Proper Litter Tray Cleaning
Pet product manufacturers are always coming out with new inventions that promise to make cat ownership a breeze. But getting things done quickly doesn‘t always equal getting things done in the best way.
Automatic cat litter tray scooping machines promise that you’ll never have to scoop again. But that doesn’t mean you’ll never have to clean the tray again. Merely scooping does not keep the litter tray clean or free of odors, germs, or harmful viruses that can spread.
In order to properly clean a cat litter tray, obviously the first step is to scoop out waste daily. Twice a day is even better; would you wait a day to flush your own toilet? All litter must be completely removed and replaced at least every other week to once a month. Some people clean once a week. This frequency might depend on whether you are using scoopable litter, how well the litter clumps, and whether you need to scrape off the bottom of the try or not. Non-clumping litter will need to be emptied out more often. If the clumps of your scoopable litter fall apart, you might want to find a better clumping litter. If you are scraping off the bottom of the tray due to sticking litter, you may need to pour more litter into the tray to keep the litter deeper.
Never pour liquid bleach from a bottle into a cat litter try to clean it. If there is any leftover urine, the ammonia in the urine will mix with the bleach to create a noxious gas. Instead, you should first wash out the tray and the scooper with mild detergent and HOT water once or twice, then thoroughly rinse and dry. Then, once you know the box is clean, you may want to kill any stubborn bacteria with a mild bleach solution. If you have an industrial strength spray bottle, you can mix 30 parts water to 1 part bleach and spray the tray, then rinse and dry with paper towels or sunshine, if another box is available to the cat. If you don’t have an industrial spay bottle, regular spray bottles will be ruined by bleach. You will need to fill the litter tray with a gallon of water then a cup of bleach and let it soak for a few minutes. Wipe the sides with paper towel inside and out, then pour out the bleach solution, rinse thoroughly, and dry.
When refilling the cat litter tray, it is safe to sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom. This will help reduce odours. Non-scented litter is recommended, as it is more pure and therefore less offensive to your cat’s sensitive nose, and healthier. Non-scented litter is less likely to introduce perfumed chemicals into your cat’s urinary tract, which can cause infection. A cat with a UTI will be in pain and will visit the litter tray every few minutes. If you notice your cat doing this, take him to the vet immediately. Urinary blockage can lead to death very quickly in a cat.
It is also advised not to mask over the odors around the litter tray with chemical sprays and air fresheners. Not only can these chemicals be harmful to your cat, but not using them will help you keep track of how often the box needs to be scooped and cleaned. If the odour is still overwhelming despite your best cleaning efforts, take a better look into your cat’s health and diet.
Why Won’t my Cat Use Her Litter Tray? 3 Step Plan
One of the most perplexing events of cat ownership is when elimination happens outside of the cat litter tray. One or two instances may not set off alarm bells, but if you’re finding “surprises” regularly, it’s time to take action.
1) Clean House
The first step is to scrub the spots that kitty treated as a toilet, and empty, clean, and refill the cat litter tray. Do not use vinegar, which will increase the acidity in the area and invite bacteria and odour. Use soap and water or an extractor with or without enzymes made specifically for pet messes. Dry by blotting or with a hair dryer to reduce likelihood of bacteria growth.
The cat litter tray can be cleaned with soap and water, a solution mixed from the cat mess cleaner, or a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Make sure that the clean tray is rinsed thoroughly, as many cats won’t like the smell of soap or bleach left over in the tray.
2) Experiment with Tray Types, Numbers, Placement, and Litter
Believe it or not, even a cat who has only had one litter tray for most of his life might like another. The rule among “cat folk” is that the amount of trays in the home should equal the number of cats plus one. Ideally, the trays should be placed in different rooms, but having a couple in one room may be fine for multiple cats.
There are many reasons to supply cats with extra trays:
1) Some cats don’t like sharing a litter tray with other cats.
2) As a cat ages, he might prefer that the tray be closer as it becomes harder to “hold it.”
3) If the litter tray is placed near a loud appliance the cat may not feel safe going there. Or, he may simply prefer one spot over another, being the finicky type that most cats are.
You might also think about experimenting with different litter types. There are crystals, scoopable, wood chips, and recycled papers. Some cats have sensitive paws or dislike certain textures for mysterious reasons known only to felines. Some cats have a urine chemistry that mixes poorly with some litter brands, causing smells that turn off both the cat and you!
Cats can be picky about the build of the litter tray as well. Some cats are too big to fit in covered trays well, while other cats may prefer the privacy. Older cats may prefer a tray with lower sides that’s easier to walk into and out of.
3) Examine Health & Stress Factors
Some cats begin “forgetting” where the cat litter tray is because of health reasons. For example, if slight constipation causes pain when going, a cat might try to “escape” the pain by escaping from the place she was when the pain occurred. The same thing goes for stomach pain and diarrhea. These two issues have countless causes, and your cat should be seen by a vet if this is happening.
And finally, some alpha cats will stalk another cat from outside the litter tray, making the cat in the tray feel stressed. Would you want someone staring at you while you were busy in the toilet? Even the most social of cats need privacy at times.
Another cause of stress that should be looked into could include a sudden change or move, either in dwellings, another pet or human in the home, or the litter tray itself. Cats are complex creatures. They love to explore as much as they love predictability. They love company as much as they love independence. And they will love you for helping them keep their litter trays clean, happy, and safe.
