Okay, let’s talk about moving the cat’s litter box. I actually did this not too long ago, and wanted to share how it went down because, let’s be honest, messing with a cat’s bathroom setup can feel like playing with fire.
Why I Moved It
First off, the old spot just wasn’t working anymore. We got some new furniture for the living room, and suddenly the box was right out in the open. Not ideal for us, probably not super comfortable for the cat either, having his private moments interrupted by TV watching. We picked a corner in the laundry room as the new location – quieter, more out of the way.
My Big Worry
I read all the stuff online, you know? Cats are creatures of habit. Move the box suddenly, and you might find unpleasant surprises elsewhere. That was the last thing I wanted. So, I knew I had to take it slow.
The Step-by-Step Process
Here’s exactly what I did over about, I think, maybe 8 or 9 days:
- Day 1: I literally just slid the box about six inches towards the living room door. Didn’t even leave the original room yet. My cat, Max, gave it a sniff, looked at me like I was crazy, but used it later like normal. Okay, good start.
- Day 2-3: Moved it another foot or so each day, getting closer to the doorway. Still inside the living room. I made sure to keep it really clean – scooped twice a day.
- Day 4: Big step! Moved it right into the hallway, just outside the living room door. Max seemed a little hesitant this time, circled it a few times before going in. I gave him some praise afterwards.
- Day 5-7: Continued the slow crawl down the hallway, maybe a foot or two each day, towards the laundry room door. Patience was key here. Some days I only moved it a tiny bit if he seemed unsure the day before.
- Day 8: Moved it right inside the laundry room doorway. Left it there for the whole day. He found it, used it. Success!
- Day 9: Finally, moved it to its final spot in the corner of the laundry room.
Making Sure He Knew
Every time I moved it, especially the bigger moves like into the hallway or the new room, I’d gently carry Max over and show him where it was. Didn’t force him in, just put him down near it so he knew. Lots of praise and a few extra treats when I saw him use the box in its new location definitely didn’t hurt.
The Result
It worked! No accidents outside the box during the whole process. Max took to the new spot in the laundry room without any fuss once we got it there. It took a bit of time and consistency, moving it bit by bit every single day, but it was way better than dealing with messes. So yeah, if you need to move the box, just take it super slow and steady. It can definitely be done.