Is there anything worse than having a guest in your house and instantly saying “Oh, you have a cat?” And the cat is nowhere to be seen? UPS. That’s a good sign that you may not be keeping the litter box as clean as possible.

We have 5 cats and people who visit our house for the first time are always SURPRISED when they see it. Having owned cats for over 25 years, I have tried almost everything to make the job of caring for cats easier. Here are seven of my best organizing tips for keeping litter boxes clean and the house smelling fresh with as little time and effort as possible.

1. Avoid putting the litter box in your own bathroom unless absolutely necessary! Garbage reaches everywhere. If you have to keep it there, get a completely closed litter box with an opening for the cat to pass through. However, they will track the garbage out of the box. That brings me to my next tip.
2. The best place I have found to store the litter box is in a small closet with cleaning supplies or in an area of ​​the house that is used infrequently. If there is a door, be sure to keep it ajar. Placing a long item like a roll of wrapping paper or shelf paper on one of the shelves works well to prevent the door from accidentally closing. If the area is carpeted, cover it with a plastic or vinyl carpet covering. Or better yet, remove the carpet if possible. Try to get a litter box that has high walls and a dome or cover.
3. Have a handheld vacuum on hand to clean the area around the box frequently. Store the vacuum cleaner on a shelf or hang it on a closet wall. Consider keeping an extra set of batteries and a charger on hand.
4. Fill your box halfway with sand. One of the most common mistakes people make is not using enough litter in the box. Cats are like a very clean box, if there is not enough litter, they can get out of the box. And if they use the box without enough sand, it will smell worse.
5. Take out frequently. Make work easier by keeping a large spoon hanging close to the box. Consider having a diaper whiz on hand to get rid of the trash. Having a grocery bag holder nearby is also helpful. Every day, put pet waste in a bag, fold the bag, tie it up tightly, and put it in a covered garbage container or diaper genie.
6. Keep a roll of paper towels and a spray cleaner near the litter box. If you are in a closet, use a paper towel holder that screws into the door and hang the paper towels on the inside of the door. Or get a container of wet wipes. I use the wipes to clean the floor around the litter box, as well as to clean the litter box between cleanings.
7. Empty the box completely once a month. Pour the trash into one of your handy shopping bags. Use your paper towels or a disposable pop-up cleaning product like Clorox Wipes to clean the litter box and surrounding floor. When you’re done, throw away the towels or washcloths with the sand, tie the bag tightly, and throw it away.

I hope this helps!

© 2006 Ariane Benefit