4 Tips to Keep Your Cat Litter Box Fresh

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4 Tips to Keep Your Cat Litter Box Fresh

Staff Writer · Mar 12, 2010

Keeping a cat litter box in your apartment is a necessity if you have an indoor cat, but since space is limited in an apartment, you’ll probably be keeping the litter box in a high-traffic area, like the bathroom, a closet or near the doorway.Since you’ll frequently be near the box, it’s especially essential that you keep the litter box smelling fresh.

1 – Scoop the Litter Box Daily

The first step may seem obvious, but many people are not aware just what a difference it can make. Since an apartment has limited space, cleaning the cat litter box regularly becomes even more important, otherwise odors will spread throughout the apartment and become entrenched in fabrics like curtains and clothing.

In an apartment, you should scoop the litter once to twice a day, preferably twice a day. Clumping litter can make this easier for you, as you’ll be able to scoop both fecal matter and clumped balls of urine with any standard litter scooper.

2 – Clean the Litter Box Weekly

Besides daily scooping, you should also thoroughly clean and disinfect the litter box at least once a week. Empty out all of the litter and throw it away. Then use a spray designed for cleaning litter boxes (so it’s safe for the cat and also strong enough to destroy bacteria) and a rag to soak the box thoroughly. Let it soak 5 minutes and then use your shower head or a hose to rinse away the cleaner. Dry the box completely and then pour new litter in. This will keep odors from becoming entrenched in the box and existing litter.

3 – Use Baking Soda

You can purchase deodorizers designed for cat boxes (which you can usually just stick on the side or under the dome of the cat litter box), but you can save some money by using inexpensive baking soda instead. Every time you clean and dry the litter box, sprinkle baking soda copiously across the bottom of the box before you add new litter. As the cat uses the box and kicks up the litter, the baking soda will help mix in and destroy some of the odor. Baking soda is non-toxic and won’t harm or bother your cat.

4 – Get a Litter Disposal System

One reason why many people avoid scooping the cat litter box as often as they should is that it can be both inconvenient and potentially messy to dispose of the waste. Putting the waste in a plastic bag and throwing it away in a trash can in your apartment doesn’t stop odors from permeating your apartment and it can also cause messes if the bag tears or becomes undone. On the other hand, it can be a pain to run outside to the dumpster once to twice a day.

A litter disposal system like the Litter Locker allows you to scoop waste directly into the top of the container, which you can keep next to or on top of your litter box. Then you turn the handle and the waste is sealed in a double-layered odor-killing bag. You can continue to add waste for one to two weeks without odors before it becomes too full and you need to empty it.

Keeping the cat litter box smelling fresh in an apartment will keep pungent odors from permeating your living space. All it takes is a few simple steps to prevent odor from developing and spreading throughout your apartment.

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