Mary Allen
Cats are clean animals and value a clean litter box. Failure to clean the litter box adequately can result in uncleanliness. So don’t let the cat do its business elsewhere in the first place, but make sure that your house tiger always has a clean and hygienic litter box. We explain step by step how to clean the litter box and how the litter box stays clean over the long term.
Clean the Litter Box Every Day
Flat and house cats that do not have access to the garden use the litter box several times a day. Therefore, it is necessary that you clean the litter box every day to remove the cat’s debris and prevent odors.
Step 1: remove lumps from the litter box
For daily cleaning, use a litter scoop and use the scoop to remove any lumps from the litter box. Depending on the cat litter you are using, either only the cat excrement or litter clumped with urine will be sifted out with the special lattice scoop. This way, clean litter stays in the litter box, while the residue can be carefully removed.
Step 2: Dispose of used cat litter properly
Daily cleaning removes not only feces and urine but also used and clumped cat litter from the litter box. Collect the rubbish in a trash bag and tie it to prevent odors from spreading. Cat litter and the cat’s leftovers are best disposed of with household or residual waste. If you use the special ecological litter, it is also possible to dispose of it in the organic waste bin or even in the toilet. Please note the information provided by the manufacturer and the local waste disposal regulations of your community.
Step 3: refill the cat litter
At the end of the cleaning process, refill the cat litter so that there is enough litter for the cat. The amount you need depends on whether you are using silica litter or clumping litter. While the absorbent silicate litter is more economical and is refilled less often, clumping litter has to be refilled daily. The fill level also depends on your cat’s preferences. Cats that scratch a lot usually prefer a larger amount of litter so that they don’t get to the floor of the litter box as quickly, but can scratch and bury their remains as long as they want.
One to Two-week Basic Cleaning of the Litter Box
In addition to daily cleaning, you should regularly give the litter box a thorough cleaning. Intensive cleaning ensures that the litter box stays clean and the cat feels comfortable in it. How often the litter box needs to be cleaned depends on the number of cats and the number of litter boxes. On average, the litter box should be completely cleaned every one to two weeks.
Step 1: remove old cat litter
First, remove all of the contents of the litter box by not only removing lumps but also removing all of the cat litter. Despite the daily cleaning with the litter scoop, the litter becomes contaminated over time, so that it should be completely disposed of after a few weeks at the latest.
Step 2: clean the litter box properly
The easiest way to clean the litter box is in the bathtub or shower. Use water and a suitable cleaning agent for this. Cats are sensitive to many household cleaning products. You should therefore absolutely refrain from using harsh cleaning agents and under no circumstances use toilet cleaners or disinfectants. A simple mixture of gentle dish soap and warm water is usually sufficient. Urine scale and odors can be easily removed with home remedies such as baking soda. To do this, mix baking soda and some warm water and wipe the litter box with a cloth or sponge. You can also use a special cleaner for litter boxes, for example, the biological Biodor Animal cleaner.
Step 3: dry the litter box and fill it with fresh litter
Make sure all detergents have been rinsed off and dry the litter box thoroughly. Then fill the litter box with fresh cat litter and put it back in its usual place. Your cat can now enjoy the clean, fresh litter box.
General Hygiene Tips for Cleaning the Litter Box
If you are sensitive to odors or uncomfortable cleaning the litter box, it is best to use a dust mask and disposable gloves. In this way, you not only protect yourself against the smell and dust of the cat litter but also against bacteria and the disease toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted through the feces of the cat, which can be particularly harmful to pregnant women. Regardless of whether you wear gloves when cleaning, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the litter box.