Litter box placement tips for multi-cat homes

Okay, so I’m in a bit of a bind with my two girls. Copper (5, rust, diabetic) and Orchid (3, white, deaf). We have a small two-bedroom house with a central hallway. I’ve been using two open boxes: one in the bathroom and one in the spare bedroom.

The issue is Copper recently slipped on the tile in the bathroom and now she’s terrified of that specific spot. She’s only using the spare bedroom box. Orchid is using both, but she’s been startle-reacting to the door closing in the bathroom, which makes her avoid it too. I’m thinking of adding a third box, but where? The hallway is too narrow. I don’t want them fighting over the one box in the spare room. What’s the best strategy for placement here?

Sounds stressful. Since Copper had a fall, she’s likely associating the bathroom floor with pain. I’d look at this thread for ideas on how to rebuild trust in that area. For the deaf aspect, make sure the box in the spare room isn’t near a heavy door that slams, as that can trigger startle responses. See this post for tips on safe placement for deaf cats. Avoid the hallway; it’s a traffic corridor and cats prefer quiet, low-traffic areas for elimination.

i agree with Lori. also, since Copper is diabetic, her box usage might change as her condition fluctuates. check out this thread for info on how diabetes affects litter habits. if she’s going more often, she might need a box closer to her resting spots. i use a covered box for my shy Luna, but my hyper Jasper hates it. maybe try a low-entry open box in the hallway? wait no, Lori said that was bad. sorry. typo. i meant maybe a low-entry box in the living room?

I have a Maine Coon who is also picky about location. I ended up putting a third box in the closet in the hallway, but only because I have a cat sitter who comes in and out. If you don’t have people walking through that space, it might work. But honestly, the rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one. See this thread for the math. For now, I’d focus on getting Copper comfortable in the spare room box by making it more inviting. Maybe a different litter? See this post for litter type comparisons.

Oh no, poor Copper! Slips are so scary. My mainecoons are clumsy too. I think the hallway idea is risky because it’s too open. Have you tried a non-slip mat in the bathroom? It might help her feel stable again. If not, a third box in the living room, away from the TV, could be good. Make sure it’s not near food or water. Also, check this thread to make sure your current litter isn’t the issue. Scented litters can be overwhelming for some cats, especially if they’re stressed.

Thanks everyone. I think the non-slip mat is a good idea for the bathroom, but I’m worried it’ll make the floor look cluttered. I’m leaning toward a third box in the living room, near the window but not under it. I’ll try the unscented litter from that thread and see if that helps Copper feel safer. And I’ll read up on this post about low-entry boxes in case her arthritis gets worse with age. Fingers crossed this works.