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A litter box can be easy for a person to hide and difficult for a cat to use. The cabinet beside the washer may look tidy, but a banging spin cycle and one narrow entrance can make it an unappealing bathroom. Start with your cat's route through the home, then fit the cleaning supplies around that route.

The best location lets your cat enter, turn, dig, and leave without squeezing past another animal or waiting for someone to open a door.

Give each box usable space

Choose a box large enough for your cat to turn around comfortably without pressing against the sides. Large cats often need more room than standard retail trays provide. Older cats may need a low entrance even when higher sides are useful for containing litter elsewhere.

A covered box may contain some scatter, but it can also hold odors and restrict visibility. If your cat hesitates at the opening, try an uncovered arrangement. Avoid making several changes simultaneously; you want to learn whether space, access, litter, or location is the problem.

Place the box on a level surface where it will not rock. Leave enough room in front for a natural exit rather than forcing a leap over a tall mat or storage bin.

Spread resources through the home

A common starting point is one box per cat plus one extra, placed in separate useful locations. The AAFP/ISFM house-soiling guide treats access and social relationships as part of that plan. Three trays shoulder to shoulder still leave one doorway that another cat can block; the arithmetic alone does not establish adequate access.

Use separate locations when possible, and provide access on the floors your cats regularly occupy. Keep boxes away from food and water stations. Choose quiet areas that remain accessible overnight and when guests visit.

Watch for subtle interference. One cat sitting in a hallway may prevent another from reaching a box without any obvious fight. A second route or another location can make access more dependable.

Make scooping possible without a scavenger hunt

Keep a scoop, waste container, and small cleaning brush close enough to reach without crossing the apartment. Store them where pets and children cannot play with them. A lidded container helps manage waste between trips to the outside trash, but it still needs regular emptying and washing.

Choose a litter-catching mat that is comfortable under paws and easy to lift. Deep grooves may hold scatter well yet become frustrating to clean after an accident. Check the floor beneath the mat, especially if moisture can damage the surface.

Keep replacement litter nearby in a closed, dry container. A lightweight scoop for adding clean litter is easier to control than repeatedly tipping a heavy bag over a small tray.

Let familiarity do some of the work

For a newly adopted cat, ask what litter and box style it already uses. Begin with that information instead of immediately switching to your preferred fragrance or enclosure. Familiar texture and access can make an unfamiliar home less confusing.

If you want to try another litter, offer a separate trial box while retaining an accepted option. Let actual use guide the decision. Strong scents that seem fresh to people may make the bathroom less inviting to a cat.

Scoop at least daily and observe what is normal for your cat. Repeated straining with little or no urine warrants immediate veterinary contact, not a trial of another litter. Cornell identifies suspected urinary obstruction as an emergency. Do not wait until you can prove there is no urine. A new accident also deserves a health and access review, without punishment.