If you have more than one cat, you should clean the litter box twice a day. [2] X Research source Consider cleaning the litter box once in the morning and once in the evening. Clean litter boxes help keep cats from messing in other parts of your home, which will reduce the spread of germs.
Keep the gloves on while you handle any waste or soiled litter. Throw the gloves away afterwards. If you are wearing reusable rubber gloves, wash them in scalding hot water and detergent, or a mild bleach solution.
If your litter has a lot of dust, you may consider wearing goggles, too. You may consider using a mask if you are immunodeficient or undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
Wash your hands if you touch any dirty litter, or if you touch any feces or urine.
You should disinfect the area around the outside of the litter box periodically. This includes the floor and the spill mat. Disinfect with hot water and detergent or a mild bleach solution.
You should never wash the scoop in a bathroom or kitchen sink. Make sure to remove any feces that is left behind on the scoop. When you are not using the scoop, consider keeping it in a plastic bag or covering the head another way. This helps prevent any germs on the scoop from spreading.
Don’t flush cat litter down the toilet, even if it says it is flushable. [7] X Research source Don’t place cat litter into your yard waste piles. [8] X Research source Consider buying a litter disposal system to help make disposal easier and more hygienic.
When you disinfect the litter box, remove all the cat litter. Scrub the bottom and edges of the litter box with a mild-bleach solution. To make a mild bleach solution, add ½ cup of bleach to one gallon of water. You can also clean the litter box with hot water and detergent. Make sure to clean the area you scrubbed the litter box after you finish cleaning the litter box to decrease germs. Never clean a litter box in the kitchen or around any place you prepare food. [10] X Research source
Remove all the cat litter from the box and remove the waste with a mild bleach solution.
If you have other cats, you may want to clean the litter box every day or every few days until the infected cat is better. This can help reduce the risk of your other cats from getting sick.
Don’t set the litter box on carpet. Cleaning waste out of carpet is difficult, and the fibers may hold bacteria. The same is true about hardwood floors.
If a pregnant woman does not have someone to change the litter box for her, she can wear rubber gloves while changing the litter box. After changing the litter box, the pregnant woman should wash her hands afterwards well. [15] X Research source
This choice may be a good idea if you are immunocompromised or undergoing chemotherapy.
Sometimes, cats may share litter boxes. For example, if you have three cats, you may get away with two litter boxes, or be able to use three litter boxes for four cats. However, some cats may find this stressful and prefer their own box. Watch your cats to see if the litter boxes you have provided is adequate. If your cats go to the bathroom outside the litter box, you may need another litter box. Going to the bathroom outside the litter box may also be an indication that the cat needs to go to the vet.
Choose a mat that is easily cleaned. Consider plastic or another surface that you can wipe down easily with a disinfectant.
Consider putting the food in the kitchen and putting the litter box in the bathroom or laundry room.
