Any cat parent will tell you that they adore their fur babies and they wouldn’t trade them for anything, but they sure can make a mess sometimes. Whether you are new to having cats or you have had them for years, it can be tricky to keep up with the litter box, the shedding, their feeding area and the accidents. If you feel as though you are spending every waking moment cleaning up after Snowball, here are a few tips to help you keep up with the cat messes and make the cleaning less time-consuming.
Cat-Free Zones
When kitty is allowed anywhere in the house, there will also be hair and possible accidents in every room of the house. It may be a good idea to restrict your cat from a few primary areas of the house, such as the spare bedrooms. Keeping the door shut will prevent him from leaving hair on the linens and furniture in rooms that aren’t frequented often, which means you may not notice a layer of hair on the guest bed. Keeping bedroom doors closed can help to reduce your laundry load as well as minimize the risk of urine stains.
Lint Rollers
Lint rollers can be your best friend if you have a cat. Keep one in every room the cat visits to help pick up hair on furniture, drapes, and clothes. The more hair your lint rollers pick up, the fewer hairs you will find floating throughout the house and the less time you will spend vacuuming and dusting. Consider covering resting places, such as your favorite recliner, with a towel or small blanket. They will be easy to remove and toss in the washer but make sure to remove the covering and wash it at least once a week to help cut down on odors.
Litter Box
Most people find that the litter box is the most unpleasant aspect of having a cat. This may be a dreaded task, but if you take good care of the litter box, it will help to eliminate the odor as well as litter being carried through the house. Before starting this task, it is essential that you make sure you have the right cleaning tools for the job. Place the litter box on tile or other hard flooring, instead of on the carpet. It is much easier to clean wood or tile than it is to try and get grounded in kitty litter out of the carpet. Empty and replace the kitty litter at least once each day and give the litter box a good cleaning once a week. To clean the litter box, empty the litter and pour about an inch of vinegar in the bottom and let it sit for about 10-20 minutes, then pour it out, clean with dish soap and warm water and dry out the box before refilling with litter. Pouring about a half cup of baking soda into the bottom of the pan before putting in the kitty litter will help to control the odors between cleanings. It is also helpful to put the litter box on top of a placemat, so you can just pick up the mat and shake it out.
Comb or Brush Daily
If your cat will allow you, spend a few minutes each day brushing his coat. This is a great way for you to spend time with your cat and it will help tremendously in reducing the amount of hair deposits throughout the house. As a bonus, brushing will help them have a smoother, less matted coat and they may even have less of a struggle with hairballs.
Vacuum Daily and Dust Often
Dusting, vacuuming, and cats naturally go hand-in-hand. Without routine vacuuming and dusting, the litter and cat hair can quickly take over your house. It is much easier to vacuum daily than to spend hours once a week trying to get all of the hair. If you don’t want to vacuum every day, consider using a hand-held vacuum to clean the hair from the places where the cat likes to nap and play. Between a lint roller and a hand-held vacuum, you can almost remove the cat hair as soon as it lands. Using a hand-held vacuum on the furniture daily will help to prevent hair from building up and finding its way under the cushions. Dust at least once each week using a magnetized dusting wand to get into hard to reach places. Unlike using a cloth, the magnetized duster will also hold the hair, instead of throwing it back into the air.
Outside of the litter box, your cat’s bedding may be the messiest area. It is essential that you give your cat bedding that can be machine washed. The bedding should be washed once a week to prevent odor and a buildup of hair. It is helpful to create a “kitty” cleaning day for the major cleaning tasks. For example, scrubbing the litter box and washing the bedding on the same day of the week will ensure both of these areas are clean, which means less tracking hair and litter from one area to another and it will help to keep the odors away.
