How Often Should You Change Kitty Litter?

Using perfumed litter to mask the smell of Tabby's litter box may make you think it doesn't need changed so often. That's not the case. Having at least one box per cat, and changing it regularly, will make everyone in your household happy.

  1. Tabby's Superior Sniffer

    • A cat's nose has 200 million odor-sensitive cells, compared with your 5 million. If you think her litter box smells a bit strong, you can be sure she does. Keeping a clean litter box is important on several levels; among the, it minimizes the chance Tabby will have a lapse in using her toilet, and it reduces the risk of spreading intestinal parasites. A basic rule of thumb is to have one litter box per cat in the home, plus one. The cleaning schedule you develop depends on how many cats you have and how often they use the facilities, how many litter boxes you keep in your home and what kind of litter you use.

    Clay/Non-Clumping Litter

    • Clay litter is economical, and the large pieces don't tend to stick to a cat's paws to get tracked through the house. However, clay is dusty and doesn't absorb odors very well, although some clay litters have charcoal or baking soda additives to help minimize odor. If Tabby's litter box uses clay or other non-clumping litter such as pine or corn, her urine will pool at the bottom of the box -- you won't be able to scoop her pee out in a solid chunk like you can with clumping litter. Litter boxes with non-clumping litter need more maintenance. If you have one cat and one litter box, replace non-clumping litter at least once a week. If you have two cats, you'll need to replace the litter about every three days. Clean the box thoroughly at the same time.

    Clumping Litter

    • Clumping litter is designed so you can easily scoop Tabby's output from her litter box without emptying the entire box. When the soiled litter is removed, only essentially clean litter is left behind, so the litter doesn't need changing as frequently. As the litter level drops with daily scooping, you can add more to keep the box going. However, boxes using clumping litter still require emptying and cleaning; pee and poop can still cling to the sides and corners of the box, making Tabby's toilet stinky. If Tabby's an only child, using one litter box, empty, clean and refill her box at least once a month.

    Keep It Clean

    • Just as you don't want to use a dirty toilet, Tabby doesn't want to navigate a mine field to take care of her daily business. No matter how many cats or litter boxes you have, every day cleaning is a must. If litter is collecting to the sides, or if the litter isn't clumping as it should be, it's time to change the kitty litter. After emptying the old litter, scrub the box with a mild dish detergent, avoiding ammonia or citrus products, which could irritate Tabby's nose. Thoroughly wash your hands after every interaction with Tabby's toilet.