Litter tray management is fundamental to indoor cat welfare. Inadequate provision causes both physical health problems and significant stress-related disease.
Litter tray management is a welfare fundamental that is consistently under-prioritised by cat owners despite its direct impact on physical and psychological health. Cats that cannot access appropriate litter facilities develop urinary retention that increases UTI and crystal formation risk. Stress from inadequate, dirty, or poorly placed litter provision triggers feline idiopathic cystitis. The welfare implications of inadequate litter management are therefore significant and preventable. The standard household with two cats and one litter tray is providing inadequate facilities — resource competition and the need for elimination privacy create chronic low-level stress. Daily cleaning, appropriate number, unscented substrate, and thoughtful placement collectively create a litter environment that supports rather than stresses the cats who depend on it.