How I Keep My Cat Litter Clean

One of many cat owner problems: keeping the cat litter clean and the house smelling good. My cat litters are inside my house because I live in an apartment and can't have them outside. And if you have cat litters inside, keeping your house smelling nice and not like a pet store is very difficult. 

I have 4 cats and own 2 litter boxes. For years I have been trying to find the "perfect" products to keep them smelling good, plus reading all types of tips online. And so, today I have for you 5 tips on how to keep your cat litter clean and smelling nice as well as your home. I will tell you some of my favorite products when it comes to keeping my cat litters clean and my house smelling nice.

These are all of my personal experiences and opinions. This isn't sponsored, just wanting to spread the word about awesome products we love to use.  

Nina is the pickiest one with the litter box

*Tip 1: Clean it daily!

This may seem basic but you would be surprised how many people I hear that clean their litter boxes only once a week. If you have 2+ cats, please clean it at least once daily. A lot of litter bags claim that you don't have to, however, you do. Cats are very clean animals and don't like it when their cat litter is dirty and smelly. Plus, the can get sick from this. You wouldn't want to use a dirty, smelly toilet, right?

If you struggle to do this, set up a little routine. Set a time of day where you do this, plus other things, like change their water and was their bowls. Leave some biodegradable bags, or small bags, near the litter boxes, and the small scooper as well, set up your own station. If you have things spread around, it will be harder for you to actually do it. 

Also, think about investing in a litter box that is easy to clean. The one that I have is this one here from Catit which you can find at Zooplus for a really good price. Its lid opens up allowing easy access to cleaning it and it's big enough for Nina and Peke, that are big cats. It also has some cool features that I will tell you about soon.

*Tip 2: Carbon filters

When purchasing a litter box, make sure it has a removable carbon filter. Most litter boxes have them, however, the biggest mistake people make with carbon filters is forgetting to clean them and change them. I admit I was one of those people that wouldn't change it because I would honestly forget. This is such an important thing to do and it will make a huge difference. I recommend you wash it at least once a week and change it once a month, or more if you have more than 2 cats. 

The litter box I buy from Catit has a carbon filter and they also sell their own carbon filters that bring 2 packs. I've been using these for several months now and I totally recommend it! Here's a link to Catit's carbon filters.

*Tips 3: Deodorant

I'm not talking about the one humans use, of course, but about the one, you might have heard about. There are several types of them, I personally use the spray one as well as the powdered one. I can't use things with strong scents because of my asthma, especially the baby powder ones, so the things I use are usually odorless or very faint. Peke is also hypersensitive to things so I always have to be careful with what I buy.

After cleaning their "gifts" I usually move the litter around with the scooper, and then spread some of these active pearls. This is from Biokat's and it's called Active Pearls. They look like small pearl-like pebbles that blend into the litter to neutralize the scent in it. They don't get stuck on my cat's feet nor does it have a scent, which is perfect. Plus, my cats approve of it. 

Another deodorant I use for the litter box is a sprayed one from Beaphar. This one I was a bit concerned because Peke doesn't do well with new spray-like things, air fresheners. And this product does have some scent to it, however, he did not have any allergic reaction, nor did it affect me. And my cat's don't really notice anything weird in their litter boxes. After spreading some of the active pearls, I spray this 2-3 times and close the lid while making sure my cats don't use it for a couple of minutes so it can dry. It is amazing! 

*Tip 4: Air purifiers 

This is something I didn't really think was a great thing because I didn't notice a huge difference after using it for some months. However, I wasn't doing a lot of things right, so I really wasn't giving this a fair chance. And I really noticed I needed it once I stopped for a while. Air purifiers can make a difference when used the right way. Just like the filters, you have to change them monthly or even more sometimes. 

The one I use is also from Catit (you can tell I like and trust this brand) called Magic Blue. You first buy the starter pack which includes a plastic thing that you stick to the top of the litter box. I suggest to stick it towards the back so it doesn't bother them as much nor are they tempted to play with it too much. Then you buy the replacement packs that come in the green and white box like the one below. 

They are non-toxic and easy to use. They help remove up to 80% of ammonia gas and stool odor is also reduced by an average of 40%, depending on your cat’s eating habits and food. The green pack has 6 pads that equal to 3 months of usage per litter box.

*Tip 5: Litter

The type of litter you use is so, so important. I can not stress how important this is. I will write a full post on different kinds of litters I've tried and their pros and cons. And it does make a big difference when you buy an inadequate one. Some tend to stink up faster, others just shove the things to the bottom which may look good but it's actually a breeding ground for bacteria. 

Another thing is to properly empty, wash and dry the litter box. I personally do this every two weeks, and it works well for me. I remove the litter, soak it with baking soda and dishwashing soap, scrub and then dry out in the sun. After it is dry, I spray it with a pet-friendly disinfecting spray, dry it with a paper towel and then spray it with Beaphar spray. And this helps me keep it under control as much as possible.

This is the litter we currently use from Tigerino

I hope these tips help you as much as they have helped me and my furbabies! Remember that a happy cat = more cuddles and love ... sometimes.