How often should you change the cat box? I try to go two weeks, is that bad?
Saturday, March 20th, 2010 at
2:40 pm
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Filed under: Cat Litter
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Hi there,
I am assuming you mean you change the entire box every two weeks, but freshen it when necessary and scoop it out several times a day, then what you are doing is fine. Washing it with hot water and a mild detergent, and rinsing it thoroughly, drying it and adding fresh litter is perfectly ok. We use Worlds Best litter which is made of corn. It clumps really well, and we never have any litter box "aromas" in our home. We think that a natural product that contains no chemicals is safer for cats, and is also ecologically sound.
http://www.petside.com/petsideblog/2009/04/litter-litter-everywhere–lets.php
But you do need to stay on top of it, and scoop often during the day.
If you want to do your kitties a great favor, get another box. We have two cats and three litter boxes ( no waiting- and preferences for what particular "elimination" choice are taken into consideration. Some cats really do prefer to use one box for one natural process<grin> and another for the other one. But one box is really not sufficient to keep cats really happy. Just think about waiting for a bathroom when you have to "go"!
I keep our litter boxes about three inches deep when I clean to box, and, of course after scooping when it is necessary to raise the level, I add litter. Three inches is what our cats prefer, but all cats are different. Just observe their preferences.
Here is an interesting article about litter box "etiquette" and suggestions.
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-training/litter-box-etiquette.html
Hope this helps!
Troublesniffer
Owned by cats for over 40 years
member: Cat Writer’s Association
It depends on if it’s clumping or non-clumping. Clumping you can probably get away with every two weeks for a full change if you are scooping daily. I prefer to change it every week though because of the smell.
Non clumping could only make it a week max and that’s pushing it. I completely change it twice a week and sometimes more. I have two cats and two litter boxes.
Depending on how often you change it the depth should change accordingly. If you completely change the litter often, just enough to cover the "stuff" is necessary (about 2 inches). If you don’t change the litter as often you would probably want to use more (4 inches).
I think it’s better to use less litter in depth and change the litter more often. It will help reduce the chances of the cat going in other spots of the house due to an unclean litter box.
Blimey! I am surprised your cats are still using it. Must be desparate. The litter should be cleared daily! Remove the wet bits and solids and top up with fresh litter all that is left, to about 3 inches, enough for the solids and wet to be covered which is natural behaviour for the cat! I would hate to come to your house!
Cats love clean litter.
Scoop out poo bits every day, if the bottom get hard, change the whole of litter.
When you see the cats try to find clean space to make poo, it means the litter is very dirty.
O_O HORRIBLE!! To be completely honest, there should be maggots all over it in two to three weeks, then flies all over your house. Try every 3 or 4 days but you can push it a week ( if you need to). p.s. if you have the time, the box says every day.
Two weeks is too long they will get an infection, i clean mine every other day and i use 2 inches of litter and 2 trays one for each cat,
i am surprised your cats will go near it, when my cats needs cleaning my cat comes up to me to miaow and looks at me until i follow her then she leads me to the litter tray and wont go and use it until i clean it,they are clean animals!
Do you mean changing the entire litter? If so then its fine, If you scoop everyday and keep the litter above 3 inches.
We have two cats and two litter trays in which we use plastic liners. We divide a 7lb bag of World’s Best clumping between the boxes, scoop them a couple of times a day and completely renew once a week.
I would never let it go 2 weeks. It will be pretty smelly by that time no matter what type of litter you use. There should be about four inches, at least, of litter in the box.
Ive had cats all my life…
i scoop the litter box every morning when i get up…and every evening when i get home from work.
I never cared for clumping litters..as they are bad for cats. It can accumulate in their systems from licking their paws…plus it’s very messy and tracks all over the place.
For many many years I used a litter called "Natures Pine" It has a very fresh clean outdoorsey scent. It kills the smell of amonia.
You should change a litter box at least once a week if you only have one cat. Just make sure to scoop it every day…this will spare your home from smelling like a cat house.
Recently I discovered however a litter system called "breeze litter system" it’s relatively cheap to get.
the box costs about 28 dollars a bag of litter pellets cost about 5 to 6 dollars. ( but you don’t have to change the pellets for an entire month. You also have to buy the absorbing pads…this is about 3 to 4 dollars. The pads you must change every 3 to 4 days if you only have one cat.
I love it…because i have no more litter tracking around the house ( which means less sweeping or vacuuming!) The litter pellets are a hard clay and they are large. It uses an air system so it ventilates ..there is NO smell of amonia from my cats pee.
In the end..you end up spending less a month using this litter. because a bag of pads comes with 5 pads, which gets changed every 3 to 4 days. I used to go through so many bags of litter a in a month.
Anyway, here’s a link to the breeze system..you can get it at petsmart by the way.
http://www.breezeforcats.com/?D=901994&T=4983277