Ragdoll Cat Forums

Me and my boyfriend live in a one bedroom apartment, its kinda average size I'd say. I have one litter tray ready for when Charlie comes home which I'm planning on putting in the bathroom as theres a perfect litter tray size spot which seems to have been made for one!

My question is, would you say the bathroom is a good place to have it? Also, do you think I will need more than one litter tray what with it being only a one bedroom flat? I notice some of you have 2 or 3 trays but is that because you have larger houses so its easier for your Raggies to always be near a tray?

I have always managed well with one litter tray, but you must make sure you take out any poops as soon as you can, also if it gets too wet, he wont like it either, so you might need to replace it with some more fresh litter. Clean and disinfect weekly as well. The only thing with it being in the bathroom is you will obviously have to leave the door open or move litter tray just outside the door temporarily. It may be helpful to have another litter tray as well if you are going away over night or even all day just in case. Now I am getting Snowdrop I will have another one or two litter trays.

The number of litter trays (recommended to be equal to the number of cats plus one) is based on cat behavior. Some cats do not want to use trays used by others or even do not want to use a tray for stool in which they have urinated. So, for one cat start with two. Most households can reduce the numbers as the newcomer adjusts. With kittens, one wants to have a tray close by - usually in the same room. At night, have one right by the bed. Obviously, one does not have that many trays. You just move one close to where the kitten will be. As the kitten confirms he will go to a more distant tray in all cases, then you can stop that as well, although be slow to give up the one by the bed at night.

I have two trays and I have two cats. I live in a five bedroom house with two lounge areas but both the trays are in the one spot right next to each other (laundry) and the cats have no trouble so I should think having only one tray in a one bedroom apartment would be fine. Only problem with having the tray in the bathroom, as Louise said, is that you will have to keep the door open even when you have showers/baths etc.

Thanks for all the advice!
The shutting the door thing wont be a problem 90% of the time as my boyfriend and I normally just leave the door open when we have a shower anyway (as we're the only ones there) so will really only be closed when we or guests are using the loo.
I think I will defo get him another one thou, just to be on the safe side for the time being!

Also, when they first come home do you recommend putting newspaper or anything down in various spots to try and avoid accidents? Or would this just be encouraging them to go in places other than the litter tray?

No, don't put newspaper down, they should go to the litter box. If you can do the two boxes, that is a good idea until you can understand the habits of the new kitty. I have one girl that will not pee and poo in the same box - she has to have two boxes in order to go -- your kitten could be the same, and you don't want to start off with any problems of going outside the box because of their preference not being met.

(05-12-2010 08:27 AM)TeresaK Wrote: [ -> ]I have one girl that will not pee and poo in the same box - she has to have two boxes in order to go --

My boys are the same LOL

I only have one litter box for our entire house. The house is all on one level. We keep it in the master bath and that works great. The bath is connected to the bedroom and I honestly never notice any smell. Well, maybe if I'm in the bathroom or bedroom and Luca does a #2, I can smell it for about 5 minutes but then it goes away. Luca seems very well adjusted to one box. When we brought him home at 12 week old, we showed him where the litter box was, set him in it and let him come out on his own and he knew right where it was and has never had an accident. Newspapers won't be necessary.