Dog parents, please gently cover your ears 🙉 for what I’m about to say might be upsetting.

Confession: up until a not-so-distant past [ahem, 1 year ago when I found my soul dogs…more on this later], I considered myself to be a proud cat person through and through. I know…I’m sorry dog families!

Not because I didn’t love dogs. I’ve had two very loved dogs of my own and obviously cared for many more throughout my life. They have so many wonderful qualities!

BUT there is something so special about cats that only cat parents will understand.

First and foremost, my cats have been my self-prescribed anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and anti-depression medication for almost 10 years now. The soft, furry bellies. The gentle purring. The way they curl up to snuggle either on or near you. Ooh, I can’t get enough! [I’m not a doctor so please consult yours and do not take this as real medical advice.]

Or maybe it’s their fierce independence, low maintenance, and quiet nature. They’re not 24/7 begging and seeking your love and attention. They also don’t require you to stand outside in the rain or cold, waiting for them to do their business. And zero barking at random things.

How about the fact that they are boundary experts? THEY decide when it’s time for food, water, naps, petting, “no not there,” etc. If there’s one thing we all know about cats, it’s their ability to let us know what they need, when, where, and how they need it. And I respect that.

Best of all, I applaud their need for cleanliness. Cats are famously known for keeping themselves well-groomed. They even have a built-in cleaning mechanism (rough tongues). Not only do they love being clean, cats also prefer their spaces to be clean, particularly their litter box(es)!

SO to help YOU help your furry ones have a clean litter box area, here are some tips:

1. Generally the rule is: 1 box per cat + 1 (e.g. 2 cats = 3 boxes). But if you have limited space (aka you live in an apartment like I do), it’s extra important to follow the next tips.
2. Place the box(es) in a quiet, private area that is easily accessible and where they won’t be disturbed or ambushed by others. Cats love and need privacy too.
3. I don’t recommend using scented litter or other powders (cats are sensitive to smells), cardboard or plastic box liners (they can trap urine and can also be irritating to cats when digging), or sometimes hoods/covers (it can trap odors and if there’s multiple cats, they might feel like they can’t escape).
4. It’s best to scoop the litter daily, add fresh litter weekly, and deep clean/replace litter monthly. However, I will say from my experience living with 4 cats and only 2 litter boxes, if you have a strict daily cleaning ritual, you may be able to get away with deep cleaning every few months.
5. Use a “litter genie” aka a small container with a lid and garbage bag to hold the waste between daily scoops. Then you can toss the bag when it’s full, which also reduces unnecessary plastic waste. For example, one bag can fill 2-3 days worth of waste.
6. If your cat is still having issues using the litter box, maybe it’s the actual litter you’re buying. I’ve experienced this myself and while it can be frustrating, cats have a litter preference, either based on texture, grain size, smell, or any other reason only they understand.

I hope these tips help you keep a clean & comfy litter box, and in-turn a happy and healthy cat! As always, I’m here for any questions and please let me know if you try one and how your cat reacted to the change.

Stay Comfy,

Tanya