Does your cat often refuse to use the litter box? Is there still a smell of poop and urine even after the complete cleaning of the box? If yes then, you need to replace the litter box with the new one. It means that the litter box is too old.
You even don’t know that your kitty is not happy with you, she is continuously spoiling the corners of the house by eliminating anywhere, and you still thinking why your cat is making your new table’s bottom her potty.
Some cat owners blame the cat for not using the litter box, they complain to her veterinarian about the cat’s bad behavior, but quite honestly, your cat is refusing the litter box because it is too smelly. So, to prevent a world war from breaking out your home here is the advice that changes your litter box as soon as possible.
Cute litter box will discuss some reasons why it is best to change the litter after a time.
Why should the litter box be replaced with a new one?
Although litter boxes should be cleaned regularly, and most of the cat owners clean the litter box once a day. But there is a question that many cat owners asked how often I should buy the litter box.
There are different reasons to replace the litter box; these reasons help you to understand that when there is a need to buy a new litter box.
Scratches
The first reason that demands a new litter box is that it gets scratches. These scratches may be from the cat paws, when she digs the litter to hide the wastes or by the scoops that are used to remove the clumps. If the litter box has minor scratches, these may be bad too.
Scratches on the litter box are hard to clean, so they get to fill with the bacteria that are harmful and contain many diseases causing germs. When the cat digs the litter, they fling into the air and are inhaled by the cat. When you clean or scoop the litter, you are also at high risk. So to keep you as well as your cat healthy, you must change the litter box.
Odor absorption
With these scratches, another critical problem is foul odors. Wastes and urine of the cat are getting trapped by even a small scratch, which is hard to clean and cause the smelling of the litter box. Due to improper cleaning, it remains in the scratches, and the plastic absorbs its odor, so, at this time, it is impossible to get rid of the bad smells. Bad odor causes a problem for you as well as for your pet.
Cats have more strong senses than the people so they can sense the smell and consider that the box is too dirty. Therefore, they find a new place to excrete wastes, which is not pleasant for you.
Plastic breakdown
Plastic is a durable material although, but it cannot remain pretty the same as it was when you bought it. With time, it goes through some chemical changes, which cause some severe problems to the box.
Ammonia in the urine damages the plastic and makes it brittle, although plastic is not harmful, when it starts to break down, it can create a massive mess in your home.
How to know when it is time to replace the old litter box with a new one
When you see the following signs, then there is a need to change the litter box.
Visible scratches
When you can see the visible scratches on the litter box, it is the sign that it is not able to clean thoroughly anymore because:
- It has dirty lines that cannot be scrubbed
- Rough spots
- Moist particles stick to the particular parts of the box
Irremovable odor
You are cleaning the box thoroughly, but there is still a lousy odor of waste and urine. It means that odor is absorbed by the plastic, which is impossible to remove now. It is the condition that you often see cat poop in any corner of your house instead of the litter box. It is time to replace the box.
Clouded plastic
If you see any change in the color of the litter box, it means that the plastic has been damaged by ammonia. It means that it will start to absorb the odor and harmful bacteria, causing many severe issues to you as well as your cat. So it is time to change the litter box before the breakdown of the plastic.
How to make litter box last longer
There are certain things to do that can extend the life of your litter box. Some ways to extend the life span of the box are discussed below; some of them are inexpensive.
Litter box liners
Litter box liner is an expensive way to increase the life of your litter box, but it is more helpful than any other way. By using the litter box liner, you can prevent the box from scratching, as well as from absorbing the odors and bacteria. It also helps in the natural and quick cleaning of the litter box.
Avoid direct sunlight
Place the litter box in the place where it cannot get direct sunlight because sunlight can cause the plastic to be brittle or degrade. If it has happened to your litter, then replace it as soon as possible.
Keep it clean
Keep the litter box clean as much as you can; scoop it twice a day. It allows the airflow, which keeps the litter fresh. Make sure to thoroughly wash the litter box with a pet-safe cleaner once a week; it will keep the box odor and germ-free for a long time.if you do not have time to clean litter box often then you can use disposable kitty litter boxes which are not needed to clean and you can dispose them easily after some days of use.
Add baking soda
After cleaning and drying the litter box, before adding the litter in it, pour some baking soda in the bottom of the box. It can control the odor as well as lengthen the lifespan of the box. It absorbs all the harmful bacteria and bad smells, preventing plastic from consuming them.
Use multiple boxes
If you have multiple cats, then use multiple boxes for them because if you have a single box, then you have to scoop several times, and there are also more scratches to reduce the lifespan of the box. So, it is best to use more than one litter box for your multiple cats.
Which litter box should be replaced often?
The litter box made of inexpensive plastic, which is usually used by one cat, needs to be replaced once a year. A high-quality box may last much longer than the poor quality box, which is used by more than one cat.
Overall the need of buying a new litter box depends on the following factors:
- Durability
- Wear and tear
- Number of cats
- Cat’s need
Final verdict
So, the replacement of litter box depends on various factors, and there are also some ways that you can adopt to increase the lifespan of your kitty’s litter pan.