Litter box design and placement profoundly affect cat welfare, with inadequate provision being one of the leading causes of inappropriate elimination and relinquishment.
Litter box problems are almost always welfare problems disguised as behavior problems. A cat eliminating outside the box is communicating that the box is inadequate, inaccessible, or aversive. The welfare solution is to address the box, not the cat. Punishment for inappropriate elimination is ineffective and adds fear to an already stressed animal. Meeting cats' basic litter box needs is a fundamental welfare requirement.