Scoop the litter box at least once a day, and twice if you can manage it. Once a week, throw out all the litter, wash the empty tray in hot soapy water, dry it and refill. A covered box, more than one cat, or non-clumping litter usually means doing that full clean twice a week instead.
That's the routine Cats Protection recommends: remove pee and poo twice a day, completely clean the tray at least weekly, and expect hooded trays to need a full clean a couple of times a week because the smell stays trapped inside.
Litter box cleaning schedule at a glance#
| Task |
How often |
Notes |
| Scoop clumps and poop |
Once or twice a day |
More often if your cat waits for a clean box |
| Top up litter |
After scooping |
Around 3 cm (just over an inch) deep is what most cats prefer |
| Empty, wash and refill |
Weekly |
Twice a week for covered boxes or busy multi-cat boxes |
| Wash the scoop and litter mat |
Weekly, with the box |
The mat traps more than you think |
| Replace the tray |
When the plastic is scratched and smells even after washing |
Odor soaks into deep scratches |
Why once a day matters#
Cats are fussy about this. Plenty of them will hold on, or go somewhere else, rather than step into a box that's already been used a few times. If you find pee on the bath mat or poop just outside the tray, a dirty box is the first thing to rule out.
There's a health reason too. Toxoplasma, the parasite cats can shed in their feces, doesn't become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it's passed, which is why the CDC says to change the litter box daily. Scoop every day and the waste is gone before it becomes a risk.
How to deep clean a litter box#
- Tip all the old litter into a bin bag. Scrape off anything stuck to the bottom or corners with the scoop.
- Wash the empty tray with hot water. Cats Protection suggests hot soapy water, while the AAHA/AAFP feline life stage guidelines say plain hot water is best and soap or strong chemicals should be avoided. If the tray is greasy or crusted, a little unscented dish soap is a fair compromise. A dedicated brush helps with the corners and the rim, where dried urine builds up.
- Rinse until the water runs clear. Soap residue and cleaner smells can put a cat off the box.
- If you want to disinfect (after a stomach bug, say, or when a new cat arrives), the CDC's pet-supply guidance uses 1/4 cup of household bleach in a gallon of water, with at least 10 minutes of contact. Rinse thoroughly afterward and never mix bleach with other cleaners.
- Dry the tray completely. Damp litter clumps to the bottom and starts the smell all over again.
- Refill to about 3 cm. Wash the scoop and shake out or wash the litter mat while you're at it.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
Skip scented litter, air fresheners next to the box, and strong perfumed sprays. Cats Protection advises against scented litters, and a box that smells of lavender to you can smell overwhelming to a cat. Use cat-safe cleaners for accidents on the floor. For urine that's soaked into rugs, see our guide to how often to clean carpet.
Don't flush the waste unless you know your plumbing and local wastewater rules allow it. Clumping clay swells, and "flushable" on a bag of litter doesn't mean your pipes or septic system agree. Bag it and put it in the outside bin.
Signs the box needs cleaning sooner#
- You can smell it from the next room.
- Your cat perches on the edge, hovers, or scratches at the floor outside instead of the litter.
- Wet litter has formed a soggy layer at the bottom that scooping doesn't reach.
- There's poop or pee right next to the box.
- The litter is down to a thin layer after a few days of scooping.
Any of these means do the full clean now, not on Sunday.
How many litter boxes do you need?#
One per cat, plus one extra. Two cats means three boxes. Cats Protection gives this rule, and so do the AAHA/AAFP feline guidelines, which also recommend a box at least one and a half times the length of your cat, measured from nose to the tip of the tail. They point out that most manufactured boxes aren't that big, and suggest a large storage container instead. Cut a low entry into one side if your cat is old or stiff.
Placement matters as much as number. Put boxes somewhere quiet, away from the washing machine, cat flaps and busy doorways, and away from food and water bowls. Two boxes side by side count as one big box from the cat's point of view, so spread them out, ideally one on each floor.
Self-cleaning litter boxes still need cleaning#
An automatic box saves you the daily scoop, not the weekly job. You still need to empty the waste drawer before it's full, and the tray, rake and sensors need a regular wash following the manufacturer's manual. Unplug it before you start. Keep an eye on what the box catches, too: with a self-cleaning tray it's easy to miss that your cat is peeing more or less than usual.
If you're pregnant or have a weakened immune system#
Hand the litter box to someone else in the household. That's the CDC's advice for pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system, because of toxoplasmosis. If nobody else can do it, wear disposable gloves, throw them away when you're done, then wash your hands. Daily scooping matters even more here, for the 1 to 5 day reason above.
When it isn't a litter box problem#
A cat going in and out of the tray, straining, crying, or producing little or no urine needs a vet the same day. Male cats in particular can develop a urinary blockage, and Cats Protection says to call your vet immediately if your cat has difficulty peeing or pooing. This is an emergency, not something to fix with fresh litter.
Slower changes are worth a mention at the next vet checkup: bigger or more frequent urine clumps, constipation, or an older cat who starts going just outside the box. That last one can be arthritis making a high-sided box hard to climb into.
Keep food and water well away from the litter area, and wash those bowls on their own schedule. Our pet bowl guide covers that. If the weekly clean is the part that slips, a recurring ChoreLists.com reminder for "empty and wash litter box" on the same day each week takes care of it.