Maine Coon Litter Care: The Complete Expert Guide To Trays, Litter, Training & Troubleshooting

Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds, and that size comes with unique toileting requirements that many owners underestimate.

A standard cat litter tray is often too small for most Maine Coons, leading to issues ranging from accidental overshooting to chronic avoidance of the tray. Their high intelligence, sensitivity to smell, and behavioural need for cleanliness mean litter care has a much bigger impact on their happiness than owners realise.

This comprehensive hub brings together every essential topic Maine Coon owners need to know:

• How to choose the right tray size
• Avoid behavioural issues
• Spot early warning signs of illness
• Train kittens effectively
• Prevent tracking and mess
• Set up a safe, hygienic environment in single-cat and multi-cat homes

You’ll also find deep-dive advice on problem-solving, alongside links to the most important supporting articles on mainecooncentral.com for further reading.

🧭 NAVIGATION

1. Litter Box Size Requirements
2. Best Litter Boxes for Maine Coons
3. Best Litter Types for Sensitive Paws
4. Ideal Litter Tray Placement
5. Daily/Weekly/Monthly Cleaning Routine
6. Litter Training Maine Coon Kittens
7. Common Toileting Problems & Corrections
8. Medical Causes of Litter Issues
9. Behavioural Causes Owners Overlook
10. Multi-Cat Household Toilet Setups
11. Quick Fixes Checklist
12. Recommended Sub-Hub Articles
13. FAQs

1. Maine Coon Litter Box Size Requirements

One of the most common reasons for toileting problems is simply that the tray is too small.

Maine Coons have long bodies, high rumps when they urinate, and an instinctive preference for being able to turn inside the tray comfortably. When they can’t, they begin to:

• Overshoot
• Perch on the edge,
• Avoid the tray entirely

A Maine Coon selecting a tray behaves differently from an average cat:

• They need to feel that they can dig deeply
• Stand comfortably
• Have enough space behind them when lifting their rear end

Without this, they either spray up the back, pee over the edge, or leave the tray halfway through toileting.

✔ Recommended Minimum Dimensions

Most owners are surprised that the best tray for a Maine Coon is often a large under-bed storage box, because the commercial “XL” trays still fall short of what the largest males require.

Check Out These Articles

• 👉 Best Litter Trays for Maine Coons
• 👉 Maine Coon Size and Growth
• 👉 Why Does My Maine Coon Pee Everywhere? (New Article Coming)

2. Best Litter Boxes for Maine Coons

Because Maine Coons vary dramatically in size and toileting style, choosing the right tray prevents 80% of common problems:

• Lift-peers need high walls
• Kickers need heavy trays
• Older cats may need lower entrances

This section helps owners understand these nuances.

Recommended XL Litter Trays For Maine Coons

Check Out These Pages

• 👉 Best Litter Trays for Maine Coons
• 👉 How To Stop Maine Coons Tracking Litter Everywhere (coming soon!)

3. Best Litter Types For Sensitive Maine Coon Paws

Maine Coons often develop preferences over time, and using the wrong litter can lead to avoidance, excessive scratching, or tracking.

Most Maine Coons prefer:

• Fine-grain, unscented clumping litter (Soft on paws, best odour control)
• Low-dust brands (Ideal for allergy-prone or asthmatic cats)
• Consistent texture (Maine Coons dislike sudden changes)

Avoid:

• Strongly scented litter
• Pellets (too large and uncomfortable)
• Crystal litter (sharp edges)

Check out these articles

• 👉 Do Maine Coons Have Sensitive Stomachs?
• 👉 Maine Coon Grooming (helps with litter stuck in fur)

4. Litter Tray Placement Guide (Where Owners Go Wrong)

Placement affects confidence, stress, and whether a Maine Coon uses the tray consistently. These cats prefer privacy and predictable routines.

✔ Best Places

• Quiet corners
• Spare rooms
• Opposite side of the room from noisy appliances
• Areas with stable temperatures

✘ Avoid

• Laundry rooms (startle reflex triggered by machines)
• Next to food/water bowls
• Hallways with foot traffic
• Next to external back doors (draughts or sudden cold)

A Maine Coon that feels vulnerable or observed is much more likely to develop stress toileting behaviour.

Check out these articles

• 👉 Maine Coon Anxiety
• 👉 Why Is My Maine Coon So Scared?

5. Daily, Weekly & Monthly Cleaning Routine

Maine Coons produce significantly more waste than smaller cats, so hygiene is essential for odour control and behavioural comfort.

Daily Cleaning

• Scoop all pee clumps and poop
• Top up litter levels to maintain a 3-4 inch depth
• Check for stuck clumps on the sides if your cat pees high

Weekly Cleaning

• Empty the entire tray
• Wash with warm water only
• Allow the tray to air dry fully
• Replace with fresh litter

Monthly Deep Clean

• Clean with an enzyme-based product (breaks down cat pheromones)
• Inspect for scratches caused by digging — replace cracked trays
• Cats dislike scratched surfaces because they trap odour molecules

Check out these articles

• 👉 How To Keep a Maine Coon Clean
• 👉 Do Maine Coons Have Oily Fur?

6. Litter Training Maine Coon Kittens

Maine Coon kittens are intelligent and usually toilet train faster than many breeds, provided the tray is accessible, consistent, and appropriately sized.

✔ Training Steps

1. Ensure low-sided trays for easy access
2. Place the kitten in the tray after meals, naps, and play sessions
3. Keep the tray in one place (moving it confuses kittens)
4. Use the same litter type during the training phase
5. Use enzyme cleaners for accidents to prevent repeat marking

Most Maine Coon kittens learn completely within a few days if the environment supports their instincts.

Check out these articles

• 👉 How to Raise a Maine Coon Kitten
• 👉 Maine Coon Kitten Growth Chart

7. Common Toileting Problems (And Fixes)

1. Peeing outside the box

Usually caused by:

• Tray too small
• Too little litter
• Location stress
• UTI or crystals

👉 Why Does My Maine Coon Pee Everywhere? (article coming soon!)

2. Pooping on the floor or next to the tray

Often linked to:

• Constipation
• Stress
• Tray depth uncomfortable
• Dislike of litter type

👉 Why Is My Maine Coon Pooping Outside the Box? (article coming soon!)

3. Litter kicking and scattering

• High walls required
• Maine Coons need to dig deeply before toileting

👉 Why Does My Maine Coon Kick Litter Everywhere? (article coming soon!)

4. Strong ammonia smell

• Inadequate cleaning
• Too shallow litter
• Scented litter is causing cats to over-scratch

👉 Best Litter for Maine Coons (article coming soon!)

8. Medical Causes You MUST Rule Out

If your Maine Coon suddenly changes toileting habits, the cause may be medical rather than behavioural.

Illnesses that change toileting habits

• Urinary tract infections
• Crystals or bladder stones
• Diabetes (excessive urination)
• Kidney disease
• Constipation or megacolon
• Arthritis is making tray access painful
• Food allergies causing diarrhoea

Signs requiring urgent vet attention

• Straining
• Crying in the litter tray
• Blood in urine
• Repeatedly entering/leaving the tray
• Long gaps between urination

Check out these articles

• 👉 Maine Coon Health Problems
• 👉 Maine Coon Arthritis

9. Behavioural Causes Owners Commonly Miss

Behaviour plays a huge role in litter box behaviour, especially in emotionally sensitive breeds like Maine Coons.

Behavioural triggers include:

• Sudden changes in routine
• New pets or visitors
• Moving house
• Owner stress (cats absorb it)
• Boredom and lack of enrichment
• Territorial tension with another cat

Maine Coons dislike feeling vulnerable. Even a family argument can cause temporary toileting issues in some cats.

Check out these articles:

• 👉 Maine Coon Stress Symptoms
• 👉 Maine Coon Depression

10. Multi-Cat Household Litter Setup

The golden rule:

Number of cats + 1 = Number of trays

But for Maine Coons, spacing matters even more.

Tips for multi-cat harmony:

• Never line trays up in the same room
• Place trays on different floors
• Provide at least one “safe room” tray
• Avoid corner placements where a cat can be ambushed

Check out these articles:

• 👉 Do Maine Coons Get Along With Other Cats?
• 👉 Introducing Cats Safely (Article coming soon!)

11. Quick Fixes Checklist

✔ My cat is peeing over the edge

→ Switch to a high-sided tray (10-12 inches) or under-bed container.

✔ My cat avoids one tray but uses the other

→ That tray’s location may be noisy, drafty, or in a walkthrough area.

✔ My Maine Coon is kicking litter everywhere

→ Add 2-3 more inches of litter; cats dig more when the litter is too shallow.

✔ My cat has a strong urine smell

→ Change litter type, scoop more frequently, and deep clean monthly.

✔ My cat seems stressed in the tray

→ Move it to a quieter room and avoid scented litter.

✔ My cat struggles to climb into the tray

→ Switch to a low-entrance XL tray for older cats or kittens.

12. Articles Coming Soon!

1. Best Litter Trays for Maine Coons
2. Best Litter for Maine Coons
3. Why Does My Maine Coon Pee Everywhere?
4. Why Is My Maine Coon Pooping Outside the Box?
5. How to Litter Train a Maine Coon Kitten
6. How to Stop Maine Coons Tracking Litter Everywhere
7. How Often Should You Clean a Maine Coon’s Litter Tray?
8. Common Litter Problems in Maine Coons (Diagnostic Guide)

13. Expanded FAQs

Do Maine Coons really need bigger litter boxes?

Yes. Because of their long body length, wide stance, and tendency to lift their rear high during urination, Maine Coons need trays significantly larger than the average domestic cat. Without enough room, they feel cramped and may avoid using the tray altogether.

What type of litter do Maine Coons prefer?

Most Maine Coons prefer a soft, fine-grain, unscented clumping litter. This texture allows them to dig comfortably without hurting their paws and gives them superior odour control.

Where should I place a Maine Coon litter tray?

Place trays in quiet, consistent areas of the home where your cat won’t be startled. Sudden loud noises or people walking past can cause stress-related toileting issues.

How often should I clean the litter tray?

Scoop at least once daily, replace all litter weekly, and deep clean monthly. Maine Coons produce more waste than smaller breeds, so the tray becomes unpleasant more quickly.

Why does my Maine Coon pee over the edge?

This happens because Maine Coons lift their rear higher than typical cats while urinating. Low-sided trays cannot contain the urine, leading to overshooting. High-sided trays fix this immediately.

FAQs

Do Maine Coons need bigger litter boxes?

Yes – their large size requires trays longer than 26-32 inches.

What litter is best for Maine Coons?

Fine-grain, unscented clumping litter.

How many litter boxes do Maine Coons need?

1 cat = 2 trays.
2 cats = 3 trays.

Why does my Maine Coon pee over the side?

Tray sides are too low – choose 10-12 inch walls.

How often do I clean the litter tray?

Scoop daily, replace weekly, deep-clean monthly.