One of the best things about owning a cat is that you never have to teach a cat how to use the litter box.
The first time you bring a cat home, all you need to do is show them where the litter box is, and the instinct takes over.
But what happens if you move house and disturb the cats routine?
People don’t stay in one home forever. Some move out of their parent’s houses when they grow up. Others work in a specialized field that makes them move every few years.
Every person has a different reason for changing locations with a cat.
When I moved back to the United States from China, I brought my cat with me. After a few months, my family and I moved to a different town.
In every place, I showed my cat, Zoey, where the litter box was in the house, and I never had a problem with her using the bathroom outside of the litter box;
Even on weeks that I didn’t clean the litter box as thoroughly as I should have. Zoey was an adaptable animal, and the most well-traveled cat I’ve ever had.
Simple steps to help a cat know where the litter box is in a new home.
Moving home with a cat is not as daunting of a task as you think it could be.
As long as you follow these simple steps to make sure your cat knows where the litter box is, she will adapt to her new home and new bathroom quicker than you realize.
All you need to do is follow these simple steps after you move house.
Step 1: Make sure you have enough litter boxes in the new house
According to the ASPCA, the minimum amount of litter boxes you should have in your home is the number of cats plus one more.
For example, I have three cats in my house. That means I should have a minimum of four litter boxes in my house at once. That way, if all the cats need to go to the bathroom, there’s no chance of ambushing.
Also, if one cat thinks one litter box is too dirty to use at the moment, there are three other options for her to use.
Step 2: Place the boxes in different areas around the house.
Naturally, you’ll want to place all of your litter boxes in one part of the house after you’ve moved, but it’s not always a good idea.
If you have multiple cats, and all of the litter boxes are in one place, they might be wary of using them. It’ll look like one giant box for them, and if it’s not cleaned enough, they might not want to use it.
Instead, think about different places in your new home. Think about where you want to put the food bowl, for you don’t want to put the litter box next to the food bowl.
It means wandering around the whole house when you clean the litter box, but it will save you from having to clean up unwanted cat poop in the new home.
Here are some things to remember when placing litter boxes in your new house.
Don’t put the litter box next to the food bowl.If your new house has multiple stories, place one litter box on every story.
That way, if your cat has a potty emergency, she won’t have to hold it in for any longer than she has to.Avoid placing the litter boxes next to creepy appliances and dark rooms.
If your cat is scared of the washing machine or the water heater, she won’t use the litter box if it’s next to either of those things. Your cat will want to use the bathroom in a quiet, safe place where she feels comfortable doing her business without being ambushed or disturbed.
If she develops a fear of the litter box because of the placement, you could have unwanted accidents.
You can move the litter boxes at any time. If you notice the cats are uncomfortable with using the litter box in one place, or if you see them using the bathroom in a preferred place outside the litter box, you can move the box to ease them back into using it.
Step 3: Show your cats where the litter boxes are
Even if you’re not moving house, this is one of the most straightforward and most crucial steps when it comes to taking care of your cat.
Any time you move the litter box, you need to show your cat where it is.
Teaching your cat where the litter box is will help your cat adapt to a new house faster. It will keep your cat from feeling stressed out whenever she has a potty emergency.
Step 4: Regularly clean out the litter boxes.
Cleaning is another crucial step. Cats are finicky about their bathrooms. If the litter box remains dirty, she won’t use it and hold it as long as she can. She could start using the bathroom outside of the litter box or start getting UTIs and bladder infections.
An unclean litter box also leads to ammonia exposure, which could be dangerous for children, seniors, or anyone with a weakened immune system.
Experts and professional cat ladies say to clean out your cat’s litter box once a day. With the many different places you put the litter boxes, this will be a workout, but it’s better than having an unhealthy household.
Once a week, you should change your cat’s litter and wash out the litter box. Regular cleaning will make sure your cat always has a good bathroom.
Conclusion.
Moving home with your cat doesn’t have to be a difficult task. As long as your cat knows exactly where her litter box is after she’s moved house, she’ll adapt quicker than you realize.