Choosing a cat litter cleaner and its proper disinfection

Pets are not only a joy, but also a great responsibility associated with feeding, care and cleaning. Every week the owner has to wash the cat's litter box. Otherwise, an unpleasant odor appears in the apartment, and the pet shits on the floor, carpets or furniture. In this article, you will learn how to properly clean your cat's litter box so that the house is always clean and comfortable.

How often should the litter box be washed?

If you only have one pet in your home, then washing the cat litter box once a week is enough. When two cats use the toilet at once, the frequency increases up to 2 times.

However, no one canceled dry cleaning. What else needs to be done?

• remove feces and wet lumps - 1-2 times a day;
• add fresh filler 1 centimeter every 2-3 days;
• sweep the floor (vacuum) around the tray - daily.

To clean the cat litter, we recommend purchasing a special scoop with a mesh bottom. It only catches feces and wet clumps, and the clean litter is poured back into the tray. You can buy a scoop at a pet store.

Is it possible to flush wood litter down the toilet?? IT IS FORBIDDEN. It swells in water and creates a risk of clogging sewer pipes. Pour the litter into a garbage bag and immediately take it outside the apartment.

Washing the cat litter box: procedure

To clean your cat's litter box you will need the following things:

• trash bag or regular bag;
• scoop with mesh bottom;
• latex gloves;
• sponge with a hard surface;
• paper napkins or towels;
• detergent.

We also recommend purchasing a respiratory mask at the pharmacy. The fact is that if you inhale dust while cleaning a cat's litter box, there is a risk of contracting toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma are parasitic protists that live in the intestines of cats. The disease most often occurs without symptoms. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women: it can lead to miscarriage or the development of mental retardation in the child. In Russia, about 20% of the population is infected with toxoplasmosis.

Now let's start cleaning the cat's litter box. The procedure is as follows:

1. Wear rubber gloves and a protective mask.
2. If there is feces in the tray, remove it with a scoop and flush it down the toilet.
3. Empty the used dirty litter into a trash bag and throw away. Some cat owners immediately after cleaning wrap the tray in a bag, and a week later they roll up the latter and take it out of the house. This way, the filler does not stick to the walls of the tray, which saves a lot of hassle. The problem is that not all cats like to have their litter box rustling because of the bag.
4. Place the cat's litter box in the bathtub. Point the shower hose at it and turn on the maximum hot water pressure.
5. When the toilet is completely full, turn off the shower. Take a scoop and scrape off any remaining filler from the sides and bottom. Pour the liquid down the toilet.
6. Refill the tray with clean water. Add disinfectant. Leave for 5-10 minutes.
7. Use the rough side of the sponge to give the tray a final clean. Flush the liquid back into the toilet.
8. Rinse the cat litter in clean water.

Cat owners often make the mistake of pouring litter into the tray immediately after washing.Because of this, the particles swell and lose their ability to retain unpleasant odors. What is the right thing to do? You need to wipe the tray with paper napkins and let it dry completely (wait 2-3 minutes).

How to disinfect cat litter?

If the tray is new and cleaned regularly, then it practically does not emit unpleasant odors. But over time, microscratches form in the plastic bottom, into which particles of urine, feces and dust become clogged. The question arises: how to wash the tray without smelling?

Modern means

Household and pet stores sell special products for cleaning cat litter boxes and eliminating unpleasant odors. Why is it better to use them for disinfection purposes?

• They do not cause allergies in pets and are safe in case of licking.
• Eliminate stubborn urinary stone stains on the bottom and walls.
• They have a neutral or pleasant smell for cats, which means that animals will not refuse to go to the tray after cleaning.
• Does not leave scratches.
• Eliminates odors of urine and feces.

The only drawback of modern products is the high price (500-800 rubles) compared to ordinary soap or baking soda.

Good brands include Hartz and Joypet sprays, Super Benek powder, Mr. plaque and urinary stone cleaner. Fresh. The last two products are inexpensive.

Common Home Remedies

How to disinfect a cat's litter box if your budget is limited or you're just too lazy to go to the store? You can use regular detergents:

• laundry or baby soap (grate the shavings and dissolve in water);
• liquid soap;
• a mild detergent, such as delicates powder;
• dishwashing liquid;
• baking soda - 2 tablespoons per 200 ml of water.

It is important to choose a product without a strong odor, and at the end, thoroughly rinse the cat’s litter box in clean water, preferably several times. Cats especially do not like the aromas of citrus and coniferous trees. If the smell remains on the walls, the pet will pass by its toilet and relieve itself somewhere in a corner or on the carpet.

What absolutely cannot be used for disinfection?

• products containing chlorine - there is a high probability of poisoning when licked and inhaled;
• vinegar - most likely, due to the pungent smell, the cat will prefer another toilet place to the tray;
• powders like "Pemolux" - leave scratches on the plastic surface of the bottom.

Don't forget to clean the area around the tray. After relieving itself, the pet often digs into the litter: lumps fly to the floor, and dust rises into the air. Dirt near the toilet may be one of the reasons why a cat has a desire to shit in the apartment.

Why does a cat walk past a clean litter box?

Unfortunately, a clean tray is not a 100% guarantee that your pet will not crap in the apartment. Don’t rush to scold, much less punish, the cat. First, find out the reason for the destructive behavior.

• Repels the smell of the litter box. It is not a fact that a product that smells pleasant to you will be liked by your cat. Try cleaning the toilet with water only next time and see how your pet reacts.
• Presence of moisture. A cat may refuse to go to the litter box if it notices wet walls. It is also possible that she associates the smell of wet litter with dirt, dampness and mustiness.
• Bad filler. Many cats prefer clumping rocks made from minerals or clay. Although silica gel fillers absorb foreign odors well, they scratch the paws.Not all pets like to go to a tray with bars. Also, a sudden change of litter can lead to a refusal to visit the cat litter box.
• Cystitis, urolithiasis or other health problem. If your cat not only shits, but also refuses to eat, looks lethargic, and makes strange sounds, take her to the vet.

Thus, cleaning a cat's litter box is a responsible undertaking. While cleaning, it is important to think about your pet. Will the remaining dirt on the walls of the tray, the strong smell of detergent or excess moisture scare him away? If you do everything correctly, the cat will remain grateful and stop crap in the apartment.