For a single cat, you should count on a layer of cat litter of roughly 5-7 cm in the tray, and over a month the consumption typically runs to 4-8 kg depending on whether you use clumping or non-clumping litter. If you have clumping litter, you only remove the clumps and the soiled parts daily and top up along the way, so the consumption per change becomes lower. With non-clumping litter you replace the entire content more often, and then consumption rises. How much cat litter you need therefore depends just as much on your routine and tray type as on the cat itself.

Below you'll get concrete figures for one and several cats, an explanation of why the layer thickness matters so much, and how to make the litter last longer without compromising on hygiene.

How thick should the layer of cat litter be in the tray?

The layer thickness is what most determines how much cat litter you actually use. A good rule of thumb is 5-7 cm of litter in the bottom of the tray. With clumping litter, the 5-7 cm are important because the urine needs to be able to gather into a firm clump before it reaches the bottom. If the layer is too thin, the clumps stick to the tray, and then you end up throwing out more litter than you need every time you clean.

If the layer is too thick, on the other hand, you waste litter without the hygiene getting any better. The cat only digs in the top couple of centimetres anyway. The extra centimetres lie untouched at the bottom and simply get replaced when you empty the tray completely. A full tray also doesn't tempt the cat to use it more - it's the cleanliness, not the quantity, that counts for most cats.

In practical terms, this means the size of the tray sets the framework for your consumption. A large, deep tray naturally requires more litres of litter to reach 5-7 cm than a small one. If you want to keep consumption down, a suitably deep tray with a firm layer of 5-7 cm is a better choice than a very large tray filled to the brim.

How much cat litter does a cat use per month?

For a single cat with clumping litter, the monthly consumption typically lies around 4-6 kg when you remove clumps and faeces daily and top up with fresh litter along the way. This routine is the most litter-economical, because you only remove what is soiled and let the rest stay in place. An 18 kg bag can therefore last a single cat several weeks, depending on tray size and how thoroughly you clean daily.

If you use non-clumping litter, you replace the entire content more often, and then consumption rises noticeably - often to double or more per month, because you discard all the litter at every full change instead of just the clumps. The choice between the two types is therefore one of the places where you most clearly notice the difference in your overall consumption over a year.

At ESSENTIAL FOODS you'll find clumping litter in the cat litter collection, where, among others, Canada Litter and Noba Soy Ultra Clumping Litter are made to clump well, so you can make do with removing what is soiled and letting the rest stay in place. Good clumping ability is precisely what keeps your monthly consumption down.

How much cat litter should you use for several cats?

If you have several cats, consumption doesn't just rise proportionally with the number - it often rises a little more. The basic rule for the number of trays is one tray per cat plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three trays, and each of them should be filled to the same 5-7 cm. More trays means more litter in circulation, but it also keeps each individual tray cleaner, so the cats use them willingly.

With two cats and clumping litter, you should typically count on somewhere between 8 and 14 kg per month, depending on how many trays you have and how often you remove clumps. If even more cats live in the household, a larger purchase becomes practical. Here a large bag such as Canada Litter Multicat 18 Kg is intended for multi-cat households, where consumption is higher and you'd rather avoid running out.

Regardless of the number of cats, it holds true that daily removal of clumps is what keeps both consumption and odour under control. The faster you remove what is soiled, the less litter the moisture carries with it, and the longer the rest of the litter lasts.

How often should you completely replace cat litter?

With clumping litter you rarely need to replace all the content at once. Instead you remove clumps and faeces daily, top up with fresh litter, and do a full change with cleaning of the tray itself at regular intervals - typically every two to four weeks for a single cat, depending on how well you keep up the daily routine. If you use non-clumping litter, the entire content has to be changed far more often, because moisture and odour gather in the litter without being able to be removed selectively.

The signals that it's time for a full change are clear: the litter smells even after you've removed the clumps, it clumps worse than normal, or the cat begins to hesitate at the tray. Some cats are very sensitive to a dirty tray and would rather find another place if they think the litter is too dirty - so a timely change is also about the cat continuing to use the tray.

When you do the full change, you rinse the tray with water and let it dry before you fill up with a new layer of 5-7 cm. A completely dry tray means the new clumping litter works optimally from the start instead of sticking to residual moisture. That little habit saves you litter in the following period.

How to make cat litter last longer

The greatest waste often comes from two things: too thick a layer and a tray that doesn't get cleaned daily. If you stick to 5-7 cm and remove the clumps every day, you get far more out of each bag. A scoop with a suitable hole size also helps, because the clean litter falls back into the tray while only the clumps and faeces go out - instead of you losing usable litter into the bin.

The placement also plays a role. If the tray stands in a damp place, the litter absorbs moisture from the air and has to be changed more often. A dry, quiet location, where the cat also has peace, extends the litter's lifespan and makes the cat use the tray with confidence. A lid or a high edge can also hold in the litter that the cat otherwise kicks out when it digs - litter on the floor is also wasted litter.

Finally, a calm toilet pattern is connected to the cat's general wellbeing and digestion, where the food plays a part. If you're in doubt about what suits your cat best, you can find cat meals in the Cat collection, and you're always welcome to contact ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisors, who are ready by phone, chat or email with advice on feeding and nutrition. If, on the other hand, you experience changes in the cat's toilet habits that worry you, it's your vet you should speak to. With the right tray size, a firm layer of 5-7 cm and a daily routine, you have both consumption and hygiene under control - and then the question of how much cat litter you should use quickly becomes something you can plan for precisely.