How often do you need to completely wash the cat litter box?

Question

I clean the litter box at least once sometimes twice a day, and add new litter and mix. I make sure I use disinfectant wipes every time I clean the litter box as I wipe around the soiled areas. I try to completely empty and wash it as least once a month, sometimes twice. Is that normal or do they need to be washed every week?

Answer 1

Everyone pretty much said the same thing. I scoop mine every day , and add a little more litter and Arm & Hammer cat box litter deodorizer , it smells really good ! I just wash it when it starts to stink, or when my rabbit cage stinks , whichever comes first , then I do them both so I can clean them in the bathtub with hot soapy water ( usually laundry detergent or Mr .Clean, or whatever I have that is liquid and smells good ) Then I can scrub the tub when I'm done with both ! I spray them out with water , then soak them , ( one at a time ) while I am vacuuming up around the cage and litter box areas, then I return , dump out some of the water , scrub with designated, "animal cage sponge " and rinse throughly. Let air dry or use paper towels , then refill and replace . I also use carpet sprinkle stuff in animal areas before I vacuum. I do this about once a week but more if ya want or sometimes less if you keep up on the Arm-n-hammer stuff , and scoop regularly. It sounds like you are doing a fine job to me !

Answer 2

What you are doing is just fine, actually more than most people do that I saw. You can also try to get ourself an automatic cat box, kinda like the littermaid. Don't get the Littermaid Elite, the Mega is really nice and the cats always have a clean box and all you have to do is empty the tray, so much easier in life. I wish I would have done this 25 years ago. Then it is not an everyday thing, you can just empty the tray that the box placed the kitty waste into and empy it and go on with your own life. Always place litter below the litter line. I found that out other wise it is too much for the box. P. S. Place some litter in the bottom of the tray to keep the smell absorbed either way, it is much cleaner for you and the cat, or cats. Use the plug in, not batteries, they are for back up power in case of an outage.

Answer 3

I clean the litter out at least once a day (remove clumps and poops). I don't add any new litter. When that gets too low, (about 2-3 weeks) I dump it out and wash it. In between this I use wipes to clean up any soiled areas. So it sounds like we do just about the same thing! But I do know people who never wash the box out. Just scoop and maybe change the whole litter occaisonally. Ew! I am afraid or germs and fecal matter being spread around and that is why I wash mine.

Answer 4

I have two cats; I change the little every other day and remove poop daily; when I change the litter, I blast it with a garden hose and wipe it down with a lightly bleached wet rag or, when convenient, let it out in the sun to dry. As long as you're using the disinfecting wipes and there aren't any visable or odiferous oogies, I don't see the need to actually soap-and-water wash it

Answer 5

Compared to some people I'm just ocd about it, but I clean the litter every day, and totally change the litter and wash it all out every two weeks at least.

Answer 6

My cat doesn't really use his litter tray now so its left for a few weeks and he might use it, he might not. But when he does, we scoop the mess and then change after about 3/4 weeks because its pointless. When he was younger/kitten and he used the litter tray daily, we would clean the mess with a scoop daily and empty every 5 days.

Answer 7

If you have the clumping type of kitty litter, you should scoop the clumps out everyday, and clean the entire litter box once a week to once every 2 weeks at the most.

Answer 8

I clean the litter - Remove lumps etc daily and change the litter completely twice a week.
We use a paper based little called catoilet which is fantastic and doesn't clump or smell - even when it is desperate for a change!!!
If it's dirty my kitty won't use it -

Once a month though people -----eeeeuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh!!

Answer 9

I remember reading on a box of litter they reccommend completely emptying the litter once a month if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure your cat(s) appreciate it!

Answer 10

Preferably 3 times a month, and maybe four in summer!PS, You also have to consider the number of critters you have, whom use the box.
Just a thought, but have you heard of the new litter box which aids in the training of your cat to use the toilet?Very cool.