I learn something with nearly every blog post I write. Today I learned that I’ve been doing the litter box thing all wrong. Of course we’re all using the wrong litter—at least according to the countless advertisements for the various types of litter these days.
But now I learn that I’ve placed my litter boxes in the wrong spots. If only we had basements in California, problem solved—the boxes could be in a quiet place away from foot traffic and potential danger for the cat. 
But then there’s the issue of the elderly cat comfortably making his way to and from the litter box. Yeah, placement of our litter boxes is more of a science than we thought.
Here’s the deal, there should be a box for each cat plus one. If you have 3 cats, you need 4 litter boxes. They should not be hidden away in a closed area where the cat might feel cornered. They should not be placed in high traffic areas. Privacy and aesthetics might be important to you, but maybe not to your cat. I feel ashamed today because I’ve been doing it all wrong. I have one litter box tucked into a closet in the back of the house. The other one is in a bathroom with a curtain around it. Why my cats agree to use these poorly placed litter boxes, I don’t know.
What’s the solution? Compromise the aesthetic aspect of your home with litter boxes where you certainly don’t want them? Buy a larger home with more options? Rehome your cats? Folks this issue could be more serious than we thought–the repercussions enormous. For me, I guess I’ll continue doing the best I can for our two cats. The litter boxes are out of sight, away from where we prepare and eat food, and the cats are using them. We’re good.
If you’d like a lesson in litter box etiquette from your cat’s point of view, visit this site: https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-behavior-care-best-places-litter-box-location
I too sometimes wonder at all the “expert” advice about litter & litter boxes. It would be fantastic to be able to meet these lofty expectations, but living in a barely 900 sq. ft. one story house (basement is an unfinished rock cellar not safe for my cats to be in) forces hard choices. Maybe some would say I should not have 2 cats in this space, but they certainly seem to enjoy their lives! (They are just past 10 years old now.) I have an automatic litter box with quality non-clay clumping litter tucked away as much as I can, and they both use it faithfully. Love and care help replace space and quantity I guess.
I believe that all we can do is the best we can do with what we have. The important thing is, like you said, the cats are happy and functioning appropriately. There are ideals, but not all of us can provide the ideals. I say if the cat’s not complaining, life is good.