How often do you scoop your cat's litter box?

[ginnyinWI]

My two cats are okay with us cleaning their boxes every other day. We have two extra large boxes and two regular ones. My daughter has a cat who seems to not want to use a box if it has anything at all in it. She would prefer the floor next to the box! And I've heard about cats who need their box scooped twice a day. Just wondering what is really the norm for cats?

[Sanity Claws]

1. twice a day

That's two boxes for 3 cats.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I do it daily, mostly because having a routine is a good thing

for me to remember before I smell it. I have always done it daily. The cat I have right now let me know that it was required. Only one time in the years that I have had him did he poop outside the box, and that was when I had forgotten to clean it one day. I don't forget anymore.

With several boxes for just two kitties, I would think that you should be ok with every other day. If it works for you, and for your cats, it is fine, right? Who cares what others do.

[ginnyinWI]

4. the reason I'm asking is for my daughter

She has a cat who seems very picky about using a dirty box, and I'm wondering how common it is. I have been telling her that she does probably need to clean it at least once a day if not more. I think they have three or four boxes for two cats but don't get cleaned every day. Trying to see what others do.

Your kitty seems to be the same--daily cleaning or he won't use it.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Nothing is "common" with kitties.

Each one plays by their own rules. Your daughter's cat is very picky, or so it seems. If I were her, I would do a few things...especially if she is like me and works, so cannot serve her highness every time she dirties the litter box. I would clean them at least once a day, and more if that is what it takes to have them always use the box. Then I would put a plastic bag under the boxes (or under the one if it is just one box that the kitty goes outside of) and put newspaper on top of the plastic. I did that with one of my cats that just did not have manners no matter what I did.

[ginnyinWI]

8. yes she works

She works full time and so does her husband and they have a 16 month old boy. I'll pass on what you said, thanks.

[Tetris_Iguana]

3. Twice a week for 3 cats.

They don't mind, so I don't mind.

[JayhawkSD]

5. Your cat(s) will tell you how often you need to do it

If she's pooping on the floor you aren't doing it often enough.

The rule is one box for each cat, plus one more box, so you are okay on the numbers, but your daughter probably need to clean the box a bit more often and might need to be changing the litter more frequently. No matter how often you clean it, the litter loses its effectiveness and begins to smell. The cat will stop wanting to use it, so you need to dump it out and start with all fresh litter. How often you do that depends on many factors.

If your daughter has only one box for one cat, she might want to consider providing two litter boxes. Jackson Galaxy insists that one cat needs two boxes, two cats need three, three cats need four, etc. Presumably fifteen cats would need sixteen boxes.

I have to admit that our Molly has only one litter box, but we clean it daily and change the litter every two weeks and she seems quite happy with the situation. She has a kidney problem and pees about eight times per day so we do have to pay careful attention. She also has lymphoma and isn't going to be with us much longer, but that's a different issue.

[Inkfreak]

6. Every day in the winter.

But in the warmer months about every other day or so. My big cat spends a lot of time outside so he does his business out there. And our lil rescue doesn't leave much behind. She's kinda dainty. I don't mind, less poo is cool.

[TygrBright]

9. 1 Cat, 1 Box, 1 Scoop/Day n/t

[rox63]

10. 2 cats, 2 boxes, once a day for each box

[narnian60]

11. I must be the crazy, obsessive nut here.

Everytime I see that someone has used the litterbox or hear someone scratching in it I clean it. I am retired so that makes it easier, and I have dogs that love to get a snack from it if I don't beat them to it (so disgusting).

[avebury]

12. Twice a day (at least) when I had

indoor cats. It was either that or the dogs thought that the litter boxes were their snack boxes.

[jrandom421]

13. With us

5 cats, 4 boxes, twice a day. It's a full time job. And, rather than pooping on the floor to let us know it needs to be done, they'll jump up to eye level, yowl, and chew on our hands, just to get the attention of the slow audience.