If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks. If you use a non-clumping litter and have only one cat, changing the litter twice per week is a good guideline. If you have more than one cat, every other day may work better.
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. Stephanie Janeczko in this featured post on Petfinder. Dr.
Change the litter completely and wipe the box down with soap and water once every other week or so to keep things fresh. Keep enough litter in the box so your cat can dig a little. They like that. 2-3 inches for non-clumping and 3-4 inches for clumping should do the trick.
Some cats adapt to a change of litter without any problem at all, while other cats may feel uncomfortable using a type of litter that they didn't use when they were young. If you think your cat may dislike her litter type, texture or smell, try offering her different types of litter to use.
Cats don't like frequent change. So, if you're planning to introduce a new type or brand of cat litter (for example, going from non-clumping to clumping cat litter, or to a different scent), be prepared that your cat might reject using it.
Dirty litter boxes can cause kidney, bladder, and urinary tract diseases in cats. When a kitty squats over a pile of feces, bacteria can travel up the urethra, wreaking havoc all along the way.
Whatever litter you use, to avoid spreading Toxoplasma and other dangerous organisms, never dump it outside. Place it in a plastic bag, tie it shut, and put it in your regular garbage. A biodegradable bag will give it a better chance to break down in the dump.
“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.
Cats just feel better after relieving themselves. Cats are “flaunting” their grown-up independence, because they don't need mommy to clean them up anymore. Cats want to call attention to their accomplishment.
Keep Cat Bowls Away from the Litter Box
You don't like to eat in the bathroom and neither do cats! Food and litter boxes should be kept a considerable distance apart. The main reason is to avoid cross contamination that may occur when cats cover up after themselves.
The best places for litter boxes are usually quiet, easy-to-reach corners that offer privacy, de Jong says. “Check out where your cat spends the most time,” de Jong says. “If your cat never goes up to that weird attic room, don't put the litter box up there.”
Even though it may seem like a good idea, you should not be flushing your cat's litter or feces down the toilet. It can cause havoc on your plumbing, clog pipes, and damage your septic system.
Using biodegradable bags is one of the easiest and most common ways to dispose off cat's litter. You scoop out the cat's litter, seal it in a bag, and toss it in the bin! These bags are designed to compost more quickly whilst keeping the cat litter contained.
To the Compost Heap
As Bond noted, wood-based cat litter is ideal for composting, which is perhaps the eco-friendliest way to dispose of cat litter and waste.
Using too little — or too much — litter in the box
You can keep your furry friends happy by making sure you put the right amount of litter in the box. Having too much litter can cause your cat to dig around more than necessary, which can cause them to accidentally hide their poop.
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. If you clean the litter box daily, you might only need to change clumping litter every two to three weeks.
Throw It Into the Garbage
The best way to dispose of kitty litter is to scoop waste into a bag, tie the bag tightly, and then throw the whole thing into the trash.
No, you should never flush cat faeces down the toilet. The reason for this is that cat waste often contains a parasite called toxoplasma gondii, which is extremely detrimental to the health of humans and marine life.
Some types of cat litter can be composted, but you should never add the resulting compost to the vegetables that you grow in your garden. Instead, cat litter compost can be used (with great results) for any decorative plants you might have around the house.
You can put this in the general waste bin OR the green waste bin. If you put it in the green waste, be sure to remove the poo and don't bag it. The council will take it away and turn it into compost.
No smelly business: With an enclosed bathroom for your cat, you don't need to worry about any unpleasant odors that might (will) come wafting out of the box. Enclosed spaces work wonders for containing the smell — better than any scent, candle, powder, or other witch's brew you can buy.
The bottom line is, while there are some bacteria on our pet's paws, in general the risk to pet owners is low. Use good general hygiene washing your hands after handling pets and cleaning countertops before preparing food. Clean your pet's paws as needed but there's no need to be fanatic about it.
It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma.
Overall, there was no significant difference between use of the two box styles. Eight individual cats did exhibit a preference (four for covered, four for uncovered), but individual preference results are not evenly distributed, with more cats than expected showing no preference between litter box types.
Follow this simple rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three boxes. Making sure everyone has their space can help ease elimination issues. Some owners prefer a hooded box, but some cats don't like them.