How To Properly Clean The Litter Box

Cleaning the litter box is easy when done correctly.

Cleaning the litter box may not be the almost delightful task related to having a cat. Still, information technology needs to exist done (and done well) in order to keep your furry feline friend happy and healthy. Luckily, there are some tips and tricks that can make the task easier for you.

Invest in a Sturdy Box

The commencement footstep in creating your skilful litter box cleaning routine is acquiring the box. It's a good idea to choose a sturdy plastic box with nice straight corners that volition exist easy for you to get your scooper into. A large, flat storage box can piece of work quite well every bit a litter box (without the comprehend).

Many people adopt covered litter boxes considering they hide the sights and smells inside the box. Nevertheless, many cats don't like their litter box to exist covered because information technology traps the scents into the small space, making them too potent for their heightened senses. Some cats take trouble fitting into the position in which they like to eliminate when there is a cover on the box. A cover also creates an extra thing for you to make clean routinely. Nevertheless, covered models used without the covers brand great litter boxes considering they have high sides to keep litter and waste contained and easy entryways for your kitty to make it.

Cats playing with toys and scratching posts is great for their body and mind.

Become a Good Litter Scooper

I of the most important things you can do to make litter box cleaning easier on yourself is to invest in a great scooper. Scoops that suspension easily nether the weight of clumped litter, rust over time, or crusade you manus, wrist, and forearm strain volition create a more difficult task that yous are probable to avert.

At PurrfectPost.com, our favorite scooper is the Durascoop. It is made of aluminum, so it won't rust. It'due south extremely durable and won't curve or suspension when you are scooping up heavy, urine-clumped litter. It'southward also deep and wide, then information technology is a very efficient litter scooper, making shorter work of an unpleasant task.

Cats enjoy a variety of scratching angles and surfaces.

The edge of the Durascoop is designed in such a style that information technology scrapes the sides and bottom of the box exceptionally well without flicking whatever litter around. The handle is ergonomically shaped so you will exist less likely to experience hand or wrist pain when you're using it.

Another great system to consider when you are looking for a litter box scoop is one that cocky-contains much of what you will demand to have nigh you to accomplish your task. An example is this Litter Buddy four-In-1, which combines your scoop, broom, and dustpan together on a user-friendly mount. This product is great because information technology allows you to have designated equipment for the litter box cleaning task and keeps it all together for you.

Identify a Mat Under the Litter Box

Taking the time to observe a skillful mat on which to place your litter box can decrease your cleaning time and go on the mess contained. At PurrfectPost.com, we love this one: Perfect Litter Mat. It will fit under almost whatever litter box and extend out on all iv sides. This means that, when your cat steps out of the box, any litter that's stuck to her feet volition be dislodged and stay in that location rather than be tracked around your home. Stay away from regular bathmats or towels considering it tin railroad train your kitty to eliminate on them when she finds them elsewhere in your dwelling, such as the floor or the laundry basket.

The More Frequently Yous Scoop, the Easier the Chore

One of the means to make your litter box cleaning task easier is to do it more often. This might audio counterintuitive, just the longer y'all get out the box messy, the harder it is going to be to get all of the urine and stool out of it. Procrastinating also makes it more than probable that your cat will develop an inappropriate emptying problem, which will really crusade you increased cleaning time, trying to go messes out of your carpet, laundry, or bedding.

Warning!! Pregnant women should not clean litter boxes due to the danger of toxoplasmosis infection. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can spread to humans and other cats through egg spores present in cats' carrion when they are infected. While almost cases of toxoplasmosis in humans exercise non cause illness, the amanuensis can cause birth defects when a fetus is exposed to it. Daily scooping and disposing of litter helps to subtract the chance that a person will exist infected with Toxoplasma gondii because the spores require incubation for several days before they develop the power to infect someone. If a meaning woman must make clean the litter box, it is imperative that she does it every day, wears disposable gloves, and washes her hands thoroughly afterwards. Nonetheless, if you are significant, you should bank check with your medico for specific recommendations. The threat of contracting toxoplasmosis is also present when women are gardening (outdoor cats love to use gardening beds equally litter boxes) or consuming undercooked meat. Pregnant women should habiliment gloves while gardening and eat just well-cooked meat.

Play with your cats on and around your kitty's scratching alternative

Scoop your true cat's litter box in one case a day or more. If you have multiple cats using the same box, yous may need to do it more. The more often yous practice it, the less overall time it will take because it won't exist every bit muddied each time.

It'southward a expert idea to vesture disposable gloves (choose the correct size for you) while performing this task, and some people like to wear a mask.

Step-by-Step Litter Box Cleaning Instructions

Below, we've outlined a good procedure to follow for daily litter box cleaning. This technique assumes that you lot are using clumping litter. For non-clumping litter, you can follow some of the same steps, but you lot volition also need to drain out any urine present and y'all will probably demand to replace the litter more often.

Sift and Scoop. When information technology's time to make clean the litter box, the showtime thing you'll desire to do is scoop out any solids. Take intendance to ensure that you get all the style to the bottom of the box, removing any trace of waste. Be sure to have a garbage receptacle ready and within reach to receive the used litter. Yous don't want to be walking across the room with each scoopful, trailing litter and who knows what else along behind you lot.

Tip and Tap. The tip and tap technique helps you go any urine-clumped litter that might exist hiding in the corners of the litter box. Simply tip the box at almost a 45° bending on its side so the majority of the litter moves out of the style, and give the box a little tap. Scrape and scoop out anything that comes loose, and repeat the procedure on the other three sides.

Wipe and Wash. As y'all tap the litter away from each side of the pan, if you meet anything stuck to the sides or lesser, use a wipe to clean it off. Make sure to use a type that is non-toxic to cats.

Train your kitty to scratch what you want them to when they are young.

Dump and Dust. Now is a good time to clean whatsoever wayward cat litter out of the mat on which your litter box sits. Be sure you have a sanitary spot to place the litter box while you perform this part of the task. Dump the mat out into your garbage receptacle, dusting it off with the broom dedicated to litter box care if necessary, and use the pet wipes if there is annihilation stuck on information technology. You should scrub the mat with mild dish soap and h2o periodically as needed.

Replenish and Rake. You'll desire to add enough fresh new litter to the pan to make upward for what y'all removed when yous cleaned information technology. Smooth out the new litter and then it's nice and inviting to your kitty.

Sprinkle and Stir. Yous can sprinkle a niggling baking soda into the litter if y'all wish. Stir it in to help blot odors until you scoop again.

About in one case a week or then (possibly more ofttimes if multiple cats employ the box or less often if yous are diligent about cleaning information technology daily), you lot'll want to get rid of all the litter in the box and make clean the box itself well, then fill it with fresh, new litter. When y'all do this, don't utilise directly bleach, ammonia, or citrus-based cleaners. These tin can all exist also strong for your cat and result in litter box aversion.

Ivory® lather is great for cleaning the litter box, or you can make a paste with a little baking soda and h2o. Yous can use a dilute bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) to rinse the box later yous've washed it. Rinse it well with apparently h2o afterward and so there is no residue which may end up in your cat'due south mouth when she licks off her paws.

Brand certain the box is completely dry before you lot add together new litter.