How to Have Multiple Cats - Maintaining Good Hygiene

Having cats can be a source of great joy, entertainment, and stress relief. There’s nothing sweeter than coming home to your cats cuddling together on the couch. But having multiple cats presents its own special challenges. Running a multiple-cat household takes some extra work and organization, but it can definitely be worth the trouble.

1. Provide as many litter boxes as you have cats, plus one. If you have three cats, in other words, try to provide four litter boxes.[1] While it may seem like a lot of work, having multiple litter boxes prevents inappropriate elimination, which causes far more problems.
- Cats can be intensely private, and they dislike sharing litter boxes.
- Keep the litter boxes in separate rooms as much as possible. Dominant cats may claim a particular litter box as their own. Having some distance between the boxes will mean that a dominant cat can only "guard" one box, leaving the others for shyer cats.

2. Keep litter boxes clean.[2] Cats have sensitive noses and will react strongly to litter boxes filled with waste.
- Remove cat waste frequently, generally once per day. Scoopable litter allows you to remove feces and urine easily and top up with more litter. If you use plain clay litter, change the whole box at least once a week.
- Don’t clean litter boxes with strongly-scented cleaners or soaps. Plain soap and water is adequate and will avoid introducing smells that are unpleasant to your cat.

3. Keep litter boxes comfortable. Inappropriate elimination often develops because there’s something about the litter box that your cat can’t stand, and so he urinates or defecates somewhere else.[3]
- Litter boxes should be accessible at all times. They should also be located in relatively quiet places, not in the main flow of traffic in the household.
- Litter should be one to two inches deep. Cats may develop a strong preference for a particular type of litter.
- Many cats dislike boxes with hoods, automatic-cleaning boxes, or boxes that are too small for them. Pay attention to your cats’ preferences.

4. Clean any “accidents” immediately and thoroughly. Vomit, hairballs, and the occasional inappropriate urination or defecation are a part of life if you have multiple cats. Immediate clean-up will prevent bad odors and bad habits from taking hold.
- Use a specially designed enzyme cleaner for cleaning up cat urine.[4] If a cat can still smell his urine somewhere, he will come to regard that spot as an acceptable location for elimination.
- Baking soda is a great odor remover.[5] After you’ve cleaned up feces or vomit, sprinkle baking soda in the area and leave it for a few hours to absorb odor.

5. Control the amount of cat hair in your house.[6] Having many cats increases the amount of cat hair in circulation. This can set off allergies in your family and guests, and it also tends to cling to clothing.
- Vacuum frequently. While your cats may not mind sleeping on a mat of their own hair, frequent vacuuming of floors, carpets, and upholstery is a good idea for you and your guests.
- Brush your cats regularly. Use specially designed brushes to reach the thicker undercoat.
- Cover furniture with blankets or throws that are easy to launder. These can be put in the washing machine when guests arrive.
- Use an adhesive roller or lint remover to take cat hair off of your clothing before you go out.