Cats, your furry friends need a proper place to do their business, which you call as a litter box. It is an essential accessory of your pet and needs your extra attention. Cats often do their business outside the litter box and create a mess on the floor or under the bed, which makes your day harder. Do you observe why your cat poops outside instead of the litter box? They do so because the litter box is dirty and smelly.
Cats want their litter box always neat and tidy, and if it is not, then, they refuse to use it again. There is a lot of risk for you as well as for your pet if you are not serious about the cleaning of your litter box. A dirty box has many harmful bacteria in it, which can cause many issues — cleaning a litter box, although it is not a pleasant task, it needs to be done to keep your furry friend as well as you happy and healthy.
Here cute litter box will discuss some tricks and tips about how to keep clean a litter box.
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Tips to keep the litter box clean
Choose a sturdy box
First of all, the thing which you should consider is the litter box. Buy the box, which is easy to clean. It is a good idea to choose a box that has sturdy plastic and straight corners, which makes the scooping into the box easy. A large, flat storage box is the best choice for a litter box.
Many people prefer covered litter boxes for their cats because they keep the litter and wastes covered and out of sight. But these closed litter boxes are not liked by the cats because they contained the smell inside the box, which is senses by the cats in no time due to their heightened senses, so they refuse to use it, some cats face trouble in fitting in the box. You have to clean this type of litter box regularly.
Covered models are used without their hood is an excellent idea because they provide easy entry to the cat, and their high walls keep the litter inside the box.
Get first-class litter scoops
One of the essential things you can do to keep the litter box clean is proper scooping; for this purpose, first-class litter scoop may be your best investment. Scoop, which can break under the weight of clumped litter, rust over time, or cause your hand pain creates a difficult task that you are likely to avoid.
A variety of scoops is available in the market that eases you in easy cleaning. Scoops made of aluminum are considered as best because they won’t rust or break when you are scooping up heavy. These scoop made of aluminum are deeper and wider, which makes this unpleasant task quick and hassle-free.
Choose the scoop which can scrap the sides and bottom of the litter box without flicking any litter around. The handle should be ergonomically designed to reduce hand or wrist pain.
Place a Mat under the litter box
Placing a mat under the litter box can decrease your cleaning time and keep the mess contained. Choose the mat that can fit under almost any litter box and extends out on all four sides. When your cat comes out from the litter box and steps over the mat, it collects all the litter stuck with the cat paws and prevents your floor from the litter that could be scattered by the cat’s paws. Never use a towel or regular bath mats because they can train the cat to eliminate them when she finds them elsewhere in the house.
How often to clean litter box?
If you want your kitty’s litter box cleaning process easier, then do it often. If you leave the box messy for a long time, then it is harder to get it clean from all the urine and poop. It does not only make the litter box smelly but also enforces your cat to poop outside the box, which increases your cleaning time. If you are not doing the cleaning process more often then, be ready for getting messes out of the carpets, laundry, and bedding.
Scoop the litter box two times in a day; it will allow the airflow and keep the litter fresh for a longer time. If you have more cats using a single litter box, then scoop it more than twice a day.
It is good to wear disposable gloves during scooping; some experts suggest that wearing a mask is also necessary to avoid germs and dust.
Instructions for step by step cleaning of the litter box
Some steps to clean the litter box daily are listed below. This process is useful if you are using a clumping litter, but if you are using a non-clumping litter, then some of the steps can be followed. Phases of the cleaning litter box are:
Sifting and scooping
During the time of cleaning, scoop out the solids. Scoop the litter to the bottom of the box to remove every trace of the waste. Keep the waste bin within reach, for the quick and easy disposal of litter. You wouldn’t like to walk all across the room with a scoopful trailing litter, therefore, keep the dustbin near you.
Sifting litter pans are also available, which makes the cleaning of litter easier. If you have a sifting tray, then filter the litter. Clean litter will fall off at the bottom of the box, leaving the wastes clumps behind. Throw these wastes clumps away.
Tip and tap
It is the technique that helps you to get urine- clumped litter that may be hiding in the corners of the litter box. It is a simple technique, tip the box at an angle of 45 degrees, and the majority of the litter will move out of the way, give the box a tap, scrape and scoop anything that comes loose. Repeat the same technique on other side.
Wipe and wash
After taping the litter from each side of the box, if you see anything stuck on the sides or in the bottom, then wipe to clean it. Make sure before using the wipe that it is non-toxic for the cats.
Dump and dust
After all the steps, it is the right time to throw cat litter out of the mat on which your litter box is placed. Dump the mat into the garbage receptacle, dust it off, and use the pet wipes if there is anything left to stick on it. You can scrub the mat with mild dish soap and water.
Add litter every two to three days
Due to the scooping of litter on a daily basis, the litter in the box will be running low. When you notice that the litter is getting lower, then it is time to add more litter.
If you don’t have time to notice that either there is a need to add litter or not, then your cat will stop covering his poop completely soon, which is a more difficult task for you that you can understand definitely.
Empty the litter box and wash it after a week
During the weekend, you have not only to rest or play but also have a task to clean the litter box entirely.
After a week, empty whole the litter box into a trash bin. Make sure that you have gloves and mask while cleaning the box. Once all the litter has dumped, the actual cleaning of the box is started. Use a mild, non-scented piece of cloth to clean the box. Scrub all sides of the box with a rag and rinse it with warm water
You can use two to three drops of vinegar to kill the harmful germs in the box.
Sprinkle baking soda
After thoroughly washing and drying of the litter box, now deodorize it. It is a process that keeps your cat's box clean and smelling fresh for a longer time. Thus your cat will appreciate it.
Before adding the litter in the box, sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the box, it will keep the litter fresh and smell-free for a long time. You can also use charcoal or carbon filters for this purpose too.
Final verdict
If you want to keep your furry baby happy and healthy, then keep her litter box clean and tidy. It is essential for you as well as for your pet. By following tricks and tips mentioned above, you can make your kitty’s business place fresh.