To clean your cat’s litter box, you will need a slotted scoop or shovel to sift through the litter for solid waste. It will also enable you to separate the soiled urine clumps from the dry, clean litter if you’re using clumping litter.
If you use non-clumping litter, you’ll also want to use a slotted shovel to remove solid waste. A long-handled unslotted spoon is good for removing mounds of wet litter. Saturated litter left sitting in the box is what will create an odor. Don’t stir the wet litter around or you’ll end up soiling the whole box.
Hopefully, you’ll reconsider the use of non-scoopable litter and will gradually switch your cat over to the more convenient scoopable type. You’ll find the box will have much less odor and you’ll be able to do a more efficient job when it comes to cleanup.
Keep the litter scoop in a container by the litter box for convenience. There are several companies that make scoop and holder combinations. This will make it much easier and cleaner. Scooping and sifting should be done at least twice a day. It only takes seconds and will make a significant difference in odor control. Scoopable litter will be worth nothing if your cat has to climb over old clumps from days ago in order to find one corner of unsoiled substrate.
Most scoopable litters, especially the heavy-duty formulas, aren’t flushable. Clay litter should never be flushed down the toilet because it can ultimately lead to several dangers for your health. There are also commercial litter-disposal products. These products are available through pet supply retailers, as well as online. They’re similar to the diaper disposal systems that have been on the market for years. It doesn’t matter what method you come up with as long as it’s convenient enough so no one will have an excuse for letting litter box maintenance slide.
Scooping twice, daily will not only keep the litter box clean but it will alert you to potential health problems. Routine scooping will help you become familiar with your cat’s litter box habits. While this may not sound like an amazing job, the truth is it can make the difference between a happy cat and a cat who has to endure a painful medical condition.
In addition to daily scooping, the box itself will also need routine cleaning. If you use regular clay litter or one of the non-scoopable varieties, you should do a thorough cleaning at least once a week. This involves disposing of the litter, then scrubbing the box and all related utensils. If you use scoopable litter, you can go longer than one week between cleanings.
Don’t be fooled by the ads for scoopable litter claiming that because the waste is being sifted out you’ll never have to scrub the box. This is simply not true. Urine will still come in contact with the plastic. Boxes containing scoopable littler should be completely scrubbed and replaced with fresh litter about twice a month.
When you clean the box, remember not to use harsh cleaners that can leave a smell. You can also scrub the utensils and their plastic container. Then everything gets dried before the box is refilled with fresh litter.
Most importantly, you need to make sure you never use THIS to clean your cat’s litter box. It could kill your cat.
