Cat sitting outside litter box

When you have cats, you most likely learn very quickly that they can track litter all over the house every single time they use the litter box. This can be frustrating, and it can very quickly lead you to wonder how to stop cat litter from getting everywhere.

Although it may not be possible to completely stop all of the litter from getting around your house, there are things you can do to drastically reduce the amount you find yourself cleaning up each day. We want to help you have a clean house and a happy cat, and this is why we outlined several easy ways to keep your cat’s litter contained and out of your way. 

Why and How Cat Litter Tracks Around Your House

Your cat tends to dig in their litter each time they use the bathroom, and this allows litter granules and residue to get stuck between their toes and on the hair on the bottom of their feet. This slowly comes off your cat’s feet when they leave the litter box, and this results in little cat prints on anything they walk on. 

Along with being messy, this is also very unsanitary because it can contain residue of your cat’s waste products and bacteria that can get into your food or on your hands. The bacteria found on these waste products and litter residue can potentially make you or someone in your family sick. 

Nine Ways to Prevent Cat Litter From Tracking Everywhere

You can try several different things to help reduce the amount of litter that makes its way around your home. Some may not work well for you, so it’s important that you try a few of our suggestions before you settle on one to make sure that your way works the best for your situation. 

Trim The Fur on Your Cat’s Feet

If you have a cat that has longer fur, it usually goes down to the bottom and under their feet. This is the perfect place for litter to get stuck when your cat uses their litter box, and it’ll slowly release the litter as your cat walks around. 

You can solve this problem by getting a small electric trimmer and trimming your cat’s hair until it’s too short for the litter to get trapped in it. If your cat’s hair is very long, you may want to trim the excess away with a pair of scissors before you use the trimmer to make sure you get all of it. 

Switch to a Dust-Free Litter

Many clay litter brands contain a very fine powder called silica dust, and this is primarily what gets stuck on your cat’s feed when they use the litter box. Silica dust can be a health hazard if you breathe it in, so you want to double check and consider switching your litter. 

You can start by switching to a litter that is dust-free. You can choose from litter with larger granules, paper-based litter products, or even sand litter products that don’t have this fine dust layer. Your cat may not take to it too well, so it’s important to monitor them too when you switch. 

Get Higher Walls on Your Litter Box

Litter boxes come with a huge variety of wall heights that range from a shallow tray to higher walls. You want to get a litter box with higher walls or even a top entry litter box because this can prevent the litter from spilling out if your cat chooses to dig or kick it up when they go in. 

Some litter boxes even come with snap-on attachments that increase the litter box’s wall height, and it makes them easy to clean and maintain. Look for a litter box that is higher but easy enough for your cat to get in and out of without a problem. 

Consider a Litter Mat or Rug

Litter mats or litter rugs are textured rugs that you put your litter box on so your cat walks on it when they’re done using the litter box. The textured surface helps to pull the litter off of your cat’s feet, and this minimizes the amount of litter they track around your home. 

You do want to make sure that the mat or rug you end up getting is large enough to accommodate your litter box with at least a foot or two on each side because your cat can easily jump over anything smaller. Also, be prepared to clean it regularly to control the amount of litter that your cat tracks on it. 

Get Quick Clumping Litter

If your cat goes to the bathroom and gets the litter wet, they can accidentally step in this wet litter and get it stuck to their feet. The litter will gradually start to dry on your cat’s feet, and this is when it starts to fall off and get stuck in your carpet and on your furniture. 

A clumping litter can help with this because it forms a solid clump when your cat uses it, and this means that it won’t be able to stick to their feet. There are several different types of clumping cat litter brands available in both scented and unscented formulas, and you might have to try a few until you find one your cat likes. 

Consider The Litter Box Location

Ideally, your cat’s litter box should be somewhere in your house that doesn’t have carpeting, fabric, or rugs for the litter to stick to. You want your cat’s litter box to be on a hard flooring like tile or laminate because it’ll help stop the litter from spreading. 

You do want to slowly move your litter box to the new location, so your cat doesn’t start going to the bathroom on the floor. If your cat is very sensitive to change, you may end up moving the litter box a few inches or feet at a time until you get it where you want it.

Keep Your Litter Box Clean

It’s essential that you routinely clean out your cat’s litter box so they continue to use it every day. You should scoop it at least once a day, and the amount you clean it will depend on how many cats you have that use it. 

A clean litter box will help minimize the amount of digging your cat does when they go to the bathroom, and it can help to control the spray. You should empty the litter box and do a full clean at least once a month, if not every two weeks. 

Clean Around the Litter Box

Along with cleaning the litter box itself, you may want to invest in a lightweight stick or handheld vacuum that allows you to easily clean around your cat’s litter box every day. The less litter that finds a way onto the surrounding flooring, the less litter your cat will drag through your home. 

You should do a quick vacuum around the immediate area of your litter box at least once a day to minimize tracking. If it’s a hard floor, you may need to wipe it up every day or two to remove any litter that sticks to the floor, and you can’t pull up with your vacuum. 

Get a Larger or Corner Litter Box

Many cat parents use a corner litter box because it gives your cat an added layer of security when they use it. Also, they’re prone to kicking the litter toward the higher wall, and this is usually the corner piece. 

Make sure that your litter box is large enough for your cat to comfortably turn around in once they get in, and make sure that they can get in and out without a problem. You can get away with smaller litter boxes with younger cats, but you may need to upgrade when your cat ages. 

Bottom Line

We gave you nine quick ways on how to stop cat litter from getting everywhere, and you can now take them and see which ones work the best for your house and your cat. Once you find a way that works, you should see a reduction in the amount of litter that your cat tracks around the house. This gives you a cleaner environment and a happier feline friend.