Bringing home a new kitty or kitten can be an exciting experience. When you and your family are about to meet a new furry friend, it is important to establish good habits so that you give them the right attention. Taking care of your cat also means keeping its litter box clean, to help it live happily and at the same time have a clean home.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Clean Dirty Litter Areas Every Day
Step 1. Try different types of substrate
When you bring your cat home, you need to ask the previous owner what type of litter they used, and to help them settle into their new home, you should offer them one of the same variety. Some dogs are very picky about physiological needs and you shouldn't make too many changes in the habits of the cat you adopt. Give it a few days to acclimate and become familiar with the sand, then you can think of some changes, if you think it is appropriate. Some types of substrate are designed to "clump" around the pee or to eliminate odors emitted by the cat's feces; you or the cat may find that some types are better than others. Pay attention to the guidelines below to understand which litter boxes might be best suited to each other's needs:
- Safe for puppies. Find one made with larger grains and a coarser texture, such as pine. On some packs you may even read "safe for puppies"; however, not all of them are suitable for younger cats, such as the clumping one and the one that produces a lot of dust. Puppies may also ingest the clumping compound, causing abdominal discomfort. Even excessively dusty one is not suitable for kittens, as it can cause lung and breathing problems.
- Agglomerating type. It allows easy cleaning and must be replaced less frequently than other types; it is great for reducing odors and is appreciated by most cats.
- Not clumping. This litter is suitable for eliminating odors and is usually less expensive than the clumping one; however, urine can saturate it, making frequent full replacements necessary.
- Based on silicon crystals. This is much more absorbent, it retains moisture, urine and odors; when the crystals have completely absorbed the waste, you need to replace all the sand.
- Biodegradable and vegetable. It can be composed of pine, wheat and / or corn pellets and is able to neutralize odors; it does not create as much dust or residue as other types. This can be a great healthy option for cats with respiratory problems.
Step 2. Collect any lumps of dirt
Use a sturdy metal or plastic scoop to remove any residual urine and feces. By keeping the litter box clean and free of all traces of excrement, you also prevent bad smells and encourage your cat to use the litter box.
- Collect dirt at least once a day, but even more often if you have multiple cats.
- Make sure you remove all the dirt;
- Clean the scoop to avoid spreading bacteria;
- Out of respect for those who have the task of collecting the waste, throw the feces in a specific bag and close it with a knot before throwing it in the bin;
- If you use sand that can be disposed of down the drain, throw it down the toilet;
- Always wash your hands after cleaning the litter tray;
- If you wish, you can wear gloves for this operation.
Step 3. Maintain the right substrate level
Once you have collected the rubbish or cleaned the tray, be sure to refill it with an adequate amount of sand. Your cat may have her own preferences regarding how deep to dig, so pay attention to her behavior.
- Make sure it is at least 5 cm deep, as this is the preferred thickness for most cats;
- Some long-haired specimens prefer a more superficial layer.
Part 2 of 4: Completely Replace the Substrate
Step 1. Replace the litter box
Throw away all the old sand and put new, never used sand. Based on the number of cats living in the house, the number of litter boxes they have and the type of sand they use, you need to decide how often to change the substrate.
- The non-clumping type should be replaced at least twice a week.
- For the clumping one, if you collect the feces every day, you can do a complete change every two or three weeks.
- If you smell bad or build up a lot of dirt, you need to replace it first.
Step 2. Clean the container by wiping it
Whenever you replace the substrate, you must also wash the tray thoroughly; you can use some neutral detergent, such as dish soap and warm water. On the package it is generally indicated if it is a little aggressive product.
- Completely empty the toilet cassette;
- Take the cleansers and a disposable sponge or cloth;
- Do not use products that contain ammonia, bleach, citrus oil or others with a strong smell, as they could make the cat move away;
- Also be aware that some detergents, such as laundry detergent, toilet cleaners, and sanitizing wipes, can be toxic to cats. Read the product label carefully for warnings to keep children and pets away from the area until it is dry.
Step 3. Consider using a liner
Putting a cover inside the litter tray can make changing the litter box much easier; this coating is specific to retain the sand, as if it were a bag, and makes the act of removing and throwing it easier.
- If you want to get rid of the dirty litter easily, this is a great solution;
- In many cases, the coat ends up being torn off by cats;
- However, be aware that some cats cannot tolerate this type of liner in the container, which could act as a deterrent and prevent them from using the "toilet" properly.
Part 3 of 4: Keeping the Litter Box a Pleasant Environment
Step 1. Purchase a blanket
This model is a great way to keep the surrounding area clean; however, know that this solution has advantages and disadvantages, for example:
- The cover can prevent a lot of material from leaking out of the container;
- Some cats may prefer this solution to the open model;
- You're more likely to forget to clean it, because you don't see when it's dirty;
- It retains more odor inside, even if it is still necessary to provide for frequent cleaning;
- If your cat is large, it may not have enough space inside.
Step 2. Consider putting on a hygienic mat
This is a simple method to limit and contain any dirt that may accumulate on the outside of the container; these mats are used to collect the sand and dirt that is pushed out of the box by the cat.
- Place the mattress under the litter box to trap any residue that escapes from it;
- You can possibly put it just outside the opening of the container;
- As an alternative to commercially available mats, you can use scraps of carpet, rugs or towels.
Step 3. Keep the container in a quiet place
Cats like to do their business in an intimate and quiet space; you should therefore place the litter box in a place away from particularly noisy areas of the house.
- Make sure babies stay away from the litter box, as they may disturb the cat or may want to play with the litter box itself.
- Do not interrupt the cat while it carries out its "bodily functions", otherwise it may not want to use the tray in the future.
Part 4 of 4: Troubleshoot the Litter Box
Step 1. Observe the cat
Check his habits regarding the use of the litter box, pay attention to whether or not he can use it; there could be several reasons why he is not enticed to enter, including:
- The litter box must be clean;
- It is in a place where there is confusion;
- The cat does not like the type of substrate you have chosen;
- The container is not big enough for the cat;
- If you can't find a reason, contact your vet.
Step 2. Indulge your furry friend's needs
It could happen that the cat refuses any litter box you offer him; this situation occurs very often when the cat is used to living outdoors. Try the following methods to re-accustom your pet to using the box.
- If your cat is used to living outdoors and likes to use houseplants as a "personal bathroom", try adding some of the plant's soil to the sand in the litter box;
- If you reject all commercially available substrate types, perhaps plain sand can work;
- If you have a puppy, consider using a non-clumping type of litter, such as pellets (for example, newspaper pellets).
- Make sure you get rid of all substrate when necessary to keep his "toilet" clean.
Step 3. Don't buy scented litter
Although convenient, it can keep the cat away and discourage him from using the container; find other ways to reduce bad odor.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom of the pan;
- Do regular cleaning.
Step 4. Always use only one type of substrate
Once you find what your cat likes, don't look for others; if you keep changing the type of litter, the cat can stop using the litter box. If you want to get positive results, you need to use the same product as much as possible.
If the type of substrate you are using is no longer available, look for another one that is as similar as possible to the original
Step 5. Provide enough trays
The rule of "one litter box for each cat" is not always valid, indeed, it is often insufficient. The number of containers depends on the number of specimens living with you; an insufficient amount of litter often causes cats to litter in the house.
- If you have more than one kitten, you should get several trays to keep in various different places so that cats don't have to "queue to go to the bathroom".
- The general rule to follow is to have a litter box for each specimen, plus one;
- Put at least one on each floor of the house;
- It is best not to arrange them all in the same place;
- Make it as comfortable as possible for your cat to access and use the litter boxes.
Step 6. Choose the correct type of container
There are many models to choose from; most of the features meet the owner's needs, while others are designed specifically for the cat. You may have to take a few tries before finding the right crates for your pets.
- Take into consideration the measures and the basic shapes of the tray;
- Do some research on optional devices like covers, air purifiers, or built-in cleaning mechanisms.
Step 7. Arrange the containers in the best places
There are some general rules regarding the most suitable places to put cat "toilets"; following these instructions ensures that the cat uses the box and does not have "accidents" in the house.
- Do not put the litter box near the food and water bowl;
- Space the cassettes apart. If you have more than one, place them at some distance from each other so that the cat always has at least one nearby.
- Put them in quiet places; cats do not like to be disturbed while they go about their business;
- Try to find a place that is easy to clean. It may be tempting to hide the cassette from view, but doing so runs the risk of forgetting to clean it.
Advice
- Get to know your cats well, especially regarding their habits and preferences. What works for one cat may not lead to any results with another, even though they both live in the same house.
- If you ask friends to look after the animals while you travel, remember to inform them thoroughly about cat "bathroom" habits and routines; Also, ask them to follow the litter box cleaning schedule as much as possible.
- By wearing gloves, you can prevent substrate dust from coming into contact with your skin.
- Make sure you have not overfilled the container; cats usually kick and scrape when they are done "using the bathroom" and too much sand means more cleaning work on your part.
- If your cat has diarrhea, it is best to clean the entire tray each time, as the liquid stool is absorbed by more substrate and smells more.
- If the animal does not want to use the litter, add some soil to the sand, as it is the substrate it would use in nature.
Warnings
- Remember not to punish cats in any way when they get dirty in the house; punishments don't help. If you have persistent problems, call your vet; may refer you to an animal behavior specialist.
- Never use household solvents to clean the toilet cassette; the vapors can be toxic and some animals (such as cats and ferrets) like to chew the sand from time to time.
- If cats start having problems with the "toilet", such as getting dirty in the house or not using the litter box as often, call your vet.
- Some cats' feces contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes a condition called toxoplasmosis. It is an asymptomatic disease that does not lead to serious health problems in most healthy individuals; however, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should be especially cautious and avoid cleaning the litter box if possible, as the infection could seriously affect the fetus or these patients.
- If you are expecting a baby or are immunosuppressed but cannot have someone else clean the litter box, consider wearing rubber gloves and a face mask.
