Think about it: would you want to use a dirty bathroom? How often do you get excited to go into a porta-potty or a bathroom that does not smell good? The same thing goes for our cat. Improper litter box cleaning and maintenance can cause your cat to have accidents in other places in the house, plus it will be harder for you to clean that place.
I know for some of you, cleaning a cat litter box might be the least favorite chore, but it’s important to do for yourself and for your cat’s quality of life.
And it is very obvious when you stay in an environment; you get used to that smell, and when somebody comes over to your house, they will sense your cat’s litter smell, and that would be pretty embarrassing, right?
In this article, I will show you how to clean your cat’s litter box properly. It may sound simple to you, but not cleaning your cat’s litter box properly can lead to your cat having behavior problems or not liking the litter box at all. It’s really important to keep your cat’s litter box clean.
Why is cleaning a litter box important?
There are 3 big reasons why cleaning your cat’s litter box and good litter box maintenance are important. Let’s discuss:
Health Concern
People who should not be cleaning out the litter box at all are pregnant women because cats tend to carry a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It’s an infection that some cats carry, which they shed in their feces.
Now, for most of us, getting infected with Toxoplasma gondii is not going to cause an issue. But for a developing fetus, it could cause some really big problems. So, if you’re pregnant, find someone to clean out your cat’s litter box and avoid any contact with the cat waste.
However, according to the CDC, cats that are kept indoors, that do not hunt prey, and are not fed raw meat are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasmosis. This usually affects cats that are hunting outside or catching animals like birds and mice.
Behavioral Issue
This is my observation, which I have found in my cat: if they don’t poop at their place while they are at home or find their litter place messed up, they become anxious, and this results in inappropriate urination and poop around the house.
Hygiene for owners
I guess I don’t need to explain this point. As it is pretty obvious, cleanliness for every living organism is important, especially for our hygiene purposes, so we don’t get sick.
Essential Tools You’ll Need for Cleaning a Cat Litter BoxTools You’ll Need
- Litter scoop
- Disposable gloves
- Mild detergent or dish soap
- Baking soda (optional, for deodorizing)
- Vinegar or enzymatic cleaner (for deep cleaning)
- Trash bags
- Replacement litter
- Litter Mat (Optional)
How to Clean Cat Litter Box: Step-by-Step Guide
Daily cleaning
- The first thing you have to do is tilt the litter box.
- By doing this, it will give you access to that stuck litter around the front and in the corners.
- This is where I find the most gunk tends to accumulate, so you’re going to clear that out and then wipe out the litter box (optionally).
- So, as you tilt it back, you’re going to gain access to all of this clear litter box area, and you can use either a non-toxic wipe or a damp paper towel in order to wipe that out. I personally don’t really do this, but I did find a nice video from someone named Carolina. It seemed like such a good method, and I wanted to share it with you guys.
- So once you’ve wiped and scraped, you’re going to start scooping, so you’re going to hold your litter scoop to the bottom of the litter box and then move up in order to remove any clumps.
- You might not get out all of the clumps. There could be some tiny little crumbs that pass through the times of the litter box. There isn’t really anything you can do about this. This is just going to hang out in the litter box, depending on which type of scoop you use. If you’re seeing a lot of this, you should get a new scoop.
- You’ll work methodically through the litter box, moving left to right towards the back of the litter box until you have scooped out all of those clumps.
- Then you’re going to tilt the litter box again and then clear out anything stuck to the back and do that wiping process again, and that’s about it for your daily litter scooping routine. That’s really all that you need to do.
- Sometimes, you’ll notice that the litter level is getting low. In that case, you’re going to want to top up if it gets lower than about 3 inches and add a little extra litter. I like to do this every time I notice the litter level getting low, maybe once a week.
- On a monthly basis or any time that I notice that there are a lot of those little crumbs, I will empty out all the contents of the litter box, so very carefully pour everything out into a trash bag. Then you can either just wipe it out or just put litter in if everything looks clean, or you can do deep cleaning.
Deep Cleaning
You have to do a deep cleaning on a fairly regular basis. This is typically
going to happen somewhere between once a month and once every 3 months. You can do it either outside or inside your home.
Outside Version
- Firstly, you’re going to use your hand and pat on the litter box’s backside to blast out any gunk stuck there.
- Then, you’re going to start wiping and scrubbing using a mild dish soap. You don’t use anything that’s too harsh, as your cat’s going to be quite sensitive to it.
- Now, you’re done scrubbing everything out, so rinse with water. That’s a fairly straightforward process. It’s pretty similar to how you do the dishes.
- Now, you can either let it dry under the sun, which is going to have some extra disinfectant action, or you can dry it using a paper towel.
Indoor Version
- The process is pretty similar, so you’re going to try to use a little bit less water.
- Again, the same process: remove that gunk from the bottom and then use a wet, soapy paper towel in order to start cleaning it out. You can also use a little scrubbing tool in order to get anything that’s stuck on really stubbornly.
- You’re going to remove as much of that dirty, soapy water as possible using a dry paper towel and then, using a lightly damp paper towel, kind of start rinsing.
- It might take a few rounds of rinsing with this paper towel in order to get everything completely clear.
- Once you’re no longer seeing any soap or dirt, you’re pretty much done. Then you’re going to want to dry it out with a paper towel and put that litter box back into condition.
Litter Box Deodorize
You can also consider using a litter box deodorizer if you’re finding that some odor is still coming out from there. There are some products made from activated carbon that you can put into your cat’s litter box, but you want to be careful with these.
Some cats don’t like them, but generally, they are more cat-friendly than using scented litter, which I generally want to avoid. Other than that, once you’ve put your litter box back into the litter area.
How to Clean Non-Clumping Litter?
The way to clean a litter box is with other types of litter, and if you have different types of litter boxes. If you’re using a non-clumping litter like silica gel, for instance, you’re going to remove the solid waste and then stir the litter around to distribute the urine, and then you’re going to dump it out every 30 days or so.
With silica gel litter, maybe more frequently, maybe once a week if you’re using a non-clumping clay litter.
How to Discard Waste From a Self-Cleaning Litter Box?
If you’re using an automatic litter box, that situation is going to be a little bit different. You’re going to clean it out according to the instructions according to the system that you’re using.
How to Clean a Sifting Litter Box?
If you’re using a sifting litter box, you’re just going to sift. Sifting litter boxes tend to work a little bit differently from one another, but in general, the system is the same. You’re going to lift and sift and then restack regardless of which type of litter box you’re using.
How to Dispose the Litter
Now that you have cleaned the litter box, how do you dispose of the litter in the correct manner? Not all litter is biodegradable. Whereas some litter is flushable, which is very convenient for disposing of litter, here are a few things that you need to look for before you flush:
- It’s important to go with a litter material that completely breaks down in water.
- Also, never go too large with the chunks that you are flushing. It’s important to break
- up chunks into smaller pieces before plopping it down into the toilet.
- Be sure to check with your local regulations before flushing anything down the toilet.
- Both composting and flushing are great options to dispose of your litter.
We’d recommend that you only flush the feces of indoor cats that are usually not infected with Toxoplasmosis and municipalities that allow it.
Tips for Cleaning a Litter Box
Run an air purifier—it just helps to remove odors and impurities plus keeps your house air fresh. It is also suitable for people who are dealing with asthma or allergies.
Vacuum—Litter does scatter; it comes off with their paws when they hop out from the litter box.
Odor Absorbing Bags—You can use bamboo charcoal odor-absorbing bags. You can put them near your cat litter box or food box (especially if you have smelly kibble), and the best part is that they last from 2 to 5 years.
If you need to clean your litter box and you notice there’s a strong odor, then you should have an enzyme-based cleaner. I always say this to everyone: “Enzymes have to be specifically designed to deal with pet odors that come from their litter.”
I recommend Angry Orange, and it’s a good product.
UV Light—Now, if you have a smell and you can’t find the source of the smell, it is driving you crazy. You can get yourself a UV light. Just turn off the lights and place the UV lights where you feel like they are coming. You will definitely find the source of the smell.
Once you find that, you can then spray that area with enzyme-based cleaner and treat it.
Pro Tip:Always look for unscented cat litter. As much as you think a fragranced cat litter will help keep the smell down, it rarely does a good job when it comes to eliminating odor. They would rather just cover up with artificial fragrances.
FAQs
Q1.How often should I clean the litter box?
Ans. Everyone has different preferences; if you have a great cleaning routine, then you can do it once a month. Otherwise, some people do it weekly or some biweekly.
Q2. Can I use bleach to clean the litter box?
Ans. Yes, you can use bleach if it doesn’t contain chlorine atoms, like Oxiclean.
Q3. Is it okay to place the litter box in the bathroom?
Ans. Yes, as long as your bathroom is a big, quiet, and low-traffic area with easy access for your cat.
Q4. I live in an apartment; where can I clean litter boxes and dispose of litter?
Ans. I would recommend you use flushable litter, or you can trash it. And if we talk about cleaning litter boxes, you can do it in your bathroom and let it dry on your balcony under the sun.
Conclusion
When your cat litters somewhere else in the house, it’s your fault, not the cat’s. That means you’re not doing a good job of taking care of your cats and taking care of their litter box needs.
Always remember your cat should never be punished for having an accident somewhere in the house. If your cat is having accidents, this is a sure sign of either litter box cleaning problems or maybe your cat is having a health issue, and you should talk to your vet.
Now, keeping your cat’s litter box clean is beneficial not only for them but also for us. When you and your cat live in the same place and the litter box is dirty, you might get used to the smell, and you won’t feel much difference. But real stress comes when someone comes over to your house, and you know they will feel the difference.
It’s really important to clean the cat’s litter box so there are no kitty cat smells in the house. If we make a good routine and a good habit of cleaning our cat’s litter box, there will be no smell. You can also use Tofu litter or charcoal mixed litter/bags to remove the smell.
I hope you liked this article; I tried to make this article fully jam-packed with my knowledge and experiences. If this article helped you a single percent, comment down below, as it motivates me a lot to keep writing and sharing my experiences with you.