Litter Box Scooping- CHORE NO MORE!

A regularly scooped (twice daily at least) litter box has many benefits, a handful of which are listed below:

• It smells fresher! I have 5 litter boxes in my home, most out in the open, and guests frequently remark at the fact that the litter boxes don't smell at all. We don't use scented products, deodorisers, air filters, odour neutralisers- but do scoop boxes often (and replace litter monthly as well as clean boxes at the same time of course!)

• Your cats will be happier to toilet in a clean box, which means you’re less likely to be dealing with urine or feces in unwanted locations.

• If litter boxes aren't regularly scooped, cats may hold onto their urine or feces for longer than they otherwise would if their litter box was clean. This can lead to health risks like kidney/bladder damage, or constipation. Regular scooping removes this risk.

• When you scoop regularly you become more familiar with which cat is doing what in which litter box, and that helps you to keep better track of your cats health.

• You will notice abnormalities in litter box use much faster and can be more proactive/responsive in addressing issues before they become serious.

• It is much more hygienic and healthy for you. Cats walk all over your house with the same four paws they use to scratch and dig and cover elimination in their litter box. Making sure your litter is as clean as possible ensures that their paws are too!

Despite all those great benefits, when I talk to clients about scooping most confess that they could do it more often but find scooping to be a dirty, unpleasant, frustrating part of cat guardianship. I hear tales of too much time spent trudging from box to box, armed with a tiny scoop and a small plastic bag. Scooping the box thoroughly takes too long, waste clumps don’t always make it perfectly into the bag. It’s messy, takes too much time and it’s a chore! And because of that, boxes don’t always get scooped as often as they could.

Well I’m here to tell you that you don't need to spend serious cash on expensive automated litter boxes to solve your scooping problems (and maybe cause issues for your cat in the process- but THAT'S a topic for another day). Read on for my top tips to help make litter box scooping hassle free!

STEP 1: OPTIMIZE YOUR TOOLS

THE SCOOP:

It’s time to get rid of that scoop that isn’t working for you. If your scoop is flimsy, broken or tiny, has huge slots that allow clumps to fall through, or frustrates you in some other way- it’s time for an upgrade!

Look for a large, sturdy, well constructed scoop. My favourite is this one: Trouble & Trix Litter Scoop and Holder*

Why do I love it so much?

• It’s big, so it cuts down on scooping time (but it’s well designed so as not to take up too much space)

• It’s strong, so it holds up well to heavy litters like clumping clay

• It has its own holder, so you don’t have to worry about where to store your dirty scoop.

• It’s very affordable, and can often be found on sale!

DEALING WITH WASTE

It’s time to stop wandering around holding a little plastic bag, fighting to get the clumps in without spilling anything over the sides.

Affordable option:

Get yourself a nice small tub with a hinged secure closing lid- compost caddies can be a great, inexpensive option (see image below). Line it with a small plastic bag. Scoop waste directly into the bin and empty regularly.  

Bougie options:

For those who would like to splash a bit more cash, you can consider a Litter Genie, LitterLocker or Litterchamp, or another purpose designed product to store waste.

THE DUSTPAN

Tracked litter is a MAJOR frustration of many cat guardians and sometimes this results in less than ideal litter substrates being chosen because guardians dislike dealing with granules outside the box. Again, having the right tools for the job makes this much less of a hassle!

You don’t have to stink up your cordless vacuum cleaner by vacuuming tracked litter, nor do you need to get down on your hands and knees to sweep it up.  The easiest way I have found to deal with tracked litter is to invest in a good quality standing dustpan set. There is only one product I’m going to recommend here because I have tried A BUNCH (but if you have another you like feel free to mention it in the comments!) and it is the: Sabco Long Handled Dustpan Set

I like it because:

• It stores away neatly

• It catches even fine particles in less sweeps than any other brand I’ve tried

• It’s easy to empty

• The handle is long enough to be useful for tall people, but not so long it’s cumbersome for shorter people

Step 2: SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

Ok here’s the BIGGEST thing you can do to make litterbox management a breeze.

All the equipment I mentioned above? Get one set for EACH litter box in your home. Yes, really! This is where the litter box management magic happens.

Having all the tools you need set up with each litter box means you will spend far less time walking from box to box, juggling everything you need with you. And you’ll be more likely to scoop your litter boxes more often, because everything you need will be right there!

I have 4 cats and 5 litter boxes and can tell you that setting our litter boxes up with all the right tools has made scooping the easiest part of living with four cats. It takes me less than 15 seconds to scoop a box AND sweep up when I walk past it, and the whole process has become so easy and effortless I actually enjoy scooping boxes!

I really, really want this crucial part of cat guardianship to be simple and easy for you too. If you decide to implement these recommendations, let me know how you go!

Happy scooping,

Monique van Maanen, FBST

Positive Purrenting

"Helping cats and their people to live more harmoniously together."

*I have not received any incentives for recommending any of the products mentioned in this blog post, all recommendations are genuine.