All in all, you should add about 2–3 inches of litter to your litter box. Of course, the exact amount depends on the size of your litter box. You want to provide enough depth for your cat to dig and cover their poop. You may need to add non-clumping litter a little deeper—about 3–4 inches.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Keep reading to find out when you may need to add more or less litter.
How Much Litter to Put in the Litter Box
You should maintain an adequate depth in your cat’s litter box. Typically, this means keeping the amount of litter within 2–3 inches. However, some cats may prefer more or less. You may need to adjust the amount you add based on your cat’s needs.
Adding more litter does not reduce how often you need to clean your box. This will only lead to the cat spreading out of the box. You will still need to scoop out the litter every day to keep the box clean. As you scoop, add more litter to maintain the required amount.
Make sure the litter is evenly distributed on the bottom of the box. The depth should be consistent, and your cat may become confused by this consistency as they use the box. You may need to correct this if necessary.
Different types of cat litter have different densities and absorbencies. We recommend reading the package instructions to find out how much litter a particular type may require. When the package violates the 2–3 inch rule, follow the instructions on the package. You can always adjust later if it seems too much or too little.
Can You Put Too Much Litter in the Litter Box?
You can put too much litter in a litter box. Your cat will not want to use a litter box with too much litter, and they may show you off by not using the litter box. Furthermore, even if your cat is using the box, he may release a bunch of litter from the box.
Having too much litter on the floor can also confuse your cat, as they may think the floor is the litter box. Keep this in mind when determining how much litter to add to your box.
Adding too much debris can also make it harder to remove dirty parts right away. You may not be able to remove all the dirty litter, forcing you to replace the entire litter box and waste the excess. If you use clumping litter, too much litter can limit the litter’s ability to clump.
How to Tell If You’re Using Too Much Litter?
You want the box to be full just right scatter Figuring it out can be a challenge, though. In some cases, it can easily go overboard.
Luckily, there are a few ways you can tell if you’re using too much litter in your litter box.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- Your cat slipped. If your cat is sliding around inside the litterbox, there is a good chance that you are using too much cat litter. Litter can move too much as your cat walks, making it difficult for them to keep their balance. This is especially problematic for older cats or those with physical challenges. These cats may really need it less litter than is usually recommended.
- You add garbage all the time. If you despise the chore of cleaning the litter box, you can slowly add litter to avoid cleaning it. However, this can only make it more difficult to use, especially if you use clay litter. Clay litter can form hard, heavy clumps if used excessively.
- Your cat doesn’t come in at all. If there is a lot of litter, your cat may avoid going in because of a sliding issue. They can try using the litter box with only the front half inside. This type of behavior can also occur if your litter box is too small. You’ll probably have to do a little trial and error to figure out the underlying problem.
- Garbage ends up everywhere. If there is too much litter inside the litter box, it will be easier to spill. Therefore, if you notice a lot of cat litter all over your floor, you may be using too much cat litter in your box.
If you notice any of these signs, you may want to reduce the amount of cat litter you use.
Should You Measure When Adding Cat Litter?
You don’t need to add exactly 2 inches—your cat doesn’t already be selective. However, if you have never used a particular litter box, you may want to measure it the first time to get an idea of how much litter 2 inches is.
Of course, if it makes it easier for you, you can measure it perfectly every time. You can also measure 2 inches and put a small mark on the inside of the litterbox that will be used later.
How Often Should You Scoop a Litter Box for a Cat?
Ideally, you should scoop the litter box once a day, even if you only have one cat. A cleaner litter box prevents bad toilet habits, which can make your job easier. Furthermore, a dirty litter box can carry a lot of germs, making your cat or even you sick. Keep this in mind when determining your scooping schedule.
If you have more than one cat, you may need to increase how often you scoop the litter box. However, the minimum is still once a day.
On top of scooping, don’t forget that you need to clean the litter box regularly and properly. All litter needs to be removed every week or so, and you may want to consider scrubbing the actual box, too. The plastic itself can hold odors, so it’s important to use a disposable litter box or clean your litter box thoroughly.
Conclusion
For most situations, you will need to add 2–3 inches of litter box to your litter box. For most cats and boxes, this is the ideal amount of litter. However, there may be times when you need to increase or decrease the amount of litter you use. Older cats may need less litter, for example.
Feel free to adjust the amount of cat litter you add to determine how much your cat needs.
Featured Image Credit: Mila Naumova, Shutteestock
