Getting a new kitten or cat can be an exciting time. As you and your family get to know this adorable new friend, it's important that you instill good habits in providing proper care. Proper care for cats includes keeping the litter box clean to keep the cat happy and your home clean.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Clean Only Dirty Litter Box Parts Every Day
Step 1. Try different types of cat litter or litter media (also known as cat litter)
When you start raising a kitten, ask the previous owner what kind of litter the kitten usually uses and use that type as a start. Some kittens can be very fussy about the litter they use to pass urine and feces, and you shouldn't have to change too much for this new resident of your home. Give the kitten a few days to get used to and know exactly where the litter box is, then you can start thinking about changing the litter type for whatever reason. Some types of cat litter are designed to clump or deodorize cat litter. You or your cat may find the type of litter that works best for you. Read the types of litter below to learn which one you and your kitten might like:
- Cat litter that is safe for kittens. Look for cat litter media that are made of larger, coarser materials such as spruce. In addition, there is also a lot of sand that is accompanied by the words "safe for kittens". However, certain litters may not be suitable for kittens, such as those that clump together or produce a lot of dust. The clumped type of sand can be eaten by kittens and cause an upset stomach. Cat litter that produces too much dust is not good for a kitten's lungs and can cause breathing problems.
- Cat litter that can be picked up with a shovel or clump. This type makes cleaning the litter box easier and requires less replacement sand than other types of sand. This type of sand is also good at reducing bad odors and is liked by most cats.
- Non-clumping cat litter. This type is great for removing bad odors and is usually not as expensive as the clumping type. However, cat urine can thin out the litter and cause the litter to be changed frequently and thoroughly.
- Cat sand made of crystal / silica. This type of sand is highly absorbent, absorbing moisture, urine, and unpleasant odors. After the crystal/silica sand has completely absorbed, you must replace the entire sand.
- Disposal media made from plants / which can be decomposed. These can be pine, wheat, and/or corn grains which neutralize unpleasant odors. This type is a type that does not produce as much dust or residue as other dirt sand. Plant-based litter media may be safer for cats with respiratory problems.
Step 2. Pick up the lumpy sand with a shovel
Remove any lumps of urine and stool with a metal or sturdy plastic shovel. Keeping the litter box clean of urine and feces will prevent unpleasant odors and encourage cats to use the litter box.
- Shovel at least once a day, more often if you have more than one cat.
- Make sure you remove any dirt that is present.
- Clean your shovel to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- For the sake of the cleanliness of the garbage collectors, put the litter in a dog litter bag and tie the ends before putting it in the trash can.
- If you use cat litter that can be flushed down the toilet, then flush it down the toilet.
- Always wash your hands after cleaning the litter box.
- You can also try wearing gloves.
Step 3. Maintain the amount of sand in the box
After shoveling the dirt in the box or cleaning it, make sure you fill it with an equal amount of sand. The cat may have his own taste in the depth of litter so pay attention to its use.
- Make sure the height of the sand remains about 5 cm because most cats like these conditions.
- Some cats with long coats may prefer shallower sand.
Part 2 of 4: Completely Replacing Dirt Sand
Step 1. Replace the dirt sand
Remove all the old sand, replacing it with clean and new dirt sand. The number of cats you live with, the number of litter boxes available for the animals, and the type of litter you use will determine how often you should change litter.
- Change to non-clumping sand at least twice a week.
- For the clumpy type of litter, if you scoop out the litter every day, you can replace it every two or three weeks.
- If you notice an unpleasant odor or lots of lumps, replace the sand immediately.
Step 2. Scrub the litter box
Every time you change the litter, wash the box thoroughly. You can use a mild detergent such as dish soap and hot water. The label on the soap package usually tells you whether the product is gentle or not.
- Empty all the sand from the box.
- Collect detergent and a disposable sponge or cloth.
- Avoid using detergents containing ammonia, bleach, citrus oils or strong-smelling oils; these materials can keep cats away.
- Some cleaning products, including laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner and disinfectant wipes, can be toxic to cats. Check the label for warnings such as "Keep pets and children away from the cleaned area to dry."
Step 3. Consider using a pedestal in a litter box
The litter box mat may greatly simplify the process of replacing the litter. The litter box base is designed to hold sand like a bag, making it easier to remove and clean the litter box.
- Use the litter box base to get rid of the litter easily.
- In many cases, the mat will eventually be torn apart by the cat.
- Some cats hate litter box mats and using them may deter the cat from going to the litter box.
Part 3 of 4: Maintaining a Comfortable Environment Around the Litter Box
Step 1. Buy a litter box with a lid
A closed litter box is a great option for keeping the area around the litter box clean. Keep in mind the advantages and disadvantages of a closed litter box:
- The lid of the box can prevent a lot of dirt from escaping from the box.
- Some cats may prefer a litter box with a lid.
- You tend to forget to clean it because your view is blocked.
- The lidded box traps more unpleasant odors inside. Therefore, it must be cleaned frequently.
- If your cat is large, the litter box may not be enough.
Step 2. Consider using a special litter mat (or litter mat)
A litter mat is a simple method you can use to help hold dirt around the box. This mat is used to collect any remaining sand that the cat may have pushed onto the floor.
- Place a litter mat under the litter box to collect any sand that may come out of the box.
- This mat can be placed right in front of the litter box entrance.
- Instead of mats that are widely sold, use pieces of carpet, washcloths or towels.
Step 3. Place the litter box in a quiet place
Cats like to urinate in secret. Try to place the litter box in a place away from busy areas of your home.
- Keep small children away from the litter box as they may disturb the cat or try to play with the litter box.
- Don't disturb your cat while the animal is using the litter box, as this may discourage them from using the litter box again.
Part 4 of 4: Troubleshooting the Litter Box
Step 1. Watch your cat
Pay attention to your cat's use of the litter box. Know when your pet may or may not use the box. There could be many reasons why your cat isn't using the litter box, such as:
- The litter box needs to be cleaned.
- The litter box is in a busy area.
- The cat doesn't like the type of cat litter you choose.
- The litter box is not big enough for the cat.
- If you can't find the reason, consult a veterinarian.
Step 2. Adapt to the cat's needs
There may be times when the cat refuses whatever type of sand you give it. This situation most often occurs in cats who are used to living outdoors. Try some of the ideas below to get your cat back to using the litter box.
- If your cat is used to being an outdoor cat and likes to use houseplants as a litter box, try mixing some potting soil in the litter.
- If your cat refuses all over-the-counter litter, regular litter may do the trick.
- If you have kittens, consider using a non-clumping litter such as pellets (eg newsprint pellets).
- Don't forget to remove all the dirt sand when needed to maintain cleanliness.
Step 3. Don't buy scented manure sand
Despite their convenience, scented litter can prevent your cat from using the litter box. Try some other methods to reduce bad odors.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom of the litter box.
- Always be disciplined in cleaning the litter box.
Step 4. Stick to one type of litter box
Once you find a type of litter that your cat likes, don't change it. Changing the type of cat litter may cause the cat to stop using the box.
If your favorite type is no longer being produced, try to find new sand as closely as possible to the old one
Step 5. Provide a sufficient number of litter boxes
One litter box per cat isn't always right – in fact, it's often not enough. The number of boxes you should place in your house will depend on how many cats you live with. Not providing enough litter boxes around the house can result in the cat littering the house.
- If you have more than one cat, provide litter boxes in several locations so that no cat has to queue to use the toilet.
- The general rule is one box per cat plus one more box.
- Provide at least one litter box on each floor in the house.
- It's best not to put all the litter boxes in one place.
- Make it easy for the cat to use the litter box.
Step 6. Choose the right box type
There are many types of litter boxes to choose from. Most litter box features are made for the owner and some of these features your cat may not like. You may have to try different breeds before finding the right box for your cat.
- Keep in mind the basic size and shape of the litter box.
- Find out about the features of the litter box such as the cover, air purifier, or cleaning mechanism that is included in it.
Step 7. Place litter boxes in the best places
There are some general rules about the best place to put a cat's litter box. Following these guidelines can ensure your cat uses the litter box and doesn't litter.
- Do not place the litter box too close to the cat's food or drink.
- Spread out the litter boxes. If you have multiple litter boxes, place them far apart from each other so the cat will always have at least one box nearby.
- Put it in a quiet place. Cats don't like to be disturbed when they urinate.
- Try to find a place that will make it easier for you to clean it. It may be tempting to put the litter box somewhere out of the way, but it's easy to forget to clean it.
Tips
- Get to know your cat well and learn about its habits and preferences. What works for one cat may not work for another, even if these animals live in the same household.
- If you ask a friend to take care of your cats while traveling, make sure you are well informed about your pet's bowel habits and routines. In addition, ask your friend to follow the schedule for cleaning the litter box as much as possible.
- Wearing gloves can prevent dust and dirt from sticking to the skin.
- Make sure not to fill too much sand in the litter box. Cats usually kick when they're done defecating and there will be more spilled sand for you to clean up.
- If the cat is pooping, it's best to clean the entire litter box as the loose stools will soak up most of the litter and smell worse.
- If the cat doesn't want to use the litter box, try mixing soil in it as nature provides.
Warning
- Remember not to punish your cats in any way when they litter the house. Punishment will help neither the cat nor you. For problems that don't go away, call your vet. You may be referred to an animal behavior specialist.
- Never use household cleaning agents on the litter box. The smell can make your pet sick and some animals (cats, ferrets, etc.) occasionally like to nibble on their litter box.
- If your cats start having problems with the litter box, such as littering in the house or not urinating as often as before, talk to your vet.
- Some cat litter hangs Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes a health problem called toxoplasmosis. The disease is asymptomatic, causing few serious health problems in the healthiest of people. However, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should exercise caution and avoid cleaning the litter box whenever possible as toxoplasma infection can have serious consequences for them and/or for the unborn baby.
- If you are pregnant and/or have a compromised immune system but can't find someone else to clean your cat's litter box, consider putting on gloves and a mask before cleaning.
