Maintaining your cat’s box is a key part of ensuring a healthy litter routine. Here are a few general rules to keep things fresh:

When to scoop

It’s important to scoop the box at least twice a day. It doesn’t take long, and you’ll find that a lot less accidents occur with regular scooping. Once you’ve scooped, add a fresh layer of cat litter to the box. If your cat is defecating near the box but not in it, it might be that the box is too dirty and your cat’s nose is telling it to stay away.

How to scoop

If you plan to use a clumping cat litter, a slotted scoop makes it easier to remove solid waste and urine clumps. Scoop gently and try not to spread wet cat litter around the box as this can spread the smell and repel your cat.

When to change 

How often you change your entire box partly depends on the type of cat litter you are using. If you use scoopable clumping cat litter, the box should be cleaned and refilled with fresh cat litter at least every two weeks.

If you use non-clumping cat litter, then you’ll need to clean and scrub the litter box more often – we’re talking weekly, and way before it reaches the saturation point.

When you do clean your cat litter box, avoid using harsh chemicals. A mild, unscented soap works best and won’t offend kitty.