June 19, 2022 |6 min read
How Much Litter Should You Scoop into your Cat’s Litter Box?
Written by
Updated 8/10/2025
A lot of first-time cat parents struggle with how to choose cat litter and the right amount of litter to fill up their cat’s litter box. It can be a daunting task when you’re trying to figure out the right balance between too much and not enough litter. Overfilling the litter box can cause overflow and spillage problems all over your bathroom floor; meanwhile, too little litter can create smelly and messy poo problems when your cat isn’t able to dig enough litter to hide their solid waste. The right depth ensures your cat can properly cover their waste, making it essential for odor control. How can you, as the brilliant first-time cat parent you are, strike gold and find the litter depth for your pet? Instead of digging around for answers, you’ve come to the right place!
How Much Litter Should I Put in The Litter Box?
Our experts here at Pretty Litter have the scoop for you! No matter what type of cat litter you use, they recommend that 2 inches of new litter is enough to layer the bottom of your cat’s litter box. No more, no less. With only 2 inches of litter in the box, you won’t indirectly cause any overflow problems all over your bathroom floor while also providing your cat with just enough litter to hide their poop.
This depth is perfect for odor control, easy scooping, and maintaining a clean litter box environment.
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What happens if you don’t fill it up with enough litter?
Insufficient litter can lead to major issues. A litter box with less than 2 inches of litter can be the cause of many bathroom problems, not only for your cat or kitten but also for you. Cats love to dig. so not having enough litter to dig up and hide their poop is a problem. The goal of filling up the litter box with the right amount of fresh litter is to provide enough litter to absorb all the liquids and odors that come in contact with it.
Too little litter may cause your cat to avoid the litter box altogether, choosing places like your carpet or under your bed instead. If your cat does feel comfortable enough to use their litter box while there’s not enough litter in it, the litter box can get flooded with cat urine that wasn’t properly absorbed by the litter, and poop won’t be properly covered up. The litter box odor will get intense and overpowering. Trust us, neither you nor your cat will want to deal with that strong odor, so it’s best to fill up the litter box with more than an inch of litter.
What happens if you fill it up with too much litter?
It may seem like more litter is better, but filling your cat’s litter box with too much can cause problems – and extra cleanup for you. There may not be an overpowering odor, but an excess of litter… everywhere. Imagine filling up the litter box to the brim, then your cat comes along and gets inside to take care of business. After the deed is done, your cat begins to dig, and since cats innately love to dig, they keep digging until the surplus litter has caused a major spill out of the box! Now there’s litter all over your floor, and. you will have more to clean up than just their dirty litter box. What a mess!
Also, too much litter in the litter box can be hazardous to your cat. The rolling hills of litter dust in their litter box can make for unstable ground to stand on. They could very well slip and fall while trying to do their business and hurt themselves, or they may not even feel comfortable enough to get in. In that case, be prepared to find cat poop anywhere outside of the litter box.
So, keeping litter box cleanup to a minimum starts with using the right amount of litter.
Health Issues That Can Arise from Improper Litter Box Use
Improper litter box setup and poor maintenance can lead to more than just a stinky bathroom — it can affect your cat’s well-being. Cats may develop:
- Urinary tract issues if they’re holding in urine due to dirty litter boxes
- Stress-related behaviors like peeing outside the box
- Skin or paw irritation from dusty or overfilled litter
- Dehydration if they reduce water intake to avoid using the box
Using a health-indicating cat litter like PrettyLitter can help you detect signs of potential illness early by changing color when abnormalities are present in your cat’s urine. While it doesn’t diagnose, it’s certainly a helpful tool for early awareness.
Scoop the Right Amount of Litter
Cats can be incredibly particular about using their litter box. Maintaining the right litter depth, using a high-quality litter like PrettyLitter, and keeping their box clean can prevent accidents and keep your feline happy. Remember, our experts at Pretty Litter highly recommend filling up their litter box with a 2-inch layer of litter for maximum comfort, cleanliness, and enjoyment.
Sources:
- Pawp. 6 Litter Box Mistakes You Don't Want To Make. https://pawp.com/6-litter-box-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make/
- Pawtracks. What is the right amount of litter for your cat’s box?https://www.pawtracks.com/cats/right-amount-of-litter-for-litter-box/
- Purina. Kitten Training: How & When to Litter Train a Kitten. https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/litter/new-cat-owner-litter-guide
- World's best cat litter. Are You Using Too Much Cat Litter? https://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/2021/04/are-you-using-too-much-cat-litter/
- PretyLitter. How Much Cat Litter Should I Use?https://www.prettylitter.com/blog/how-much-cat-litter-should-i-use
- The Spruce Pets. How to Keep Your Cat's Litter Box Clean? https://www.thesprucepets.com/litter-box-maintenance-555200
