Inadequate litter tray provision is one of the most common and easily prevented sources of cat welfare problems, causing stress, house soiling and urinary disease when basic requirements are not met.
Litter tray provision is a deceptively important welfare issue for indoor cats whose toileting behaviour reflects their psychological security as well as their physical needs. Cats that stop using litter trays are communicating welfare problems — inadequate trays, insufficient privacy, inter-cat resource competition or underlying medical issues — not behavioural disobedience. The consequence of unaddressed litter tray problems includes urinary disease from retention, chronic stress and breakdown of the human-cat relationship. The solutions are straightforward: more trays, better locations, appropriate litter type and rigorous hygiene. Getting litter tray provision right is among the most accessible and impactful welfare improvements available to indoor cat owners.