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How Usually Ought to I Change Cat Litter? 5 Issues to Contemplate (Vet-Reviewed)


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Cats are fastidious animals that tremendously admire contemporary, clear litter. If the litter isn’t as much as their requirements, they could simply do their enterprise some place else—like your flooring, which is why it’s essential to maintain up with litter field upkeep. That mentioned, simply how usually ought to cat litter be modified?

As a normal rule, you’ll wish to scoopy each day, then change the litter and completely clear the field about as soon as per week, however this may range primarily based on a number of components like the kind of litter, what number of cats you will have, and your cat’s toilet habits. We’ll take a better have a look at these components that can assist you gauge how usually a litter change could also be needed.

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The 5 Issues to Contemplate When Altering Your Cat’s Litter

1. Sort of Litter

Some sorts of litter—like non-clumping clay-based litter—are inclined to get smelly fairly rapidly, whereas others keep contemporary for longer. Excessive-quality clumping litter and silicone (crystal) litter are inclined to fare effectively as a result of they’re extra absorbent. Clumping litter is particularly handy since you merely scoop out the clumps, leaving the clear litter behind, which means it’s simpler to maintain the field contemporary.

As well as, some litters are formulated to comprise odor-neutralizing brokers like baking soda, and this may additionally contribute to the litter’s longevity. With these sorts of litters, you would possibly get away with altering it out solely as soon as per week and even much less incessantly in case you preserve it effectively with common scooping and cat litter deodorizers, which can assist it last more. Different, much less absorbent sorts could have to be modified each different day.

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Picture Credit score: Andriy Blokhin, Shutterstock

2. Variety of Cats

Naturally, the extra cats you will have, the faster the litter field goes to get smelly and the extra usually it should have to be modified. You may assist fight this by offering a number of litter containers so all the pieces doesn’t accumulate in a single single field. There are additionally cat litter sorts specifically designed for multiple-cat households, so that you would possibly wish to give these a strive.


3. Your Cat’s Rest room Habits

A wholesome grownup cat on a high-quality meals system ought to solely head for the litter field just a few instances per day (although particular person wants can range considerably). Nonetheless, in case your cat has a well being situation that causes them to pee extra usually (like a UTI, for instance) or experiences points like diarrhea, being diligent about litter upkeep is much more essential than ordinary.

Sure medicines might also have an effect on your cat’s frequency, as may their age. Kittens go to the lavatory extra usually than wholesome grownup cats.

Cat looking in the litter boxCat looking in the litter box
Picture Credit score: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

4. Intact vs Neutered

There is no such thing as a getting round it. Intact male cats’ pee smells worse than a neutered cat’s pee does. When you reside in a home containing even one unneutered male, the odor can rapidly grow to be overpowering. You may converse to your vet for extra data on neutering.

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5. How A lot Litter There Is

The litter must be deep sufficient to your cat to dig in and canopy their poop. Whether it is too shallow, the absorbency will likely be affected, and it’ll begin to odor very quickly.

Person hand removing and cleaning cat toilet tray or litter box at homePerson hand removing and cleaning cat toilet tray or litter box at home
Picture Credit score: Mila Naumova, Shutterstock

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The right way to Clear a Litter Field

Spot cleansing your cat’s litter field each day (eradicating clumps or feces) goes a protracted method to ensuring it stays contemporary smelling for longer. Nonetheless, it’s essential to offer the field a very good clear if you change out the litter, whether or not that be as soon as per week or extra.

Merely emptying the litter field isn’t sufficient to maintain smells at bay as a result of the odor compounds linger. Fortunately, cleansing a litter field is very easy. All it is advisable do is empty out the outdated litter, then wash the field out with water and a gentle cleaning soap. Keep away from utilizing bleach or cleansing merchandise containing sturdy chemical compounds as these could be dangerous for cats.

You may let the field soak for some time whether it is particularly smelly. Then, empty out the water, rinse to eliminate all of the cleaning soap, and wipe the field down with a dry material. Change the litter within the clear, dry field. When you like, you possibly can sprinkle some litter deodorizer or slightly baking soda on the underside of the field earlier than placing the litter in—this will assist it last more.

Cleansing up after our pets isn’t probably the most pleasurable a part of proudly owning them. Regardless of protecting a clear litterbox, cat odors and stains should still exist round the home. Typically, even one of the best litter field setup wants additional assist. When you’re bored with coping with dangerous smells from litter containers, Hepper Superior Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray can assist with the worst pet stains and smells. Moreover, the Superior Bio-Enzyme Cat Litter Deodorizer neutralizes odors upon contact.

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Conclusion

Some litter must be modified each different day whereas different sorts can final for per week or extra with correct upkeep routines. When you’re involved as a result of your cat’s “deposits” are smellier than ordinary or they appear to be going to the lavatory extra often, please verify this out with a vet.


Featured Picture Credit score: New Africa, Shutterstock

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