This is a specific conversation about Cat litter boxes — size, type, and placement — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A UTI recovery means two things need to happen at once: your cat needs to get in and out of the litter box easily and frequently without any hesitation, and you need to be able to see what's going on in there. Most standard litter boxes are too small — cats need a box at least 1.5 times their body length — and covered boxes are the last thing you want right now, since they discourage visits and make monitoring impossible. Before I point you in a direction, can you tell me: how big is your cat, roughly, and what box are you using at the moment?
She's a normal-sized domestic shorthair, maybe 4kg. We've got one of those hooded boxes right now and she's been a bit reluctant to use it, which is making me anxious about whether she's going enough.
inparticular.ai
That reluctance is a red flag, especially right now. A hooded box traps odour inside — unpleasant even for a healthy cat, but for a cat with a UTI whose urethra is already uncomfortable, that warm ammonia build-up can actively put her off going. And if she's holding it, that makes the recovery worse. I'd ditch the hood entirely for now. Can I ask — is she the only cat, and do you have any sense of how many times a day she's been trying to go?
She's the only one. The vet said she should be going several times a day but in smaller amounts, and I need to watch for straining or very tiny output. I just find it hard to tell with the hood on.
inparticular.ai
Exactly — you can't monitor what you can't see. For a single cat in recovery, I'd recommend the Iris USA Open Top Cat Litter Tray. It's large enough for a 4kg cat to turn around comfortably, fully open so she never feels trapped, and the low front entry means no jumping or straining to get in — important when she's sore. The open design also means you can glance in easily and spot any blood, unusual volume, or straining straight away. Pair it with an unscented, non-clumping litter for now — clumping litters make it easier to see discrete urine clumps, but your vet may have a preference, so check. The main thing is: open box, low entry, good visibility.
That makes sense. Should I keep the old hooded one as well or just swap it out?
inparticular.ai
Just swap it out for now. Having only one box in her usual spot removes any choice that might lead her to avoid the open one out of habit. Once she's fully recovered and you've got the all-clear from the vet, you can reassess — but honestly, many cats never go back to covered boxes once they've used an open one. Keep the box somewhere quiet but accessible, not tucked in a corner she has to commit to reaching. Easy in, easy out, easy for you to check.
Perfect, that's really helpful. I'll order one today.
inparticular.ai
Good. Keep a simple log for the vet if you can — even just ticking off visits on your phone. It takes seconds and gives you something concrete to report at the follow-up. Hope she's back to full health quickly.
