How to Clean a Cat Litterbox

Cats can be very particular about their litter boxes. An unclean litter box is the same as a going to the bathroom and never flushing the toilet. Some cats can be so picky about it that if the litter box is unclean they simply won't use it so it is important to stay on top of this less than pleasant chore. Cleaning a cat's litter box, while not much fun, is an important one and your cat will thank you.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bag
• Litter scooper
• Paper towels
• Garden hose
• Warm soapy water (optional)

Instructions

1. Open up a bag large enough to dump all of the contents of the litter box into. It is always a good idea to visually inspect the bag first as cat litter can escape through little holes and make a big mess.

2. Dump all of the contents into the bag. You may need to use the scooper to scrape away litter that has gotten wet and is stuck to the bottom.

3. Take the litter box outside and use the hose to rinse it out thoroughly. This should be enough, but if you really want a clean litter box, wash it out with warm soapy water and be sure to rinse it well.

4. Allow the litter box to completely dry. Use paper towels to dry the box inside and out.

5. Add new kitty litter to the box and put it back where your cat is used to it.

Tips & Warnings

• Scoop out your cat box on a daily basis to keep it clean for your cat or cats. The more cats you have, the more often you will need to scoop. A good rule of thumb is to have one cat box for every two cats. Clumping cat litters make scooping the cat box a much easier chore.