Coco's hip issues and litter access

My heart is breaking a little looking at Coco. She is 14 and her hips are really going. It takes her so long to get into the box now. I have two boxes in the house, but she seems to avoid the one in the hallway because it's a bit higher up? How can I improve access for her without making the whole house look like a zoo? Peanut is fine, but I just can't stand seeing Coco struggle!

Beth, I understand your concern. For Coco, the issue is likely the entry height. I have Simba, an 18-year-old DSH who is deaf, and Nala, a 16-year-old with arthritis. We found that a box with a very low entry, no more than 2 inches, made a huge difference. You might want to look at Ramps vs. side entries for hip dysplasia to see if a ramp is better than a cut-out. For Nala, we also switched to a lighter litter. It’s in Soft vs. deep litter for senior cats with joint pain. Hope that helps!

I measured my boxes last month. Willow is 6 and has allergies, so we use unscented, fine-grain litter. The entry height was 4 inches. For a cat with hip dysplasia, I would recommend reducing that to 1.5 inches or less. The angle of entry matters too. If you have a ramp, the slope should be no steeper than 15 degrees. See How high should the litter box entry be for arthritic cats? for the data I compiled. Also, ensure the box is on a non-slip surface. My hardwood floors are slippery, so I put a mat under the box.

Oh wow, 1.5 inches! I didn't think about the slope. Coco does slip a little on my tile floors too. I will get a mat. But I'm still worried about the placement. She likes the hallway box but can't get in. Should I move it? I read somewhere that deaf cats need specific placement, but Coco isn't deaf, she just has bad hips. Does that matter? Placing boxes for deaf cats without auditory cues

Beth, placement is huge for anxiety. Even if Coco isn't deaf, a senior cat with pain needs a predictable, quiet spot. The hallway might be too busy or too far from her rest areas. I would suggest moving the low-entry box to a quiet room where she spends most of her time. Dot is 3 and anxious, and Rocco is 5 and hyper. We have three boxes in two rooms. It’s not just about the cat, it’s about the owner’s stress too. If you are worried about clutter, look at The N+1 rule: do we need that third box?. Sometimes one accessible box in the right spot is better than two hard-to-reach ones.

dude, just get the low entry box. my cat ivy is shy and used to miss the box if it was too high. coco’s hips are the main thing here. also, clean it more often. if it’s stinky, she won’t go. check out Cleaning schedules for senior cat boxes for tips. good luck!

Dave is right about cleaning. But Beth, I think you are overthinking the 'zoo' aspect. A senior cat’s comfort is priority. If you need more space, consider a covered box with a wide door. But honestly, the debate about whether an extra box is needed or just clutter is long. I recommend you read The N+1 rule debate: extra box or clutter? to see if your specific layout justifies a third option or if optimizing the two you have is better. For now, lower the entry and add the mat.