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Together with a cat, not only warmth and comfort come to the house, but also a great responsibility. The pet needs to be regularly fed, combed and cleaned up after him. If you neglect to clean the cat’s tray, an unpleasant smell of urine begins to spread throughout the house, and the pet begins to relieve himself in inappropriate places.
We’ve put together a few tips on how to properly clean your cat litter box to keep it odor free.
How to disinfect a cat litter box
The litter box needs to be disinfected every 2-3 weeks. This can be done with a light bleach solution. Before disinfection, pour the filler from the tray into the bag. Dilute half a glass of bleach in four liters of water. Dip a sponge into the resulting solution and rub the bottom and sides of the tray. Also wash the outside of the tray and the place where it usually stands – filler and waste can also get there. Rinse thoroughly with water. Dry and fill with fresh filler.
Some cats may avoid the smell of whiteness. In this case, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate – a universal antiseptic that is odorless. 3-4 crystals of the substance are enough per liter of water. You can also treat with ordinary laundry soap.
How to prevent persistent odor
To prevent an unpleasant smell that spreads throughout the apartment, it is necessary to clean up your pet’s waste every day. Using a special spatula made of metal or plastic, collect all the feces and clumps of filler from the urine bag. If you carry out such a procedure regularly, the apartment will not have an unpleasant smell.
Be sure to collect all waste from the tray;
To avoid the spread of an unpleasant odor, tie the bag tightly before throwing it in the trash;
If you have several cats, it is recommended to treat more often or purchase a personal tray for each pet;
After cleaning, wash the spatula and hands with soap;
To avoid bacteria and germs when cleaning the tray, you can wear a disposable mask and gloves.
If the tray is very dirty, it is worth completely replacing the filler. It is necessary to do this procedure 1-2 times a week, in order to avoid the spread of germs and an unpleasant odor:
Take a bag and pour all the filler into it. Wash with a brush. Use mild household chemicals such as soap and warm water.
Fill with fresh filler;
Some cats do not like the smell of raw litter, so it is recommended to dry the tray after washing;
Avoid using strong chemicals like chlorine bleach in your regular cleaning. Some cats are attracted to its smell, like valerian, while others may refuse to go to the tray with its smell;
Some household chemicals, such as laundry detergents, toilet cleaners, and disinfectant wipes, can be toxic to cats. Refrain from using them when washing the litter box to avoid licking or inhalation of the substance by the pet. When choosing a cleanser, pay attention to warning phrases on the label, such as “Keep out of the reach of children.”
When changing the filler, you can sprinkle the bottom with baking soda – it absorbs the smell of urine.
With daily cleaning, it will also be useful to wipe the area around it. This will help get rid of the unpleasant odor that feces leave behind the “toilet”.
Useful Tips
Place the tray on a hard, easy-to-clean surface such as tile or linoleum. Or place a rubber or silicone mat under it to make it easy to clean up spilled pet litter.
It is easy to get rid of the used filler with a special litter for the tray, which will save you from the need for constant washing. They are made in the form of bags that you can simply throw away with the waste. But be careful when taking out the bedding – cats often scratch it and the filler can wake up.
Do not throw used litter down the toilet – it swells in water and can cause blockages.
If your pet constantly spills litter, you can purchase a litter box in the shape of a “house”. You can also buy a model with a grill, but it must be washed regularly from feces.
Do not use citric acid, lemon juice, citrus flavors. These odors are unpleasant for cats.
The grate on the tray is one of the most common sources of a pungent odor. It needs to be washed at least every day during normal cleaning, and preferably 2-3 times a day. This will help get rid of the smell. Install only a dry grate in the tray, as moisture on it can lead to sticking of the filler and reduce its adsorbing properties.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.