How many of you love everything about your feline friend except her litter box?
Welcome to the club! 🥳
No one (and I mean no one) enjoys handling litter trays—but it can be less of a chore if you get the basics right.
So take notes because we're sharing litter box hacks for cat butlers (ahem, that would be you) and those struggling with their maintenance.
What's the best cat litter?
Oof, this is a difficult question! The "best" comes down to what your cat is happy to use and what works for your household. Here's a good set of criteria to get you started.
- Your cat's preferences: Scented or unscented? And what kind of texture does Kitty like?
- Clumping or non-clumping: The former is easier to use and often better for odour control. The latter may be safer and more comfortable if you have kittens or cats with sensitive paws.
- Odour and moisture control: You want something that won't (immediately) stink up the room.
- Dustiness: This is of utmost importance if you or others in the family (cat included) have asthma.
- Tracking potential: Find a product that doesn't easily stick to your cat's paws or make a massive mess around the house.
- Materials: There are biodegradable/compostable options and litter made from recycled materials for environmentally-conscious consumers.
- Your preferences: What's easiest to carry and simplest to scoop? How often are you willing to clean up behind your pet and clean the litter tray?
- Price: What works for your wallet?
What do I need for litter box maintenance?
Aside from your litter box, you will need the following supplies.
- Rubber gloves (and a face mask if you have a respiratory condition that may be triggered by dust or the smell of ammonia).
- An easy-to-hold scoop with the right size holes for your chosen litter.
- A pet-safe cleaner and disinfectant solution like Healthy Habitat. It should be tough on dirt and germs and gentle on everything else.
- Trash bags for the quick and easy disposal of cat waste. These poop bags are bio-based and appropriately sized, making them more environmentally friendly than most supermarket varieties.
- A powerful odour remover for the overwhelming smell of cat urine and poops!
- Fresh kitty litter.
How frequently do I need to clean the litter box?
You will need to remove solid waste and clumps at least once daily. Do this more often if you have multiple cats or once your nose alerts you to intoxicating odours.
Replace old cat litter with fresh cat litter once a week. Deep clean the litter box at a minimum of once a month. Don't forget to disinfect the surrounding areas while you're at it!
How do I deep clean a traditional litter box?
Here's a general guide, but please note that these steps may vary depending on the type of litter box (self-cleaning vs traditional), cleaning products, and litter you use.
- Completely empty the litter box of its contents. Dispose directly into your garbage bin or a trash bag. We recommend you take the trash out ASAP to prevent the build-up of odours inside the house.
- Soak the box in warm water to loosen gunk and other dried-up debris stuck to the tray. (Follow instructions for automatic litter boxes to prevent irreversible damage.)
- Once the dirt has softened, remove the cat box from the wash basin and apply a generous amount of PetLab's 3-in-1 Healthy Habitat onto all surfaces. Scrub it down using a sponge for litter tray maintenance only. Do not use the same sponge on food, kitchen, or other household items!
- Rinse, then use a designated washable microfibre cloth to wipe down the box. (You can also use paper towels.)
- Line the tray with your preferred brand of litter box liner (optional) before adding approximately 5 to 7cm of fresh cat litter.
- PetLab's E.N. Zyme Stain & Odour Remover is non-toxic and safe to use on cat litter. Spray a liberal amount as needed (daily) and between deep cleaning sessions for effective odour control.
How do I reduce litter tracking?
Minimise dusty paw prints and loose litter crumbs by placing an anti-tracking mat in front of the litter box. This Grubby Paw Mat has a non-slip backing and extra soft microfibre "noodles" for your cat's comfort—and your convenience!
Now let the countdown to the next cleaning session begin… 🗓️
