Keep Your Cat Pan Clean: A Regular Routine

Keeping your cat's litter box clean is important for both you and your cat's health and wellbeing. Cats are happier when they have a clean environment and are less likely to feel stressed, anxious, or aggressive. A dirty litter box can also cause cats to urinate in the house instead of their litter box, and can lead to health issues such as urinary tract infections, ammonia-related respiratory irritation, and the spreading of salmonella. The frequency of cleaning depends on the type of litter, the number of cats, and personal preferences. Clumping litter, for example, needs to be changed less frequently as it can be scooped, whereas non-clumping litter needs to be changed more often as it cannot be scooped. As a general rule, it's recommended to clean the litter box at least once a day and to do a full change at least once a month.

How often to clean a litter box: scoop out clumps daily, do a full change twice a month, rinse the litter box twice a month, scrub the box monthly, and replace it yearly

How Often to Clean a Litter Box

Scoop out clumps daily

Remove urine and faeces clumps at least once a day, or more if you need to control the smell. If you have a very sensitive cat, you may need to scoop out clumps every time your cat uses the litter box.

Do a full change twice a month

If you use clumping litter, discard all the litter and pour in new litter every other week. For non-clumping litter, you'll need to do this every 2–3 days.

Rinse the litter box twice a month

Wash the litter box with warm water and a mild, scent-free, non-toxic cleaning product every second week to once a month.

Scrub the box monthly

Use a soapy sponge to get into all the corners and give the box a proper cleaning.

Replace it yearly

Buy a new litter box every year, as plastic holds an odour after excessive use, especially if it has scratches from the litter and your cat's claws.

The type of litter affects how often you need to clean the litter box

The type of litter you use for your cat will affect how often you need to clean the litter box. Clumping litter absorbs cat urine and forms hard clumps that can be scooped from the box, leaving the unsoiled litter behind. If you use non-clumping litter, urine will be absorbed by the clay or other ingredients such as corn or wood, with some falling to the bottom of the cat box under the litter.

Clumping litters need changing less frequently because you can use a litter scoop to remove the coated clumps of cat pee and poop. Non-clumping litters cannot be scooped, so to clean them you must change out all of the litter each time.

If you use clumping litter, it is recommended to scoop the box daily and change it out completely at least once a month. If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter every two to three weeks.

If you use non-clumping litter and only have one cat, changing the litter twice a week is a good guideline. If you have more than one cat, every other day may work better.

There are no hard and fast rules for how often you should change the cat litter. Some cats are larger and have larger feces and greater amounts of urine, while others have tiny feces and smaller spritzes of pee. Your cat’s actual output plays a role in how often you need to scoop or change the box.

The number of cats you have impacts how often you need to clean their litter boxes

The number of cats you have will determine how often you need to clean their litter boxes. The more cats you have, the more frequently the litter boxes will need to be cleaned. This is because more cats means more waste, which can lead to a build-up of harmful bacteria and parasites in the litter box.

It is recommended to have multiple litter boxes if you have multiple cats. This will help distribute the waste and reduce the cleaning burden. Vets recommend having one litter box per cat, plus an extra one if possible. This will not only make maintenance easier but also prevent issues with cats not wanting to share a litter box.

The type of litter you use will also impact the cleaning frequency. Clumping litter, which forms hard clumps of waste that can be easily scooped out, requires less frequent changes. Non-clumping litter, on the other hand, cannot be scooped and needs to be completely changed each time.

Additionally, the sensitivity of your cat will play a role. Some cats are put off by even the slightest odour, so you may need to clean the litter box after each use. This can be done by scooping out the waste clumps and discarding them.

As a general guideline, it is recommended to scoop out waste at least once a day and to do a full litter change and rinse every two weeks. However, if you have multiple cats, you may need to change the litter more often, approximately every 2-3 weeks.

Failing to keep the litter box clean can lead to various issues. Cats may start urinating or defecating outside the litter box, and dirty litter boxes can cause anxiety, stress, and even aggression in your feline friends. It can also lead to health issues for both you and your cat, such as urinary tract infections, respiratory irritation, and the spread of bacteria and parasites.

Therefore, it is important to maintain a good litter box cleaning routine, scooping waste daily and doing a thorough clean at regular intervals, depending on the number of cats you have and their individual sensitivities.

Your cat's sensitivity will dictate how often you need to clean their litter box

The frequency with which you need to clean your cat's litter box depends on several factors, including the type of litter, the number of cats, and your cat's sensitivity. If your cat is sensitive to odours, you may need to clean their litter box each time they use it by scooping out the clumps and discarding them.

Cats don't like to use litter boxes with clumped waste in them and will need you to remove the waste for them to feel comfortable in their box. A dirty litter box can also cause a cat to become anxious, stressed, and aggressive. If you notice a change in their behaviour, it might be time to give their litter box a good clean.

Litter boxes with clumping litter should be cleaned twice a day and have a full litter change and rinse every other week. If you have a very sensitive cat, you may need to clean the litter box more frequently, even if you have multiple litter boxes.

Scooping out waste at least once a day will significantly reduce odours and encourage your cat to keep using the litter box. It's also important to completely replace the litter every one to five weeks, depending on the quality of the litter and the number of cats you have.

In addition to scooping waste, it's important to wipe down the litter box and remove any leftover litter. This will help keep the litter box clean and odour-free.

By maintaining a clean litter box, you can prevent common health issues for your cat, such as urinary tract infections, ammonia-related respiratory irritation, and the spread of salmonella.

If you are pregnant, you should clean the litter box more often, but it is recommended that someone else does it

The frequency with which a cat litter box should be cleaned depends on several factors, such as the number of cats, the type of litter used, and personal preferences. Generally, it is recommended to scoop out clumps of waste at least every other day, especially when using clumping litter, to maintain a pleasant odour and a clean environment for your cat. A complete change of litter is suggested at least once a month, or every 2-3 weeks for multiple cats.

However, if you are pregnant, extra precautions should be taken. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with cat faeces, and it poses a significant risk to the developing fetus. As such, it is highly recommended that pregnant women do not clean the litter box if possible. The risk of toxoplasmosis can be mitigated by having someone else perform this task during pregnancy.

If no one else is available to take on the responsibility, pregnant women should take extra care when cleaning the litter box. It is crucial to wear disposable gloves and wash hands thoroughly after disposing of the gloves. Additionally, maintaining daily cleaning is essential, as the Toxoplasma parasite becomes infectious one to five days after being shed in cat faeces. Keeping the litter box clean and fresh can help reduce the risk of infection.

To further minimise the chances of contracting toxoplasmosis, it is recommended to keep your cat indoors and feed them commercial dry or canned food. By avoiding raw or undercooked meat in their diet, you can lower the risk of your cat becoming infected and passing the infection on to you. Following these guidelines will help ensure the health and safety of both the pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Frequently asked questions