by Maddy Pappas
Image via: Unsplash
The life of a cat owner can be full of bliss. Despite common stereotypes, cats are actually very loving creatures. While they may not enjoy constant pats like dogs, they do make for great companions.
In order to keep enjoying this companionship, cat owners must perform basic tasks. Such basic tasks include providing food and water, some toys and of course, a clean and sanitary cat litter box.
While cleaning out a litter box is undoubtedly less than glamorous, it’s an essential task. Otherwise, you might find that your beloved cat could act out in ways that are harmful to themselves, or the broader home.
The importance of a clean litter box
Litter boxes may seem pretty rudimentary to humans, yet they are essential to animals such as cats. As such, think about a cat’s natural instincts. Multiple times a day, a cat will engage in licking, this is because they have a desire to be clean. This desire extends to the litter box.
As such, when a cat approaches a dirty litter box, this basic need is threatened. It may cause a cat to attempt to hold their bladder or bowels until the box is cleaned. This is especially harmful and can result in everything from a lower urinary tract issue to a megacolon.
A dirty litter box may also result in cats feeling forced to relieve themselves elsewhere. This could be on furniture, rugs or other priceless possessions. All of which highlights the importance of owners practising good litter box management.
Everything you need to know about cleaning a litter box
When it comes to cleaning a litter box, it’s important to have a schedule in place and to be armed with certain cleaning tips. Otherwise, you could find yourself performing twice daily cleans if the job isn’t done properly.
Step 1: create a schedule
Cleaning a litter box requires a schedule. This is because litter box maintenance requires both daily and weekly tasks. By creating a schedule, different members of the family can contribute to your cat's health. For a single-person household, a schedule helps keep you accountable.
In homes that only have one cat, daily maintenance and a weekly deep clean will suffice. For those with more than one cat, it might be worth undertaking daily maintenance and perhaps a deep clean two times a week.
Step 2: have the right supplies
Cleaning out a litter box is not as simple as collecting the litter and replacing it with fresh cat litter. In fact, the process does require different supplies. This will ensure that the litter box receives a thorough clean.
The main item is, of course, a litter box. As the majority of litter boxes are made from plastic, it’s worthwhile replacing the box every few months. This is because plastic is known to, over time, retain odours. If the cat can detect such odours, it will discourage them from using the box. For those who like to travel with their cat, it’s advised to purchase a second litter box.
The next item is kitty litter. As such, choosing the right litter for your cat is important. Every cat is different, this means that one cat might enjoy the texture of walking on clumping litter. However, clumping litter can be dangerous for kittens as ingestion can cause blockages.
When it comes to cleaning the box, rubber gloves, soap, a scoop and of course, a trash bag is required. In terms of soap, this will be used to clean the litter box. Choosing a fragrance free soap is paramount as citrus or anomia smells are known to repel cats.
Step 3: the daily clean
When using clumping litter, cat faeces and urine will appear as clumps in the litter box. Every day, cat owners should be using a scoop to remove these clumps from the box and throw them out. During this process, cat litter may escape from the box. Be sure to replenish it.
Step 4: the weekly clean
Despite the best efforts of clumping litter, some amount of urine and faeces will always be left behind in the litter box. That’s why instituting a weekly clean is so important. Start the process by throwing away the old litter.
Once the litter box is empty, scrub the box with warm water and soap or a mild detergent. Make sure to completely dry the box after washing. To help with odours, you may want to sprinkle a light coating of baking soda into the litter box before pouring in the cat litter.
Taking care of your cat
Cat ownership is full of fun and loving times. However, like anything in life, there are also elements of responsibility to consider. Taking into account how much love and companionship cats provide, staying on top of litter box maintenance seems like an easy task.
By taking the time to gather the right supplies and create a cleaning schedule, litter box maintenance is made easier and quicker. Making your cat happy and giving you two more time together to experience new life adventures.