How Often Should You Clean the Litter Box?

General information only — not veterinary advice. This page sums up cat-care guidance from the ASPCA. It does not replace a veterinarian's advice about your own cat.

Every day: scoop

The ASPCA says to scoop at least once daily, removing all waste.

Its General Cat Care page gives the same daily rule in plainer words: cats won't use a messy, smelly litter box, so scoop solid wastes out of the box at least once a day.

Its Litter Box Problems page adds a simple reason to keep up: virtually all cats like clean litter boxes. Not cleaning the box often enough, or thoroughly enough, is one of the common litter-box problems that can lead a cat to go outside the box.

Once a week: empty, wash, and refill

The ASPCA's Addressing Litter Box Problems page says to fully clean the box at least weekly. That means disposing of the litter and cleaning the box with a mild, unscented soap or a pet-friendly enzymatic cleaner.

Its Litter Box Problems page says the same thing a second way: once a week, clean all litter boxes with warm water and unscented soap, baking soda, or no soap, and completely replace the litter. It also says to rinse the box out completely with baking soda or unscented soap once a week.

Its General Cat Care page matches the weekly rule too: dump everything, wash with a mild detergent, and refill at least once a week.

What to clean with — and what to avoid

• Mild and unscented is the pattern. The ASPCA pages name mild, unscented soap, a mild detergent, warm water, and baking soda.
• Avoid bleach. The Addressing Litter Box Problems page says to avoid using bleach to clean the litter box, as this can deter your cat from using it again.
• Skip scents. The General Cat Care page says: don't use ammonia, deodorants or scents, especially lemon, when cleaning the litter box.
• Scented cleaners can backfire. The Litter Box Problems page warns that a cat could develop an aversion to the scent of a scented cleaner.

How much litter, and how many boxes

• One to two inches of litter. Most cats prefer only one to two inches of litter, so avoid overfilling the box. The Litter Box Problems page puts it as one to two inches rather than three to four inches.
• One box per cat, plus one extra. For multi-cat homes, the ASPCA says to have one more litter box than the number of cats in the household. Its example: if you have three cats, you'll need a minimum of four litter boxes.
• An extra box can help a single cat, too. The Addressing Litter Box Problems page suggests trying an additional box for a single-cat home, since some cats prefer to defecate and urinate in separate boxes.
• One box per floor. For multi-level homes, the ASPCA pages recommend at least one litter box per level.
• Quiet, and away from food and water. Place boxes in separate, quiet, clean locations, away from your cat's food and water dishes.

Replacing the box itself

The ASPCA says to fully replace litter boxes about every two years. You may want to replace the box sooner if it develops deep scratches, or if it is being used by multiple cats.

If a cat stops using the box

Keeping the box clean is the first, simplest step, because a box that is not cleaned often or thoroughly enough is itself one of the problems the ASPCA lists.

If a cat will not use the litter box, the ASPCA's General Cat Care page says to consult with your veterinarian. It notes that sometimes refusal to use a litter box is based on a medical condition that required treatment. Its Litter Box Problems page likewise says the first step in resolving elimination outside the box is to rule out medical problems, and to have your cat checked thoroughly by a veterinarian.

General information only — not veterinary advice.