Owning a cat when you’re an apartment dweller presents you with some challenges right off the bat. When you’re living in an apartment building, there’s no backyard or outdoor area for your cat to wander nor is there a hose available for cleaning out your cat’s litter box.
It’s not practical or sanitary to clean a dirty litter box in a sink or bathtub where you will later be washing dishes or cleaning yourself. So how in the world are you supposed to clean a litter box when you’re living in the confines of an apartment?
We’ve got some handy tips for you that will ease your mind and help you keep your cat’s litter box clean. And speaking of clean litter boxes, cats do not like doing their business in dirty litter boxes. If a cat’s litter box is not kept clean by the owner, he’ll likely start peeing and pooping elsewhere in the house which is something no cat owner wants!
Tips for Cleaning a Litter Box When Living in An Apartment
We’ve put together the following tips for helping you learn how to clean a litter box in an apartment. Some of these tips include products that either eliminate the need for cleaning a litter box or that make cleaning one easier. There are several ways to do the job so you’ll have to decide which method is right for you.
Use a Throw-Away Litter Box
Instead of having to clean a plastic litter box, consider providing your feline friend with a disposable litter box that can be tossed out when dirty. The typical disposable litter box is made from a recycled breathable paper material that enhances airflow, which reduces moisture that contributes to odor build-up.
A disposable litter box is strong enough to be used alone or as a litter pan liner. This type of litter box is often made with baking soda that fights those stinky ammonia odors coming from cat urine.
The great thing about a throw-away litter box is that it never needs to be cleaned. Simply fill it with a couple of inches of cat litter, and put it down so your cat can do his business. Scoop out the feces and urine lumps and seal them in an air-proof container or biodegradable garbage bag for easy disposal.
Even though disposable litter boxes are pricey, this method eliminates the need for manual labor, except removing the clumps of feces and urine.
1. Use Disposable Litter Box Liners
Most pet stores sell disposable litter box liners designed to be placed in the bottom of litter boxes. These heavy-duty liners are absorbent, tear-resistant, and designed to prevent odor-causing waste from sticking to the sides and bottoms of the litter box.
Using a litter box liner is easy. Simply place a liner in the bottom of the litter box. Then fill the box liner with about three inches of cat litter. When the litter is dirty, pull the liner’s built-in drawstrings on both sides to close it up like a bag. Then it’s just a matter of disposing of the liner and contents with your regular garbage.
2. Use a Litter You Can Flush Down the Toilet
Today, there are all types of cat litters on the market including flushable cat litter. This type of litter is typically made up of wood, corn, or wheat and can be discarded directly in a toilet.
Flushing clumps of urine and feces is a lot easier than having to scoop, bag, and trash litter. However, flushable litter does not clump well and it costs more than traditional litter. A good quality flushable litter masks odors well while emitting a pleasant, natural smell like wood.
3. Use Throw-Away Wipes
A good way to clean the interior and exterior of an empty litter box is to use disposable wipes. You find these wipes at your local grocery store. Once you’ve emptied the used litter, wipe down the entire litter box with a few disposable wipes and you’re good to go! There’s no need to put the dirty litter box in your sink or tub, nor do you need a hose.
When shopping for throw-away wipes, steer clear of any that are citrus-scented. Cats dislike the smell of lemons and oranges. This means your cat would probably refuse to use his box if it’s been cleaned with anything smelling like citrus.
4. Clean the Litter Box with a Sponge or Cloth
If you don’t want to spend money on cat litter box liners or disposable litter boxes, you can clean the box using warm soapy water and a sponge. Once you’ve emptied the used litter, wipe down the interior of the litter box with a warm soapy sponge. Once all the stuck-on litter is removed and the interior of the box is clean, dry the litter box using a few dry clothes.
Conclusion
Now that you know you have several options for cleaning a litter box when living in an apartment, choose the method that’s best for you.
If you’re wondering how often a litter box should be cleaned, once a month is the norm for a thorough cleaning. Between the monthly cleanings, you should be scooping away the clumps once or twice a day to keep your finicky feline happy!
Featured Image Credit: Sergey Cherviakov, Shutterstock
