When it comes to the most glorious topics of which to write about our beloved feline friends, the litter box surely reigns supreme. You know, because it is a throne. Ugh, I know that as a fellow cat lover you likely don’t love the task of cleaning a litter box. But, our pet cats need us to keep their litter boxes clean and fresh, as the poor little buddies have no where else to relieve themselves!
Over the years (and a number of cats along the way), I have discovered what does and doesn’t work regarding litter box cleaning. Here are some of my favorite tips and hints to keeping cat litter clean and tidy.
1. Clean the litter box regularly – every day if possible
- Clean the litter regularly. I recently helped an elderly relative clean out her (angelic!!) cat’s litter box. My auntie hadn’t been able to get down to the basement to clean out the litter, and therefore the box was uncomfortably dirty. I gave that cat – Biscuit – extra snuggles that day for her incredibly controlled behaviour! (I think my own boy kitty would’ve been using the floor as a bathroom far before that. In fact, I know he would have!!) If at all possible, clean out the litter box every day. If you only have one litter box, and multiple cats then you may even choose to scoop out the dirty litter two times a day. It keeps your home more hygienic, and is a much more pleasant experience for the kitties.
2. Choose the right litter box
Choose the right kind of litter box. Cat litter boxes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and types. There are hygienic materials used such as stainless steel, which can reduce absorbed odors in the actual litter box itself. I like a pretty plain, open type of litter box that makes it easy for cats to get in and out of – and makes it easier to clean too. That being said, there are some incredibly high tech litter boxes on the market that people love! Choose the right box for you and your cat, and both of your will be happier.
We wrote a lot more about stainless litter boxes here. It’ll help you decide if a stainless steel litter box might be the right one for your pet.
3. Choose the right cat litter
Baking soda enriched, cat litter for multiple cat households, litter made from old recycled newspapers – there are a shocking number of types of cat litter available! Many new kinds available are lower in dust particles released, which is healthier for our cat friends and their lungs. (The lower the dust the better when it comes to litter!) I personally have found my favourite cat litter combination – mixing low dust traditional litter with crushed walnut shell cat litter. It makes for an excellent, scoopable littr that almost reduces odors to nothing. Who knew that crushed walnut shells could absorb stinky odors so well?
We’ve also written about the vast types of cat litter available in our article: Choosing the Right Cat litter for your pet.
Litter box cleaning – Conclusion
Cat litter box cleaning is just one of those jobs that comes along with owning – and loving! – your pet cats. We might not be totally thrilled when it comes to yielding that litter scoop, but we do want to keep the boxes clean, tidy and fresher for our pals. When you clean the litter regularly, use a litter box that is easy to clean out, and use the right litter – well, you may find that unpleasant job a bit easier to take!
Kitty Litter Box Must-Haves
IRIS Open Top Cat Litter Box Kit with Shield and Scoop
is a good set to get you started! Comes with a well-constructed litter box with shields around the side AND a sturdy litter scoop to get out the gunk. Current price $24.46 for the set.
Cat Litter Scooper Metal Cat Litter Scoop Long Handle Cat Scoop Aluminum Litter Box Scooper Kitty Litter Scoop Non-Stick
Now THIS is a litter scoop that can manage even a multi-cat household! Made of durable aluminum, this one will handle all the scooping tasks with ease. And, I love that the longer handle make it easier to use – less bending over is necessary! Current price $24.99
ARM & HAMMER Double Duty Cat Litter, Advanced Dual Odour Control, 18-kg
This is an excellent litter choice, as it helps to eliminate BOTH types of cat litter smells! (You know: urine AND feces.) One of the top rated cat litters. Current price $18.98
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission on sales at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting CatTrees.ca.