How Often Should You Change Cat Litter?

If you are new to the art of “owning” a cat or two, the amount of choices you have when it comes to food and cat litter can be completely overwhelming!

Even if you are a self proclaimed expert with these animals and are confident in keeping them, there is still a common question that may pop up from time to time…

How often should you change cat litter?

In this article, I will be giving tips on how often to change the litter box of your cat, how to tell if it needs to be changed, how I clean them myself, and also what you can do if your cat keeps leaving messes on the floor for you to clean up.

That is not a fun situation to find yourself in at all, trust me.

I am also going to mention different types of litter boxes and the best sand to use in different situations.

I won’t be mentioning specific brands though, this is more intended to be a guide on how to choose the right type of litter and boxes for your cats.

Also read: How to litter train a kitten?

So, How Often Should You Change Cat Litter?

How often you need to change a cat’s litter box depends on a few things such as how many cats you have, if it poops a lot, the kind of sand you are using and many other factors like that.

Of course, if you notice that the litter box is practically overflowing with cat poo or smells particularly bad then you should always change it regarding of how long it has been.

Twice every week is the rule of thumb to strive for when it comes to replacing clay litter, but if it becomes very dirty you may need to replace the kitty litter every other day or so.

Some only need to do it once a week, and when you have owned a cat for a while, you will get a better feeling on how many times you need to do this. Twice a week is a good rule though.

Remember, that there is a good difference between actually changing the cat sand, and the daily scooping which you should do every day.

You can keep the litter box mostly clean by scooping up any cat poo in a bag to throw away using a shovel but the changing/replacing of the litter can be done less regularly.

How To Change Kitty Litter

So, the vast majority of people replace their cat sand twice a week to once a week.

You should use 3-4 inches of new kitty litter in the box after throwing away the old used sand.

And don’t keep the litter scoop in the box itself for it will only annoy the cat and get in the way of it doing it’s business.

How would you like it if there were a giant shovel in your toilet in your way?…

After removing the sand, you should take the litter box outside and rinse it with water and disinfectant and perhaps scrub it a bit if you need to do so.

Then allow it to dry before taking it back inside.

Remember that cat poo should never be flushed down your own toilet, but it should be thrown in the trash in a secure bag instead.

If it goes in the toilet it can pollute the water supply and clog the toilet, and the bags in the trash need to be very secure that no stray animals will try to get to it while it is outside and unprotected.

If you have many cats then it may be a good idea to get more than one litter box.

If you find that you must replace it more often, then that is simply what must be done and keeping a habit is important for this task so that you don’t forget.

Some people are very forgetful, or have adhd, and may forget to change their cats litter box for days, but it is the cat that will have to deal with it when we forget to take care of it’s needs.

It will eventually turn into your problem though if you don’t change it for too long, for a dirty sandbox is one of the biggest reasons why these animals like to pee or poop on the floor or on furniture.

So, remember to change it.

Also read: The worlds oldest cat!

How To Tell When Kitty litter Needs Changing?

It is a fine art, knowing this.

Even if it may not be visibly dirty or smell particularly bad, the sand will have bacteria and viruses build up over time if you don’t replace it.

The cat is literally peeing in the sand, so it needs to be changed on the regular, without missing a beat.

For non-clumping kitty litter it will be easier to tell when it needs to be replaced because the cat pee will wet the litter and not be absorbed, so the litter will look visibly darker as a result.

This is why I recommend using a deodorizer for non-clumping sand, because not only will it cut down on the smell, but it will also help to absorb the pee and keep the sand more dry. That means less bacterial growth over time.

If you are a new cat owner it can be difficult to tell when it needs changing, since we don’t want to be wasteful with it.

There is also the fear of not changing enough and endangering your cat, so here are some signs to know when it needs to be changed…

Sand Clumping Together

If the majority of the sand in the box looks strangely wet or is clumping together all over the place then it means that the sand can not absorb any more, and you need to change it.

Some innovative brands use crystals in their litter, which changes color when it needs to be changed, which is absolutely amazing.

It is brilliant and very fun to try out, but one brand that is known for this neat trick in their litter products is “Pretty Litter”.

Trust Your Nose, Horrible Smell…

There are many things to consider when wondering if you need to change your cat’s litter box.

But one of the most obvious signs, and the one you can always count on is the sense of smell, and how stinky the box is.

Even when your eyes will not be able to see anything in the litter box, your nose will know and tell you that it is time. A dirty litterbox will smell horrendously and it is a very specific easily recognizable odor to look out for.

If the odor is becoming unbearable to live with, then there is no reason not to change it.

Which Kitty Litter and Box to Choose?

There are some points to consider when choosing a box and litter for your cat.

Things to consider are for example: the type of sand, clumping vs non-clumping, budget, the type of box such as covered or not covered.

You can find fantastic clumping kitty litter here.

The Types of Sand/Litter (Non Clumping VS Clumping)

Which type of litter is best to use for your cat? There are pros and cons to each type.

Non Clumping Pros:

• Easy to clean and scoop up the droppings.
• Cat Poop can be flushed when you shake away the litter which means less waste. No plastic bags needed.
• Generally less expensive and budget friendly.
• Don’t have to buy it as often because it normally comes in huge bags.

Non Clumping Cons:

• More Smell and odor, but can be reduced with a deodorizer.
• Heavier bags because they are bigger in most cases.

Now let’s talk about the clumping type of cat sand…

Clumping Pros:

• Comes in smaller and lighter containers more often, easier to lift and store.
• Less intense bad smell because the cat waste is removed efficiently with every scoop.
• Deodorizer is normally part of the sand, so no extra is needed.

Clumping Cons:

• Costs more, sometimes 3 times as much as non clumping.
• Needs bags for the waste in between changes and is not flushable.
• Smaller containers mean you must buy more, and more often.

Of course you may want to choose one type over the other or maybe your cat just prefers one more.

Some have medical conditions which make them sensitive to some textures in their litter, which makes them not want to use it.

Some types of kitty litter change color when the cat pees on it to show certain conditions or even if there is blood in their urine, which is handy if you have a breed that is prone to kidney/urinary issues.

Clumping litter is better for people who don’t mind using plastic bags and don’t mind the heavier price tag.

Budget

Now that I have narrowed down which type of litter you can choose from, let’s also talk about budget and the price.

We all have different budgets, and some of us can’t afford the more expensive cat litter and need to use our money elsewhere.

Cheap cat litter will not hurt your kitty and in fact, it probably won’t even care.

As long as the litter box is clean and they like the texture, it won’t matter too much to them.

Also to be honest, you will end up throwing it away anyway.

A good way to test which litter your pet would like, without spending too much money is to buy the cheapest brand first and buy smaller bags of it to begin with. Then you can test it out and see if it works out well.

Then, if they show a preference for something then you can go and buy it in bulk or value size to save money.

If it turns out that your cat for some reason despises the sand you picked out for it, and you have leftovers then you can simply ask a friend if they want to keep the unused litter for their own cat. You can also call a shelter and ask them if they will accept it and I am sure they will be happy to do so.

Litter Boxes: Covered VS Not Covered

After choosing the right litter, now you will have to make the hard choice of which type of box to put it in.

If you have a shy or a timid cat then I recommend getting a covered box for your cat. Also, covered boxes tend to keep the smell at bay as it will be “trapped” inside the box and another plus is that the litter will not get all over the floor.

If your cat loves to dig around in the litter box as if it were searching for rare treasure, then definitely go for a covered option.

If it doesn’t leave too much of a smell or isn’t kicking the litter all over the floor, an uncovered box will do just fine.

Why Keeping It Clean Is So Important

If you are rigid in scooping out the cat droppings once or twice daily (as you should be, then the litter box will stay clean for much longer.

So, if you dislike the chore of replacing the litter completely, make sure you at least are doing your job well with the daily cleanings. Get yourself a good shovel for this task to make things easier for yourself.

It is important to keep a cats litter box clean because if it is dirty, then the cat too will be dirty and it can be bad for his health.

Also, his mental well being as the cat will not feel good or comfortable having to do it’s “thing” in a dirty place.

These are very clean and lavish creatures, cats, and they need their bathroom to be clean.

If, you fail to keep their litter box clean they will simply find another place to use.

This place may be the neighbors spotless front lawn, or your expensive white carpet.

So, it is very important that you clean the droppings daily with a litter scoop and replace the whole sand once or twice in a week.

Also read: The best clumping cat litter.

How Many Times a Day Do Cats Use the Litter Box?

Like you probably guessed, it depends.

But, to give you a solid answer, cats tend to pee maybe 2-4 times each and every day.

Things such as how much they have had to drink, their age and health, the house temperature, and more can affect how often a cat pees every day.

If you happen to notice any abnormal or sudden changes in your kitty’s peeing schedule, then it could be a sign of something more serious such as bladder problems so you should go meet your vet if this is the case.

Cats normally do “number two” around once a day but there is no need to worry if it is more frequent than that, as all animals are different in this manner.

If the cat does end up having diarrhea on the floor or having to go to the bathroom constantly, then that on the other hand is worth worrying about.

Young cats and kittens go to the bathroom more often than fully grown cats do. The animals diet, lifestyle, medications and overall health habits will affect this schedule greatly so keep that in mind.

So, for a cat to use the box 3-5 times every day is normal.

For this reason, it is very important to use a shovel to clean the droppings every day, even if you don’t need to actually change the sand itself that often.

Final Words

So, I hope this guide helped to narrow down what litter box or sand is best for your specific situation and needs, and remember to listen to what your cat prefers as well.

You need to change the sand in the box once or twice a week, depending on how dirty and smelly it gets.

And, remember that you need to clean and scoop up the waste from the box every day, even more if the cat has made a mess.

If you fail to keep it clean then Snowballs might just decide to use your carpet or floor instead, since it is cleaner. It won’t stay clean for long though, if the cat decides it does not like the litter box or sand that you chose for it, so choose wisely.

Fortunately, they are intelligent and clean creatures, so it usually is not too difficult to litter train them.

It may be they don’t like the sand though, which is the main reason why accidents happen outside of it.

If your cat suddenly is peeing outside their litter box, think about if there have been any major changes in their life or if you changed something about their litter box, which may have upset them.

Felines are creatures of habit, so if you are ever going to adopt a new cat then make sure to ask what litter they were using, before taking them home with you.

Try not to move their litter box unless necessary and don’t ever scold or punish them if they have an accident, show patience and care.

Also keep the location of the litter box in mind. If the little cat is timid and anxious then don’t place their litter box in a high traffic or noisy area of the house. If you have the space for it, I recommend the bathroom.

Make sure their food is at least a meter away from their litter box, as they will be put off by any smell or contamination, which makes sense.

Also read: How to discipline a cat right.