How to Keep Your Cat’s Litter Box Clean

1. Select and Place the Box

   If your cat doesn’t prefer covered boxes or if you need the box to be inconspicuous, like in the kitchen, a plain rectangular box is ideal. Ensure the box is large enough for your cat to move around comfortably, with no overhang. 

   Position the box to maximize privacy, away from noisy appliances, and ensure there's an easy escape route. This is crucial if you have a cat who tends to bully other cats. Being trapped in his litter box will surely frighten the cat, and may lead him to avoid the box later.

2. Line the Litter Box

   The use of litter box liners is optional, but they are convenient for the tidy disposal of used litter when it is time to empty and wash the box. Litter box liners are a definite advantage when using non-scooping litter because they contain the excess urine that seems to pool, which is the reason most non-scooping litter must be changed frequently.

3. Pour in the Cat Litter

   Most cat litter manufacturers advise using two to three inches of litter. Use three to four inches if your cat is a deep scratcher and tends to dig to the bottom. Start with two inches and adjust until you find the suitable depth for your cat.

   Clumping litter is advantageous because it doesn't require a pan liner, and most cats prefer unscented clumping varieties. After filling the litter box, smooth the surface to provide the cats with an even area for digging.

4. Scoop Up Waste

   With clumping litter, scooping is easy because urine clumps into fairly solid chunks that can be scooped out while sifting the clean litter back into the box. Separately, the poop gets coated with the litter so that it doesn't stick to the scoop.

   Scoop the litter box at least twice daily, or more frequently if necessary. Add fresh litter after scooping to replace what was removed.

5. Dump the Scoopings

   No matter how you do it, you're going to need to dispose of your cat's waste properly, and odor can be an issue. With a product like the ​Litter Genie, scooping as well as disposal of litter is much easier. You just insert the roll of plastic bagging material inside the Genie, tie a knot at the end of it, secure it to a wheel, and turn the handle a half turn. Then open the top and drop in all the scoopings. Turn the handle again, and the waste is safely hidden at the bottom of the Litter Locker to keep all of the odors confined inside. On garbage day, just remove the bag and contents and discard it all in the garbage can.

Preventing Problems With Litter Boxes

Using clumping litter that you regularly scoop and replace will keep the litter box smelling fresh and clean for a while, but at some point, the box itself will need to be emptied and cleaned thoroughly. Depending on the type of litter you use, this may be as often as every week or as long as every four or five weeks.

Non-clumping litter requires more frequent emptying and washing because urine accumulates at the box's base, causing odors to become strong quickly.

Empty the used litter into a sturdy plastic bag and tie it securely before discarding it in the trash. Note that although some environmentally friendly litters are flushable, the entire contents of a litter box should never be dumped into the toilet.

Wash the box thoroughly with unscented dish soap and hot water. Rinse well and then dry with paper towels.