How to Clean your Cat's Litterbox

Cleaning the cat's litterbox is probably the least enjoyable part about owning a pet. Cat owners, however, can still be grateful that litterbox usage makes cats one of the easier to maintain animals. Unlike dogs, cats don't require trips outside in the rain to do their business. Cat owners can go away for a short vacation and your pet will still find their litterbox in operational order.

The following steps will be helpful for cat owners who aren't fortunate enough to own one of those fancy self cleaning litterboxes. If you're using a $10 one like the rest of us, to clean it:

• First, it is advisable to pull the front of your shirt over your nose before removing the lid or stirring up the sand. Unless your Kitty ate a nasty mouse last night, you'll usually be more than halfway done before the odor penetrates the mask.
• Plastic shopping bags make an excellent receptacle for the clumps and solid waste. Make sure to double bag them in case there was a small hole in the bottom of one that you missed, or else you'll have a sand trail showing everyone in the house the path between the box and the trash can.
• Begin digging. When you spot a clump, lift it out of the box. Shake the scooper around a bit to save the clean sand. Dump the clump into your bag.
• Continue scooping until there are no more clumps or #2's in the box.
• Tie the top of the bag shut as tight as you can to keep the fumes within the bag.
• Bring the bag to your outside trash can. I don't think I need to explain why you wouldn't want to keep it inside...
• After dropping the bag off outside, add any sand if necessary to the litterbox to refill it to its original level. Consider putting in some litterbox deodorizer to keep it fresh.
• Replace the lid if you have one.
• Wash your hands thoroughly!

Keep in mind pregnant women should never handle the litterbox or anything around it. This is one chore that men will be stuck with until their kids are old enough to do some labour around the house. Keep the litterbox clean often and you will have a healthy and happy Kitty, and a very thankful nose.