Okay, so my cat, Whiskers, was getting a little, um, chunky. And let’s just say his old litter box was starting to resemble an overflowing ashtray. Time for an upgrade! But I didn’t want to just grab any old box. I wanted to get it right. So I went down the rabbit hole of litter box sizing, and boy, did I learn some stuff.
My Litter Box Size Quest
First, I measured Whiskers. Yeah, sounds weird, but I needed to know his length from nose to, well, the base of his tail. He wasn’t thrilled, but a few treats convinced him to cooperate. Turns out, he’s about 18 inches long.
Then I started researching. Some article was all, “The box should be at least 1.5 times the length of your cat.” Another article said. “add at least a few inches more than cats length”. Doing some quick math (18 x 1.5 = 27), I figured I needed a box at least 27 inches long. But I also read that you should add a few extra inches for good measure, so I bumped that up to around 30 inches.
Putting It All Together
Armed with my measurements, I started scouring stores. Here’s what I quickly realized:
- Regular Boxes: Most “regular” or “large” boxes were way too small. Like, seriously, they seemed designed for kittens, not full-grown, slightly-plump cats.
- XL and Jumbo: These were closer to what I needed. I found a few in the 28-32 inch range, which seemed perfect.
- High Sides vs. Low Sides: Whiskers isn’t a digger, so I didn’t need super-high sides. But if your cat loves to excavate, definitely consider higher walls to contain the mess.
- Covered vs. Uncovered: I opted for uncovered. Whiskers isn’t shy, and I wanted him to have plenty of room to maneuver. Plus, covered boxes can trap odors, and nobody wants that.
Finally, I settled on a nice, big, uncovered box that’s about 30 inches long and 18 inches wide. I put it in Whiskers’ usual spot, filled it with his favorite litter, and waited.
Success! He hopped right in, did his business, and seemed much more comfortable. No more hanging over the edge or cramped positions. And, bonus, less litter scattered on the floor!
So, yeah, measuring your cat for a litter box might seem a little silly, but trust me, it makes a difference. A properly sized box means a happier cat (and a cleaner house)!
