7 tips for organizing your cat’s litter box area

Is there anything worse than having a guest over and instantly saying “Oh, you have a cat?” And the cat is nowhere to be seen? Oops. 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 them. Having owned cats for over 25 years, I have tried just about everything to make the job of cat care easier. Here are seven of my best organization 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 gets everywhere. If you have to leave it there, get a fully enclosed litter box with an opening for the cat to walk through. They will, however, track the trash out of the box. So that leads to my next tip.
2. The best place I’ve found to store the litter box is in a small closet with cleaning supplies, or in an area of ​​the house that isn’t used frequently. If there is a door, be sure to keep the door ajar. Placing a long item, such as 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 liner. Or better yet, remove the rug if possible. Try to get a litter box that has high walls and a dome or cover.
3. Keep a handheld vacuum handy to clean the area around the box frequently. Store the vacuum cleaner on a shelf or hang it on the closet wall. Consider keeping an extra set of batteries and 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. The cat is like a very clean box, if there is not enough sand, they can get out of the box. And if they use the box without enough sand, it will smell worse.
5. Scoop often. Make the job easier by keeping a large spoon hanging near the box. Consider having a diaper genie on hand to dispose of trash. Having a grocery bag holder nearby is also a great help. Every day, bag pet waste, double bag it, tie it tightly, and place it in a covered trash can or diaper bag.
6. Keep a roll of paper towels and a spray cleaner near the litter box. If it’s 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 pop-up wipes. I use the wipes to clean the floor around the litter box as well as spot clean the litter box between cleanings.
7. Empty the box completely once a month. Dump the trash into one of your handy grocery bags. Use your paper towels or a disposable pop-up cleaning product like Clorox Wipes on hand to clean the litter box and surrounding flooring. When you’re done, throw the towels or wipes out with the trash, tie the bag tightly, and throw it in the trash.

I hope this helps!

© 2006 Benefit of Ariane