Would a cleaner change the litter tray?

[Athenajm80]

I live on my own with my cat tribe and find that with my two jobs and health issues I am not always on top of changing the litter trays. I use recycled ones that you can just throw out as emptying and cleaning the plastic ones makes me heave.

I was wondering whether if I employed a cleaner (not just for litter trays!) would changing the litter trays be something they would be ok to do?

Just be VERY clear when you advertise for cleaner that this is included in there duties if it's not for them they won't apply.
You could get a cat loving cleaner that wouldn't bat an eye .
Perhaps offer hourly rate plus £2/3 for litter tray .

@Athenajm80 - I would say for any pet cleaning - it needs to be very much agreed with the cleaner and they are very entitled to say no . I think most would say no .

Also as a PP said surely cat litter dispose is a daily job so leaving a week's worth can't be nice for you - let alone the cleaner.

If you can't keep on top of or don't like cleaning the littler trays ( & I might be being dim here ) could you just not buy more of the disposable ones and chuck them out on a regular basis ( or have I missed the point. )

I can't understand these posters who seem to think asking a cleaner to do anything more than hoovering is akin to spitting in thier face! It is a wide job description that can be tailored as much as cleaner and client both agree too. In the discussion, boundaries are set and appropriate recompense is agreed. Just like most in home roles. Are you also outraged at the idea of asking a gardener to clean the driveway? A nanny friend of mine also feeds the tortoise, no big deal because it was part of the agreement.

OP just make it clear what you want and you will find someone happy to do it.

I'm a former cleaner and I would do it I've let a clients dog out for a pee before now because she was desperate and I would rather do a litter tray than clean some 0f the toilets I've had to clean tbh

How often are you having the cleaner come? The litter tray needs to be done as a minimum every day. (I try to get poop as soon as I realise, same with pee - I do use a clumping litter and a full change at least once a week but probably more like every 5 days)

@RosesAndHellebores

I have a cat and a cleaner. Fortunately the cat goes outside but there have been times when he's been ill or we have moved when he's had to stay in.

1. I would never, ever ask my cleaner to deal with the litter tray.

1. For the sake of my cat the litter tray, when required, is dealt with daily. Poo goes down the loo, litter goes into a bag, tray gets washed and rinsed and dries and the tea towel set aside in a bag every day for a weekly 95° wash with the other 6 tea towels.

Please stop doing this. Do not flush your cat shit down the toilet.

I just put the clumps into dog poo bags and put them in the bin. I hope that’s ok to do?

@Athenajm80 - the issue is not if a cleaner would be emptying the litter tray as surely you will find someone eventually.

The real problem is that from your post, you are not able to care for your pets properly. Because cleaners come and go, your cats will be with you 15 years +.

Of course you can employ them with that proviso. Make it explicit from the beginning and explain exactly what it entails, and provide gloves. Also, pay generously.

Some won’t care at all, others won’t want to do it, and that is fine as it is not the job for them.

@Ylvamoon,

Absolute tripe. Why is MN so keen on making people feel bad?

If you can afford help with any job, you are effectively doing that job. Money works just as well as being physically more able, sometimes better.

I think a lot of these posts are motivated by jealousy that the OP can afford a cleaner.

@MsFogi

I don't see why not if it is part of the job spec from the outset - ie the role includes doing this and it is then open for potential cleaners to decide whether or not to take the role. No doubt it will put some people off but not others.

Yeah I used it. its a good option.

I don't want to make anyone feel bad about asking for a wide range of things - I suppose I thought most people would not like doing it especially if it had a week's worth of a tribe of cats' stuff in it. That said I have previously had a cleaner who loves dogs so when they were young she was really Ok with dealing with that.

I think my main point is I think the litter tray needs dealing with very regularly. I realise I am assuming the cleaner is once week and that may not be true in your case OP .

Anyway you can but ask & if someone is happy - which many may well be - there is your answer - assuming it keeps on top of the cat litter.

Definitely not for a cleaner. I'm dog sitting at the moment and it's really revolting picking up dog poo on walks and that's for a dog I like. It's really gross and that's why I don't have a pet.

You may be lucky if you find a cleaner who loves pets, but it's still a gross job to do for a pet that isn't your own.

Get a couple of self cleaning litter trays like these: Omega Paw Roll'n Clean Self Cleaning Litter Box Large www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0187G1CK0/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_FE538PA4R9JBQJFAGZ8E?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

You can ask but I have cats and I don't do litter trays

@Tdcp

You can ask but I have cats and I don't do litter trays

Who does yours?!

@TheReluctantPhoenix - Really? Part and parcel of having pets is feeding them and cleaning up after them, ensuring they are healthy.
As many posters have pointed out, litter trays need to be cleaned out regularly.

Not all cats have litter trays.

No - I don't think it's appropriate to ask a domestic cleaner to do this.

I would approach a local dog walker or pet-sitter instead. I'm a dog walker and I do cat visits which include changing and cleaning litter trays where necessary.

I charge £8 per visit - maybe you could pay someone to come in a couple of times a week and you just do the maintenance picks in between? If you use a good quality clumping litter it shouldn't smell that bad.

🤦🏻‍♀️ Leaving your cats to shit in your neighbours’ gardens is not the answer to litter trays! Neighbours who have small children, or want to have vegetable patches, or even just nice flowers!

I had 4 cats, 8 litter trays and back problems when I hired my cleaner - having made it clear litter duty was one of the jobs I needed most. She had her own menagerie of 4 dogs, 3 cats, chickens, ducks and horses and was absolutely fine with it

Depends entirely on the cleaner, all have their own no-nos

Cleaner here, I would normally say no to changing a litter tray but if it was for health reasons that you couldn't and it was those disposable ones I'd do it as long as there was no poo on the floor around the trays.

I just think if you wouldn't ask your cleaner to deal with human poo, why would it be ok to ask them to deal with cat poo? Surely though if you get a cleaner you'll have more time to do things like take care of your cats hygiene?

@trumpisagit

Not all cats have litter trays.

Mine all go out but still need litter trays.

Who does yours?!

I'm a cleaner ... I don't do other people's litter trays.