Covered or open litter tray?

Do cats prefer open or covered litter trays?

Cats differ on this. PDSA and the RSPCA both say some cats like a covered tray, and Cats Protection says a nervous cat may appreciate one. Battersea's general advice runs the other way: avoid covered trays if possible, because they can trap smells and limit what the cat can see.

If you are not sure which type your cat likes, Cats Protection suggests putting down two different kinds and seeing which one gets used. That sits easily with its rule of one tray per cat plus one extra, so even a one-cat home has room for both.

If you choose a covered tray

Take the flap off. Cats Protection says a flap puts cats off using the tray. It also warns that hooded trays can trap odours which put cats off, so keep them very clean: a covered tray may need a complete clean a couple of times a week, not once.

For privacy without a hood, Cats Protection suggests an open tray inside a cardboard box that is open at the top, with two holes cut on adjacent sides as the way in and out. The cat gets cover and the smell is not kept in.

Size and access

Battersea's guide is a tray big enough to stand, turn around and dig in, at least 1.5 times your cat's length from nose to base of tail. A hood also caps the headroom, so measure a large cat before you buy one.

Start kittens on a small tray with a low entry, Battersea says, then move them to a full-sized tray once they can climb in easily. If a cat goes just outside the tray, Battersea says it may be too small or the sides too high, and a low entry helps kittens and older cats alike. For any sudden change in toilet habits, Cats Protection says see the vet first.

Where to put it and how often to clean

Whatever the style, Cats Protection says to place the tray somewhere quiet, away from washing machines, doorways and cat flaps, and away from food, water and beds. Trays side by side count as one to a cat, so spread them out.

Battersea advises scooping at least once a day and washing the tray weekly with mild, unscented washing-up liquid. It also suggests skipping plastic liners, which can catch on claws.