How do you clean litter trays?

[user1476618264]

I’ve decided that I’m going to get a cat this year. I’ve never had one before but I really like my friends’ cats. They live in houses and the cats go out but I’m in a flat so my cat will need a litter tray. How do I clean it though?

I know I’ve got to scoop used litter out, but when I change the litter, I assume I have to wash the tray?

I’ve been a cat/kitten fosterer so a bit different. But my trays go in the shower tray when they need a proper wash. Then I have a dedicated brush that I use to scrub them when I go in the shower. Everything comes out squeaky clean then.

i have two cats who are mainly indoor but wander out into my garden for about an hour a day.
started them with a litter tray each as recommended but they ignored that advice and only ever used the same tray.
i empty any solids twice daily and deep clean with a full new cat litter (catsan) twice a week. i take it outside, empty, spray with anti bac spray and wash under the garden hose. it goes in the shed to dry and the other previously cleaned one brought in.
if the weather is particularly rubbish i have been known to hose it down in the bath and bleach the bath after.
either way it's a twice week deep clean and that keeps it fresh for the cats and stops the dreaded smell in the downstairs loo.

@BeautifulAndBrave Plenty of cats don't go out in the UK and in some countries it's very unusual to let a cat out, it's not cruel at all.

It's also fine to buy a kitten if you want to, preferably a nice relaxed pedigree breed so it's not from half feral parents and pining to be outside due to bad breeding for a pet animal.

I use Almo cat litter for my 3 cats, they have an enclosed garden but like to use their trays more. It's really satisfying how the pee clumps, I actually kind of enjoy cleaning the litter tray 😳

Why? There are lots of cats living very safely and happily inside. Including the lot that live in my house

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats @Toddlerteaplease can you recommend a good clumping litter please? I'm having to change the whole tray twice a week using catsan as our cat seems to piss for England and the tray seems to become saturated so fast ... she then craps on the floor as it isn't clean enough for her. wondering if your method would be more straightforward for us.

@HottestEverRecordedTemperature can you tell me more about your bin please? I used a bathroom bin for a while (next to the litter tray) but the plastic of the bin absorbed the smell of cat poo and it was absolutely disgusting. I didn't line it though. Is it really that simple? (The poo was in poop scoop bags not just loose, I hasten to add!)

@oliveroses
We currently use the Costco clumping clay litter. - used to use the Sainsbury one but kept finding it out of stock. Lidl do one that is OK too.

I use Intersand classic.

Hi @oliveroses yes it's just a normal bin with a lid but I line it with a black bin bags. I usually fold the top of the bag over so the kitty litter is covered as well completely. Then when almost full I just lift it out and tie. The bin is quite small so it's emptied maybe every second day. I have not noticed it smelling but it's in a bathroom we don't use unless we have guests. I also rinse the bin itself out in the shower with soap - maybe once a week I think.

Nothing wrong with having indoor cats. They tend to live longer and are perfectly happy as long as you play with them and give them an enriching environment!

I volunteer in a cat shelter. We line the tray with newspaper and use the wood chip type litter. This gets emptied every morning and again if necessary in the evening. The newspaper absorbs the wee so you need to use less litter. Th tray gets a spray and wipe with kitchen type roll every change. The wood chip litter smells quite nice too. At home I train my cats to go outside by putting a bit of the wood chip stuff on a patch of the garden.

In many countries it's considered neglectful to let your cat outside.

Clumping litter which is scooped as soon as I spot anything it it. Then when the litter starts to get low, I do a full change; throw away all the old litter (find wees start to crumble when the litter is old) and pour boiling water and cat-safe disinfectant into the tray for a few mins before rinsing out with the hose and drying off with kitchen paper.

I prefer non clumping litter - poos are easier to muck out and the wee just absorbs and gets spread around when picking out the poo.

However, when our 3 were kittens e used Worlds Best clumping and that WAS amazing - but very, very expensive🙈

You will need to wash trays at some point as you might have a cat that has a poor aim and the shit goes up the sides or over the edge.

I use Amazon clumping litter, in an under bed tray as he's a big cat, v deep layer
Remove wee and poo the minute he does them (I WFH!)
Honestly I can't remember when I last washed the tray fully, it's so deep that nothing gets to the bottom anyway