How to Keep a Cat from Kicking the Litter out of the Litterbox

Caring for a cat can be a lot of fun and create a rewarding relationship. However, cats can also be a challenge to care for at times. Spilling or spreading litter outside of the litter box is a common problem that cats can have. Your cat may be spilling litter for a number of reasons: the size of its litter box, the litter itself or maybe even the style of litter box. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to help keep your cat's litter in the litter box.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Preventing Litter Spills

1
Clean the litter box. Keeping up with litter box cleaning can be a simple and easy way to help stop your cat from flinging litter. Cats like their litter box to be as clean as can be and may try to clean it themselves if they think it's dirty. To help stop your cat from spreading litter outside the box, make sure you are keeping up with regular cleaning of the litter box. ^{[1]XResearch source}^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- Scoop waste out of the litter box at least once daily.
- It's a good idea to replace clay based litters once every two weeks.
- If you have more than one cat, you may need to replace the litter more often.
2
Try different types of litter. Your cat may not like the style of litter that you have provided. If your cat is unhappy with the style of litter, it may make a mess when trying to use the litter box. You may need to experiment with your cat to see which type of litter box it prefers. However, there are some styles that most cats should enjoy.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Litters with finer particles are generally preferred by cats. However, litter with finer particles may stick to your cat's feet more often.
- Softer litters are usually a good choice for a cat.
- Litters that have powerful scents may be off-putting to your cat.
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3
Don't make changes to the litter box too often. If you have recently added a new litter box or changed the type of litter, your cat may feel uncomfortable with the changes. Cats need time to adjust to new litter or litter boxes and may end up spreading litter around until they get comfortable again. Always try to make gradual changes to either the litter box or the type of litter you provide.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you are changing litter types, try adding only a small amount of the new litter to the old one. Gradually increase the amount of the new litter until it has replaced the old litter.
- If your cat is nervous around a new litter box style, you may have to wait for them to adapt.
- If you want to discover your cat's preferences, try setting up a few smaller litter boxes around the house with different kinds of litter. This way, you'll know in which place of the house and which kind of litter it prefers.
4
Never punish your cat. Cats do not respond to punishment. If you attempt to punish your cat for spreading litter, you may actually make the situation worse. Punishing your cat or sending them outdoors for misusing the litter box will only hurt your relationship and won't solve the underlying issue.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- If your cat is having trouble using the litter box properly or making big messes, talk with your veterinarian.
- It's up to you to figure out what your cat needs and how to best help it. Punishing your cat will only cause them to associate the litter box with the punishment.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Managing the Litter Box

1
Make sure the litter box is the right size for your cat. Litter boxes that are too small or too large may make your cat uncomfortable. An uncomfortable cat may be in a hurry to bury its waste, spreading it beyond the box. Always provide the right size litter boxes for your cat to avoid problems with it tracking litter outside the box.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Your cat should be able to enter the box easily and move around inside of it.
- The litter box should be about one-and-a-half times longer than your cat is, and the litter itself should be about three inches deep.
- If your cat can't fit fully inside the box, it is too small.
If your cat keeps spreading litter outside the box, you can try providing a box with taller walls. The higher walls can keep your cat from dragging or flinging the litter high enough to go over the edge. Check out your local pet store for litter boxes with higher walls to help your cat contain its litter.^{[8]XResearch source}
3
Add a hood to your cat's litter box. If your cat is constantly spreading litter beyond its box, you might consider giving them a covered box. A covered litter box will be completely enclosed with the exception of a door for your cat to enter through. Covered boxes can contain litter quite well, preventing your cat from pulling any outside the box.^{[9]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}^{[10]XResearch source}
- Some cats may not like covered litter boxes.
- Smells can build up inside covered boxes, requiring you to clean them often.
4
Make your own litter box. If your cat seems to spread litter out of other litter box styles, you may want to make your own. All you will need is a large plastic tub with a lid. Cut a hole in one of the narrow ends of the tub walls for your cat to go in and out of. Fill the bottom of the tub up with litter and let your cat get comfortable with its new litter box.
- Make the entry way closer to the top of the container. If you make the entryway too low, you won't be able to add litter without it spilling out.
- The large size of the tub can make your cat feel comfortable and prevent it from spilling litter out.
- Remember to clean the litter box often if you plan on leaving the lid on.
5
Add a litter mat. If you can't seem to prevent your cat from spreading litter outside the box, you can at least make it easier to clean up. Try putting a litter mat underneath and around the litter box to catch spilled litter. When it's time to clean, simply pick up the litter mat and take all the spilled litter with it.^{[11]XResearch source}
- You might also try keeping litter boxes away from carpeted areas, as litter can be tough to get out of carpets.
- Putting the litter box on a bare floor can make sweeping up spilled litter a bit easier.
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Tips

If you find that your cat is avoiding the litter box for some reason, you have to experiment with different litter and different boxes. Try not to generally enclose the box, since some cats like to see their surroundings as they're going to the bathroom.
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