How Often Should I Change the Kitty Litter?
There are several responsibilities that go with the territory when you are the parent of a cat. Most people realize that they need to remove the clumps of waste that accumulate in their cat’s litter box, however many people are uncertain of how often they need to dump out all of the kitty litter and start from scratch. Let’s examine this common question.
The Importance of Keeping a Clean Litterbox
When your cat has to enter a dirty litterbox, he feels as if he would rather go anywhere else but there. In fact, having a dirty litterbox is one of the main reasons that some cats stop using them altogether. Not only does a dirty litterbox stink to high heaven, it can make you and your cat sick. To keep your cat happy, healthy, and using the potty where it should, it is important to clean out your cat’s litterbox on a regular basis.
How Often and What Type of Litter?
Several factors are involved in determining how often you should change out your kitty litter. The first is what type of kitty litter it is filled with. Keep in mind when you are shopping for kitty litter that it really does make a difference in how often you will have to clean the box. Let’s examine the most commonly used types of kitty litter.
Clay Kitty Litter
The most popular and inexpensive type, clay kitty litter is available in either clumping or non-clumping varieties. In general, the non-clumping variety needs changing more often than the clumping kind. Clay litter is generally most preferred by cats because it looks more like natural soil than any other.
However, the drawback is that clay litter creates a lot of dust and your cat tends to track it around on its paws more than other kinds. In only a few days, a dirty clay litterbox can become quite a mess. Because of this, you should completely change out its contents at least once weekly.
Crystal Kitty Litter
Made of a silica compound, crystal kitty litter is superior as it absorbs urine quicker and better than any other type of kitty litter. For this reason, it has the ability to efficiently dry out solid waste as well, making it especially effective for odor control. It doesn’t create dust and also doesn’t stick to your kitty’s paws. As the crystals don’t stick to the side of the litterbox, cleaning it out is much easier. Litterboxes filled with crystal kitty litter should be changed once every two weeks or once a month.
Pine Kitty Litter
Made from recycled pinewood lumber, pine kitty litter effectively absorbs moisture. However, it throws off a lot of dust particles that can irritate allergies. It is a good choice if you are looking for a natural, green option over other types of litter. The drawback is that it needs to be changed quite often, to the tune of every 1-2 days.
What If I Have Multiple Cats?
Let’s say you have several cats. How often should you change your kitty litter? Actually, what you need to do is purchase more litterboxes. Cats often prefer to have separate litterboxes to do their business in. Ideally, you need one litterbox for each cat in your home. If this isn’t a possibility for you, this means you will have to change out your litterbox more often, as in every few days as opposed to once a week.