As much as we love our cats, there’s nothing worse in the world than a stinky litter box! People with several cats should have several litter boxes in their house, as it is important to have a litter box for each cat plus one. If you are involved in rescue or are breeding cats, having sanitary litter boxes can make all the difference in the world for your cats’ health. Regular litter box maintenance can keep your house odor free and help keep your cats healthy and happy.
Cats like their privacy, and having a litter box for each cat will also help eliminate problems with your cats not using their litter boxes and “doing their business” in inappropriate places. It will also help with issues such as spreading worms and parasites or even FIP, should there ever be a problem in this area.
Steps to a Clean and Odor-free Litter Box
- You should have one litter box per cat in your household.
- Use a good quality scoopable cat litter (after your cat reaches 6 months old).
- Scoop out the clumps every day, even if you just have one cat.
- Wipe box down with a little bleach and water after each scooping to kill germs and bacteria.
- Keep your litter level at about 2-3” deep, even if you have to add a little bit every two or three days after scooping.
- Each week, completely empty your litter box and replace with fresh litter. Do this even if your cat litter says it doesn’t ever need to be replaced! You have to keep germs and bacteria out, not just odors.
- Each week, wash the litter box and lid with hot soapy water and a little bleach and dry thoroughly before refilling with litter. When you do this, also clean the litter scoop!
- Clean the area around your litter box with hot soapy water and a little bleach.
This seems very simple, but if you’re new at keeping a litter box in your house or are having odor problems, these steps will help keep your litter box clean, sanitary, and odor free! There are so many different brands of cat litter out there. One of the most reliable for keeping odors at bay, as well as being economical, is Tidy Cats for Multiple Cats. If you have a kitten (up to 6 months old), you can use the clay version, and if you have an adult cat, use the scoopable. Once you choose a litter, if it is working well, stay with it. Kitties can get quite finicky if their litter is changed.
Choosing a Litter Box
Hooded litter boxes not only give your cat privacy, but also keep odors down, as they usually have a little filter in the top. One of the greatest things made today is the sticky ramp coming out of the litter box because it keeps your cat from tracking litter all over the house. If you’re considering one of the self-scooping litter boxes, they tend to get really bad reviews, as they have a problem with jamming up and need to be taken apart and cleaned frequently.
If you have any questions or want to share information on your favorite brands of litter, please drop by the discussion area!
