The n+1 litter box rule: myth or mandate?

ok so i've always heard you need n+1 litter boxes. i have two cats, Ellie and Cricket. i have two boxes. is that bad? they seem fine but i'm worried they are just holding it out of politeness lol. also my friend Ptaylor has three cats and only two boxes in a tiny apt, is that a disaster waiting to happen?

you have two boxes for two cats. that is fine. Ptaylor is in a bind but look at two boxes for three cats to see how they manage. i have Ziggy and Binx and they use one box because i clean it twice a day. hygiene beats numbers sometimes.

The rule exists for a reason, but context matters. If you have a senior cat or one with medical issues, more boxes can be helpful. For instance, see Olive's vet history where the owner discusses space constraints. I would not worry about Emily's two boxes unless one cat starts avoiding them.

I travel a lot so I have a sitter. Rex is a big Maine Coon. He prefers one big box over two small ones. See Rex hated the new litter for my experience with changes. Maybe it is just about what the cat likes?

It depends on the cat. Sandy was shy and preferred a covered box away from foot traffic. If you are struggling with placement, check out Where do you put your boxes? for ideas. I think the n+1 rule is a guideline, not a law.

wait, did you all just ignore my question? i asked if i should strictly follow the rule. also, does the type of litter matter more than the number? gail mentioned cleaning, but what about the material? see what litter do you use i guess.