If you have considered bringing a cat into the family, you hopefully have read up on the proper methods of cat care. Whether you live in a house or apartment, you likely will keep your cat indoors - yet, however you decide to care for your new feline friend, you'll know you need to get a litter box and stock up on plenty of litter for use. This means cleaning the box on a regular basis, or else foul odors could permeate your home and make things unpleasant.
Of course, removing the used litter from its box and replacing it with a fresh batch is simple enough, but what do you do with the mess once you are finished? Let's first take a look at the steps involved in replacing the cat litter, which you pet may use several times in the course of a day.
Pet owners may offer different opinions on how often one should scoop the mess from a litter box before replacing the contents entirely. This will depend on the number of cats you have, but for the sake of argument let's say you have one cat and one box. A good suggestion - if you want to keep the environment as fresh and clean as possible - would be to scoop waste once daily and change out the litter once a week. With more cats, of course, you will want to pay more attention, but your nose is likely to tell you when it's time to clean!
In looking for a good brand of litter, you may wish to consider an extra strength brand design to accommodate multi-cat households. You may find waste clumps more easily, allowing you to scoop without problems. Always use gloves when handling litter and waste because you will be dealing with urine and feces. Remove soiled litter to a trash bag, seal the bag, and dispose of in an outside can.
When it is time to replace the litter completely, make sure every last bit is removed from the box into a heavy duty trash bag, and wash the box with detergent and hot water. Do not add more litter until the box has completely dried.
Caring for a new cat requires a great sense of responsibility. You will be charged with making sure the litter box is fresh and changed regularly. Be mindful of when your cat uses it, and you will know when to change it.
