip is general information, not veterinary advice. For anything specific to your animal, please speak to a qualified vet.