Before your new cat comes home, set up a large, easy-to-enter litter tray in a quiet part of their starting room, away from food and water. Provide a second tray in a separate spot the cat can actually reach. Keep the setup consistent while your cat settles in, and let their behaviour guide any changes.
Start with a calm room
A newly adopted cat may find an unfamiliar house overwhelming. Prepare one quiet room with a bed or hiding place, water, food and a litter tray, keeping the tray apart from eating and drinking areas. Let the cat explore that room at their own pace before gradually opening up more of the home. If they remain in one room, place the second tray apart from the first if space permits; when they explore more rooms, provide trays in separated, accessible locations.
This guide focuses on toileting; for the rest of the home, see our indoor cat home setup guide.
How many trays, and where?
Plan for at least two trays for one cat in physically separate places. In a multi-cat household, use at least one tray per cat plus one extra, spread around the home. A cat should not have to pass a busy doorway, another pet or a food bowl to reach a tray. Choose quiet, private but easy-to-access spots and avoid moving trays frequently once your cat begins using them.
Accessibility matters as much as privacy. A kitten, older cat or cat with limited mobility may struggle with a high side or awkward entrance. Check that your cat can get in, turn around, dig and squat comfortably; do not choose a tray on its label alone.
Choose a tray and litter your cat will use
A roomy, open tray is a sensible starting point, but cats have individual preferences. As a guide, the tray should be at least one and a half times the cat's body length. Start with enough unscented litter for digging, and keep an eye on whether your cat uses the tray comfortably. If you know what litter they used before adoption, ask the rescue or previous carer about it; avoid making several changes at once while the cat is settling.
The YES4PETS XL deep litter tray is one open, high-wall option. Its high sides may not suit every cat, especially one who needs a low entrance, so check access and usable space before choosing it. A suitable plain tray from elsewhere is better than an ill-fitting product.
Make the routine easy to maintain
Scoop out urine and faeces daily, and empty and clean the trays regularly with a cat-safe product, rinsing away cleaner residue. A metal cat litter scoop can help with routine removal; it does not include a tray or litter. Keep the trays stable and easy to reach. If your cat has an accident, do not punish them: stress can make toileting harder.
For the first few days, calmly show your cat where the tray is. You can encourage them to investigate after a meal, but do not force them to stay in it. Praise calm use and observe what they prefer. If one tray is ignored, consider whether its location, entry height, cleanliness or litter type is the problem before changing everything at once.
When should you call a vet?
If your cat starts toileting outside the tray or a problem persists despite a sensible setup, speak with a veterinarian. Changes in urination or defecation are not necessarily a training issue. If a cat strains to urinate but passes little or no urine, seek veterinary care immediately: inability to urinate can be an emergency. Do not wait to test a different litter in that situation.
The aim is simple: provide separated, accessible trays, keep them clean and give your new cat time to settle. Adjust the setup to the cat in front of you, not just to what fits the laundry.
