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One of the most challenging parts of pet ownership is dealing with …
Well, the poop.
Basically, anything larger than a guinea pig needs a daily clean up regimen, and although this product got a deal on Shark Tank years ago and has made millions, I can’t help but be skeptical. If it were that easy, wouldn’t word have gotten around and everybody would have ditched their litter boxes by now?
[The fact that it has over a thousand 1-star reviews on Amazon kinda encourages my skepticism as well.]
So let’s just assume that we’re stuck with litter boxes for the foreseeable future, and that we’d better just do our best to figure out how often we should change the litter. We don’t want to spend more time cleaning than we have to, or spending boatloads of cash for fresh litter.
On the other hand, we don’t want our living spaces to smell disgusting — or worse, jeopardize our cat’s health.
So where’s the happy medium? How often DO we have to change our cat’s litter? And how often do we suck it up and actually scrub out the box?
After reading this post, you’ll know the habits and routines to keep your space clean, your cat healthy, and keep you off your hands and knees scooping every hour of the day.
Do cats like when you clean their litter box?
This is the sort of question that gets a mixed response. Ultimately, it will depend on your cats personality and living situation. But let’s examine why cats in the wild bury their excrement to get a better feel for what your cat might think of the whole scooping situation.
Unlike our poop, cat feces and urine serves a distinct purpose in the wilderness. They leave behind tracking pheromones to mark territory. This isn’t a feature that a cat can turn on or off, so smaller or submissive cats will bury what they leave behind to obscure the scent and hide their presence from other cats or predators.
That said, a cat might be confused when you un-bury their poop, while more dominant cats might want to mark their freshly littered territory. It’s definitely a strange little ritual you have going there, but rest assured, your cat will appreciate a fresh spot to plop.
What happens if you don’t clean a cat’s litter box?
Leaving your cats litter box un-scooped, or scooped but unwashed, can have unintended and unpleasant consequences — both for your home and for the health of your cat.
Cats like to ‘go’ in clean places, so an unattended litter box might be ignored in favor for a nearby spot. Often it’ll look like they’ve missed their mark. Don’t take it as a personal slight, but make sure you scoop and clean the box soon before the puddles start appearing more often!
Can a dirty litter box make a cat sick?
Imagine what it’s like to have your own personal toilet. No one else is allowed to use it. It’s yours to do with as you will.
Except flush. Flushing is someone else’s job. And everything is just piling up in there, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
You might not like it, but that’s essentially what’s going on between you and your cat. Without regular cleanings, your cat might be discouraged to use the litter box entirely. They may do their business somewhere else, or hold it in and wait for their bathroom to be clean.
Holding it in can cause serious health conditions, such as UTIs or bladder infections. Because of your cat’s small bladder, any UTI could result in blockage or failure that demands surgical attention.
If your cat decides to just go ahead and use a dirty litter box anyway, there are certain fungal infections, such as ringworm or hookworm, that may easily pass on to you. Not to mention ammonia, salmonella, parasites, or toxoplasmosis that may impact your own health, let alone just your cat.
Can you put too much litter in a litter box?
If you think overloading the litter box will get you out of scooping duty, think again.
It’s tempting to pad the litter box with an extra layer of litter and hope it’ll stay clean enough for your cat, but you’d be sorely mistaken. You may not notice the poops anymore, but your cat will. And because the poop will be buried extra deep, you’ll have to spend even more time scooping and hunting for the clumps when it’s time to scoop.
How many litter boxes per cat should you have?
A common rule of thumb I’ve seen online answering this question is: one litter box per cat, plus one extra that’s considered a ‘household’ box.
Now I’ve gotten by with just one litter box when I had just one cat before. But all that litter box mathematics starts to change when the equation includes multiple cats. When cats use their litter box, it’s the perfect place for a little quiet ‘me time’.
Remember what’s it’s like to share a bathroom with your siblings? Well, cats feel the same way. They don’t want to fight for space in the litter box, which is where that “extra” box comes in handy.
Where should I keep my cat’s litter box?
Well, imagine what you want out of your bathroom, Your ideal bathroom experience would be in a quiet, low traffic area, with no obstacles or barriers in case you really have to go.
Same for your cat. Keep the litter box out of dank basements where cats have to climb steps to get to, and away from kitchens or doorways where people are in and out of all day (and away from your food!). Bathrooms or guest bedrooms are ideal, and if space is an issue, use a screen for extra privacy in your main bedroom or living room.
If you have more than one cat and multiple litter boxes, ideally they would be spaced apart from each other, so all the cats have some private space. (This is especially true if your cats tend to be territorial or dominant.)
If your living space has multiple levels, it’s also a good idea to keep a box on every floor. That way no one has to run all the way to the third floor to go to the bathroom.
How do you take care of a litter box?
Here’s where I have to lay down some hard truths. No one likes to hear it, but here goes: it is best to scoop your cats litter box (or boxes) thoroughly every day. That way your cat will always feel welcome to do their business in a fresh locale.
Any clumps you find go in the waste bin, or if your cat is particularly curious, finicky, or territorial, immediately outside to the nearest dumpster.
Never flush cat poop! By doing so, you’ll run the risk of exposing your municipal water system to parasites or toxoplasmosis. Those waterways eventually run out to the ocean where the parasites kill sea otters, or end up being cycled back to your neighborhood taps. Not a good move.
When it’s time to replace the litter, wash the box with soap, water, and a sponge. Easy peasy. Thankfully, you don’t need (and shouldn’t use) ammonia or bleach, since your cat will hate the smell of it as much as you do.
If you’re finding that urine pools at the bottom of a box (especially if you’re using a non-clumping litter), try laying down a kitty liner, before layering the litter over it for easier clean up.
How often should you change litter?
Certain folks (who want you to buy their litter) will tell you to line your litter box 3 inches deep and then replace it all every other day.
What they won’t tell you is that not all litters are built the same.
Yes, a non-clumping litter will have to be changed about twice weekly. But a clumping litter, scooped every day, = can stay in the box for about three weeks or even a month before requiring a total change.
Some newer styles of litter such as silica-based crystal or wood pellet cat litter can last four, six, or even eight weeks depending on the litter. They’ll still need to be cleaned daily, and you should certainly check the pounds per dollar when you’re comparing to make sure you’re going to save money AND get adequate depth. If you decide something different will be better for your life, slowly mix in the new litter with the old and see if your cat acclimates to the new change.
Video – How to Keep the Litter Box Fresh & Clean