Cleaning

Cleaning is the part of cat care with the clearest numbers attached. International Cat Care recommends scooping the litter tray at least twice a day and doing a full change every two to four weeks if you use clumping litter, or weekly if you use non-clumping — more often for a cat with a medical or stress-related reason to use the tray more.

The product choice matters as much as the schedule. Chloroxylenol-based disinfectants, including household antiseptics built on it, are toxic to cats, so hot water and a biological detergent are the safe default; rinse and dry the tray properly before it goes back into use. Food and water bowls want the same discipline in miniature — washed, not just rinsed — and keeping food, water and litter in three distinct places does more for hygiene and for the cat's willingness to use all three than any scented product.

See the litter cleaning routine, litter box setup 101 and the litter and home category.

Beds, blankets and carriers close the loop. Anything fabric that a cat sleeps on collects hair and dander, and washable bedding is easier to rotate than to deep-clean once. Carriers should be cleaned and then put away in the open with the door tied back so the cat keeps treating it as furniture rather than as the thing that only appears before a vet trip.

Source: International Cat Care — Choosing a litter tray for your cat.