Ideally, you should spot-clean your cat's litter tray every day and replace the litter at least once a week. If the tray is left to become dirty, your cat may prefer to use the floor instead!
How Often Should You Change the Cat Litter? If you use a clumping litter, it's best to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least monthly. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks.
Cats can develop painful kidney infections, bladder infections, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections if their litter boxes are not kept clean. The vets at Anasazi Animal Clinic recommend daily scooping and weekly litter changes to best protect your cat's health.
“Cats will sometimes jump into the litter boxes and often use them while, and right after, their people have scooped them,” says Marilyn Krieger, certified cat behavior consultant. “Cats love clean litter boxes, ones that are freshly scooped and don't smell of excrement.
WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT SCOOPING FREQUENCY? For the most part, all experts agree…the litter box should be scooped 1-2 times each day. “Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business,” said By Dr.
If I'm gone for 1 week or less, I just clean the litter box normally before I leave, and my cat is perfectly fine. If I'm gone for more than 1 week, then I put out 2 clean, full litter boxes before I leave. I fill each one with non-clumping litter, and then just dump both boxes when I get back.
Litter boxes can cause overexposure to ammonia causing headaches or pneumonia. This one also isn't totally poop-related, but it is poop-adjacent. Litter boxes that aren't cleaned regularly enough can contain buildups of urine and feces, resulting in dangerous ammonia fumes.
Washing a Litter Box
The best way to clean a litter box is to dump the entire box and soak it in hot water for a few minutes at least once a week. It is not necessary to use detergents or cleaning chemicals, as hot water will generally do the trick.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that you wear gloves while cleaning your healthy cat's litter box, and to thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.
Having too much litter can cause your cat to dig around more than necessary, which can cause them to accidentally hide their poop. While the poop might be invisible to human eyes, it's noticeable to your cat. If you can't locate and remove it, this may cause your cat to stop using the box altogether.
Cats can sometimes carry germs that can make people sick, even when they appear clean and healthy. Visit your veterinarian for routine care to keep your cat healthy and to prevent infectious diseases.
Did you know a smelly, dirty box is also a haven for parasites? Aside from bacteria, cat waste is also home to parasites, which can cause hookworms, roundworms, and ring worms in your cat. When you have a dirty litter box, it's even easier for a parasite to enter your cat's body and land in its gastrointestinal tract.
Unclean litter boxes can make cats more susceptible to developing urinary tract infections (UTIs). Certain types of litter like the clay litters and litter with fine dust can also contribute to respiratory disease, and make cats with asthma have more frequent flare-ups.
A good rule of thumb is to change your cat's litter every 2-4 weeks. However, you might not need to change it that frequently because it all depends on your pet and their bathroom habits. It also depends on the number of cats that use the litter box and the type of litter that you use.
The choice between clumping and non-clumping litter is a personal decision that will depend on what you want in a cat litter and what your cat prefers. Many cats appear to prefer clumping litter because it is easier for them to push aside, but some cats prefer non-clumping clay.
If you can, you should aim to replace cat litter at least once per week. However, if you scoop the litter frequently, it is possible to stretch litter changes to once every two weeks. We find that the easiest way to stay on top of litter changes is to schedule it for the same day every week.
Always wash your hands after scooping litterboxes or picking up dog poop, even if you used gloves or a bag.
By nature, cats are fastidious animals who obsess about keeping their fur and paws clean. So the idea of using a filthy restroom is just as repulsive to them as it is to us.
Rinse the empty litter box in the bathtub or shower with soap and water. Use a mildly scented or scent-free soap if you can so your cat isn't adverse to the odor. If the weather is nice outside, you can also take the litter box out there to hose it off instead of using the bathroom.
Regular litter box maintenance and careful clean-up can keep your house smelling fresh. No one likes a home that smells of cat odor. Cat odor can come from a variety of places: litter boxes, cat urine and feces. Each can be managed effectively with a little attention.
Position your cat's sleeping spots away from any noisy appliances (such as washing machines) and busy areas of the home (such as the hallway). A quiet corner of a bedroom or living room is ideal, and once your cat is snoozing, make sure you leave them alone to avoid startling them awake.
Scoop waste daily. How often you replace the litter depends on the number of cats you have, the number of litter boxes and the type of litter you use. Twice a week is a general guideline for replacing clay litter, but depending on your circumstances, you may need to replace it every other day or only once a week.