How to clean and when to change the litter box?
Clean the litter box Cats hate dirty, smelly litter boxes, which can lead them to seek out substitutes, whether it’s a corner of the carpet, on the bed, or in a basket of clean laundry. Your cat’s sense of smell is 14 times stronger than yours, so a litter box that seems clean enough to you may not be suitable for your cat’s sensitive muzzle.
And while we’re tempted to skip the chore of cleaning the litter box and focus on our kitty’s adorable antics, it’s important to remember to clean the litter box regularly. Here are some tips and tricks for maintaining and cleaning a cat litter box to avoid unpleasant odors.
1. Cat litter maintenance tips
To make your job easier and ensure your cat’s comfort, here are some tips for choosing a litter box and sand:
- Choose the right litter box : it will be important to choose a litter box large enough and deep enough for your cat to be comfortable in it. He must be able to turn around easily, and not have to contort to find the right position to do his business. Also, the litter box should be deep enough to fit enough sand in it for your cat to bury its necessities.
- Choose the right bedding sand : In front of the litter box stall, it can be easy to feel confused because of the large choice available to us. You will have to choose from clumping or non-clumping litter, scented or not, made of clay, paper or silica crystals to name a few. All have their advantages and disadvantages, so you will need to test a few before making your final choice.
- Have the right number of litter boxes :A cat should ideally have 2 litter boxes, on different floors or in different rooms of the house. If you have more than one cat, calculate one litter per cat, plus one. So if you have two cats, you will need 3 litter boxes.
- Add enough sand to the bin : Since cats have an instinct to bury their needs, they must have access to enough sand to do so. Remember to put at least 10 centimeters of sand. In addition, this will limit the proliferation of urine odors.
- Equip yourself with the right tools : make sure you choose a shovel that is sturdy, easy to wash and has slots in the bottom to let the sand fall out that is not soiled. Most are made of plastic, but the most durable are those made of metal. In addition, these will help you scrape the bottom of the litter box to loosen debris. In addition to a good shovel, you may want to get a bin specifically designed for disposing of soiled litter, such as Litter Locker’s Hygienic Soiled Litter Bin. Otherwise, choose a trash can that closes tightly to limit the spread of odors.
Every day, you will have to pick up solid waste in the litter box, including urine pellets if you use a clumping litter. Using your shovel, go fishing, scraping all the way to the bottom of the tank to remove all the excrement and urine. Every two or three days, remember to add sand to maintain the level.
3. When and how do you clean the litter box?
We do the big cleaning of the litter box at least once a month, but it is recommended to do it more often, every week if possible.
To do this, completely empty the contents of the bin, and using your shovel, scrape the bottom well to loosen the dirt. Then, wash the tray well using very hot water, liquid soap and a soft brush. Rub all over, then rinse with plenty of water. Dry the litter box thoroughly before adding sand.
Interesting tip, add a few sheets of newspaper to the bottom of the litter box, or a sheet of plastic. This will prevent urine and feces from sticking to the bottom and will make cleaning up easier when it comes time to empty the litter box.
Particularly if your cat goes outside, and therefore more in contact with parasites than an indoor cat, you will have to think about disinfecting the litter box at each major cleaning. Just soak it whole in a mixture of hot water and bleach for 15-20 minutes. Rinse, then dry well before re-sanding.
To deodorize a bin in which bad odors have become embedded, fill it with hot water and fresh lemon juice, and let it act for a few minutes. This will also help remove any white lime-like marks that may appear on the bottom of the tray.
In addition to the tips mentioned earlier, after cleaning the litter box and before filling it with sand, consider adding a layer of baking soda to the bottom of the box. You can also take advantage of your daily cleanings to sprinkle it on the surface of the litter sand.
If you prefer a scented version, there are products sold in pet stores based on baking soda to which a lavender or other scent has been added. However, your cat may not like this added scent, which may be too strong for their little nose.
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