Alex Likes a Fresh Bowl: Litter Box Cleaning with 5 Cats

Hi, I'm Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.

Do you do that thing when you’re using a public bathroom where you just block out the thought of how many people have sat there before you? And then there’s that bonus when you’re first in line after the cleaner has just been in. There’s nothing worse than being greeted by the evidence of previous visitors; everyone wants a fresh bowl.

So I shouldn’t be that surprised that Alex, the youngest and most ginger of all my cats, also prefers to use a freshly cleaned toilet. What’s annoying for me is how he times things.

A Clean Litter Box Is Essential

Keeping your cat’s litter box clean is an essential part of keeping your feline family members happy, healthy, and stress-free. One of the main reasons cats develop stress-related cystitis or inappropriate toileting habits is a result of sharing a toilet with other cats, which is why we always recommend having at least one litter box per cat, plus an extra one. That way, each cat should always have an unused box available.

My cats are very unusual in that they will happily – I say happily, but I suppose they could just be content or satisfied – use a tray that has already been occupied. So much so that it often seems like they have quietly designated a box for 1’s and another for 2’s, often leaving the third barely touched. In theory, I should have at least 6 litter boxes for my 5 cats, but over time, this has whittled down to 3 – not an arrangement I would typically recommend. But when boxes were being consistently left unused, there was no point having them take up space! However, if we go away overnight, we always put out extra trays.

Despite the fact that all our cats are unrelated and joined us at different times and life stages, we are extremely lucky that they all get along quite well, let alone share litter boxes between cleanings. It is a VERY unusual situation but appears to reflect that they consider themselves to be a family unit.

To Go Where No Cat Has Gone Before

Although Alex does not appear averse to the sharing/caring approach to litter, he has shown a distinct preference for a freshly cleaned litter box. So much so that, much like Pavlov’s dogs, who became so conditioned to hearing a bell at mealtimes that the sound was enough to start them salivating, the sound of fresh litter being poured into the tray brings Alex running from anywhere in the house.

He has been outside in the catio and come galloping up the stairs, barely waiting for me to finish topping up the litter before christening it. No matter the time of day, it seems he always has a poop stored up for the occasion.

He’s not as motivated when I am just scooping out the trays; it is the freshly poured, untouched litter that attracts him.

It’s not that I blame him - when you share a bathroom with four other people, it’s got to be a real treat to be the first to dig around in the litter. To go where no cat has gone before. It’s just that cleaning out the trays and filling them with fresh cat litter, only to have someone drop a great…deposit in it before you even leave the room, can be a bit disheartening! It’s a bit like finally putting away your freshly cleaned clothes and seeing that the dirty laundry basket is already half full or drying the last of the washing up and having someone bring in a pile of plates that have been hiding in a bedroom.

Small Victories and Trivial Pursuits

Of course, this is a me problem, not an Alex problem, and it’s one I have quickly adapted to. Instead of tying up the dirty litter bag at the end of a cleaning session, I just lay in wait for Alex’s inevitable appearance and remove the evidence of his visit when he’s finished.

It might seem pretty trivial, but at least I get to walk out of the room knowing that the litter boxes are all clean and fresh…for a few minutes at least! It’s a very small victory, but I’ll take what I can get!