Use my 5 min/week litter cleaning routine

[@jesscaticles]

Get organized with your cat's care needs with my Cat Care Binder printable and digital planners! Plus the best enrichment, happiness, and care videos → store.caticles.com/cat-care-binders/?ref=yt-video

[@stephaniehernandez3641]

Just changed to a stainless steel litter box from a huge hooded litter box, and my and my baby wanted to thank you for it! Life saver for the two of us haha

[@jesscaticles]

Awwww!!! You're very welcome!! He's adjusting well to the new box?

[@dkleath8697]

How wonderful to have a tub & hot water, you are truly blessed! Thank you for all your tips; a blessing for all who watch & listen 😇

[@DrTheRich]

Money saving tip: instead of buying expensive dedicated stainless steel boxes. Buy Gastronom GN 1/1 boxes normally used in industrial kitchens to keep food warm. They are a lot cheaper and similar in size. And work just as well.

[@hy930807]

I actually find it fun to scoop. It’s like treasure hunting. I always gets disappointed when I can’t find anything to scoop up he just jumped in it to trick me. I do a tiny cheer in my head when I find the clumps hahaha

[@jesscaticles]

LOL! Does your cat go in the litter box without doing anything often?

[@marakeshg8112]

you are precious. : )~

[@hy930807]

@@jesscaticles I always flatten and neaten the litter after clear out the waste. But sometime he like to roll in it, or dig for a bit then decide nah I’ll do it later so I see the messy litter got tricked into thinking he probably pee/pooed in it time to clean!

[@jesscaticles]

@@hy930807 Hmm I was asking because frequent trips to the box without doing anything is usually a sign that something is off. Crystals, UTI, etc. For example, if the cat goes into the box and tries but nothing comes out and then dribbles here and there it's a sign that he's blocked and that's life-threatening.

[@TabbyTimeOut]

If my cat deposits what he considers impressive "treasure" he will not cover it.

[@timbarden2782]

My hack is not a hack really, just a habit. My litterbox sits right next to my toilet, so every time I use the toilet and finish up I scoop the box. It has just become a routine I don't even think about. The catbox is always clean this way.

[@jesscaticles]

That's great! My bathroom is tiny and would not fit a litter box. But I would put Jericho's box in there if it fit!

[@deafsetter]

I do the same thing.

[@NeedMoreCoffeeOG]

OMG I can't believe I've never thought of that!

[@Pplouisex]

Thank you so much as a cat mama who often feels clueless you have helped me and my family greatly!

[@Uneven_Hike]

I use a turkey roasting pan i found at goodwil $5 .l.. much cheaper then the metal 40$ litter boxes!

[@uhavemooface]

Scooping after everytime they go will be a pain but you are right about the litter box being easier to clean up. I clean the litter boxes every single day. We have two cats right now and only 2 litter boxes at the moment. We need 1 more litter box. This was a great video. I need to find stainless steel litter boxes.

[@faithgrace4690]

How are u keeping your littler box from rusting. Same brand and tried another and they rust fast

[@maryx100]

Never knew! Thank you.😍

[@inezgraer5482]

Thank you for the stainless steel litter box recommendation .....makes total sense! Bodhi will not use her litter box if there is either pooh or wee in it. She calls for it to be cleaned!! So she wees three times a day and Pooh's once. Not a huge selection of litter here in Portugal but we use a natural clay and a large coir mat she has to cross to get to the door. It takes most of the dust off her paws. I wipe them once a day with a damp cloth. Will check walnut litter on line in Europe. Bound to be some. Thanks again Jess. 👍

[@jesscaticles]

You're very welcome!

[@jc.1191]

Thanks for posting your carbohydrate calculator. I found it very helpful.

[@aiai-j7i]

I use one inch of Feline Pine and scoop solid waste every time she goes. Then on Day 5 I pour out the entire litter in a trash bag, run water and soap in the box and pour that out into the toilet. No smell, no sticky stuff to scrub off, done in a few minutes. However, my cat seems to have a hard time digging into the pellets--I assume they are too large. I wish they made them into smaller pellets.I have had the same top entry oval litter box for 2 years now and it holds absolutely no urine smell. It looks stylish, is easy to clean and I like the high walls.

[@ericabarnes3774]

I love the idea of a stainless steel litter box and scoop. I prefer lightly scented litter because bathrooms can get smelly even when people flush right away. Same goes for litter boxes, though some litters can smell to strong. Also, the litter robot is an automatic litterbox that can tell the owner how often their cat goes in the litter box.

[@jesscaticles]

You may prefer scented, but cats do not.

[@ericabarnes3774]

@@jesscaticles that is true especially of the really strongly scented ones. the first thing people recommend if their cat is having litter troubles is to switch to an unscented. The lightly scented I use doesn't seem to bother my cats but I would switch in a heartbeat if it did. The most important thing is that the cat is healthy and happy.

[@ChessieChess]

Do not use scented litter it’s bad for them

[@marakeshg8112]

OH, maaaaan! I''ve been putting way too much litter in the box. I felt like if I didn't put a lot in the box, I was short changing my cat. I'll be using your affiliate link to buy quality food as soon as I finish gradually shifting my cat from kibble. Thanks for all your help!

[@jesscaticles]

Thank you for your support!!

[@yutorzh7144]

I've found wood pellets to work the best with my cats. They clean up very easily too. Not perfect but it's worked alot better than many others I've tried. I haven't been able to find walnut litter in stores here but very curious about trying it as well when I can find some. Great suggestions, thank you!

[@jesscaticles]

You're welcome!

[@carmaela2689]

I don't have a cat solely because I don't want a litter box in my house. I miss having a cat but years ago when I had mine, she used a plastic box. I love the idea of having a stainless steel box! I found the plastic held smell no matter how much I cleaned it. Now I have been looking for better tips since I really miss having a kitty. This sounds like a great idea!

[@jesscaticles]

I'm glad it was helpful! You're right - those plastic boxes get so stinky!

[@sssaiferr9572]

i did this once and it made my shower smell like litter box and poop for a whole month😭😭

[@samanthaluciano9419]

Hi Jess, thank you for your videos. I was wondering if you would willing to do one about pets safe laundry detergents, multi surface cleaners etc etc... for example, I'm looking for a pet safe laundry softener and it seems impossible to find...

[@cattitude7809]

I think the stainless steel pans are a great idea but I wish I could find a bigger one with higher sides! I make my own litter boxes out of big plastic bins with high sides so they can have a big area to scratch around in and they don't fling the litter out all over! But yes, they're a pain in the ass to scrub down every week!!😫

[@jesscaticles]

What if you put the stainless steel pan inside the plastic box?

[@thestraycattrio]

I scoop Sami's litter box every evening. I find it a great way to know how his day went, is nice to know he peed and pooped. It makes me laugh when people complain about cleaning a litter box, it takes such little effort. I own guinea pigs as well and they are extremely messy, so cleaning a litter box is a piece of cake :)

[@jesscaticles]

Exactly! The more often you scoop, the less time it takes to clean the box out.

[@TabbyTimeOut]

I have a cat named Sammie. He is a senior cat I have a litter box on each floor for him. It's kind of funny. He poops on the box on the first floor. But pees in the box on the second floor.

[@beautyintheskies]

I just don’t like it because it hurts my back leaning down to scoop, and lifting heavy boxes of litter. Also it is too dusty and I feel like I’m going to end up dying of some sort of respiratory disease. Also with two cats they poop A LOT. I grew up with outdoor cats but housecats create a lot more waste and a lot more mess in the house. It is a very different experience with housecats.

[@lilithhenry]

I just bought a stainless steel litter box just like you, because I don’t want to use plastic products for my pets. But as I couldn’t find one in my region, I have to find something else, that’s why I bought a food container like those use in restaurant. It’s a great alternative but not as efficient as the one you have because it’s not as high as I wanted it to be. But for now, that enough. Only the scoop is made out of plastic because I couldn’t find a stainless steel version.

[@TabbyTimeOut]

Thank you this was very helpful.

[@jesscaticles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juliejelaco5208]

So wouldn’t that stuff going down your bathroom drain bad for your plumbing? Just curious. Seems like better to wash out outside with a hose.

[@Jakilyn]

Gonna try this..I have 2 large breeds (Maine Coon and Rag Doll) and litter is such a chore. I spend thousands a year to keep their space clean & healthy

[@jesscaticles]

Gotta do what's best for our babies!

[@madison8001]

where do you get the Walnut litter i haven't seen it anywhere before out in stores near me?

[@jesscaticles]

Petco has it but it's also online amazon and chewy.

[@richiec.7637]

I don't know how many would be willing to check but I wonder what are the sizes of peoples litter boxes. Mine is 22.5 inches long, 15.5 inches wide, and 7 inches tall. I always considered it a rather large litter box. I thought I read once however many cats you have you should have one extra litter box. If you have one cat you should have two litter boxes. If you have two cats you should have three litter boxes. Has anyone ever heard this?

[@coolpix807]

I have three litter boxes, one of which is about the size you described. They are plastic, but I am switching to stainless steel.

[@ChessieChess]

The bigger the better. Too many people use boxes that are too small. Yes 3 boxes for2 cats

[@jochildress5003]

I’ve watched several of your videos and they leave me a bit confused. Can you do one on exactly how the genie (candy jar) is used? I see you using a small trash can with a bag liner but never actually using the genie.

[@VetsrisAuguste]

So much respect!!!

[@jesscaticles]

Thank you!

[@peacheswhatley]

Hi what would be your second best cat litter for someone that has nut allergies?

[@juliechung6885]

how well does it work for you to put the mountain in the center of the box as opposed to putting an even layer? is this to save on litter?

[@TheNomadicCat]

I like the steel litter box. Do they make them with the high splatter proof sides?

[@user-ei8rb7sj6c]

I’d like to know this too. My kitty somehow gets poo on surrounding walls and it’s hard to clean off.

[@Curry_Tales2107]

I have 4 trays and I use 1 of them at a time.I use beach sand because it is cheap and also because my cat is picky about her food, toys and the type of litter . She is even choosy about depth of the litter otherwise she wouldn't do her business. So I scoop the litter whenever my cat poops and change the tray & sand every day, keep them aside and wash 3 of them at once while the 4th one is in use. First I wash with non scented soap, then with strong acids and then with soap again. It gets pretty hot here, especially in the summer (more than 40 degree celsius) , so I keep the trays in direct sunlight to dry and then I don't have to worry for the next 3 days

[@jesscaticles]

I've been wanting to use sand or dirt since it's the most natural!

[@aiai-j7i]

@@jesscaticles Where would one purchase sterile sand? I prefer to change out the entire used litter and wash the box more often instead of having to scoop clumps every day. I scoop solid waste immediately but I have to say, it doesn't even smell with my cat. I think it is the good quality rabbit pate! 🙂

[@PatrickDBarrett]

I can’t for the life of me find a ceramic litter scoop. Your link for one is no longer working. Any pointers?

[@generalpatzer6893]

I am using natural plant based clumping litter for my boy.

[@pizzarat3275]

Most of the higher end automatic litter boxes these days have weight sensors and an app that tracks when each cat visits.

[@LK--bq3ok]

I just put a doggy mat inside the litter then tip the litter on top of it easy to clean not much mess

[@SmallcowLoL]

This might be a stupid question but I just wanted to know how you disinfect your bathtub after cleaning their litter box. I want to swap over to stainless steel because I want to do what's best for my cats. I want to be safe about things like potential toxoplasmosis. pls and thank you!

[@afimaci]

Could you please enable CC? Thank you :) I’m interested in your channel but won’t be able to without subtitles…the automatic captions are perfectly fine. Thank you!

[@glorijavogrin2857]

You clean litter box Just like I do 🐾 and Where Did you get litter scoop cuz its so cute 💖 💞 😘 stay safe 💖

[@jesscaticles]

I got it at petco! It's the first and only scoop I've had for Jericho 😺

[@glorijavogrin2857]

@@jesscaticles o gret But too bad that here in Slovenia We dont have petco 🙈

[@HeronCoyote1234]

@@glorijavogrin2857 you may want to check a feed supply store for a metal scoop.

[@glorijavogrin2857]

@@HeronCoyote1234 thank you so much 😻 I have one from zooplus 🐾 stay healty and safe 💞 💞 💞 💞 🐾🐾😻

[@JustACatLover]

Love your content and knowledge. 😀👍

[@jesscaticles]

Thank you!!

[@giselec.7806]

Why do you use urine test strips?

[@AllMyKittys]

I have the habit of waiting till night to clean the litterbox do I will try scooping when see its soiled.

[@jesscaticles]

For sure! But at least if you are scooping daily, that's more than most people do. But cats do prefer a clean bathroom every time they go in.

[@AllMyKittys]

@@jesscaticles well im gonna give it a go 👍 (no pun intended)

[@jesscaticles]

@@AllMyKittys Intend that pun! lol I love puns.

[@AllMyKittys]

@@jesscaticles 😁

[@richiec.7637]

I put that 3 inches of litter across the entire litterbox. I have a plastic litterbox and plastic scooper. When I empty and wash out the litterbox, I do a pretty good job. But I honestly never clean the scooper. I've never thought of doing that for some reason. I'm 63 years of age now and weight is a consideration now. I'm assuming your litterbox is aluminum. Hopefully I can check online and they give weights of litterboxes. My litterbox is quite heavy when I decide to do a complete change. A metal one might be a bit too heavy for me. I have to admit, I've had this litterbox and scooper for MANY years.

[@realguineapigmom]

Thanks I would've watched the video earlier but I'm on vacation

[@jesscaticles]

Oooo!! Enjoy your vacation!

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Thank you, Jess! I switched to equine pellets about a year ago. For the most part, I love it, with the mesh inner box. But sometimes it can be a pain to clean. The pee doesn’t clump, but turns into sawdust. And I remove his poop within an hour of seeing it. But, I like your method of cat litter care. Time for a change?

[@jesscaticles]

I know exactly what you're talking about! I've had a few clients that used pine pellets, and you're right. The sawdust is messy. If you decide to change do it gradually. Cats get so stressed so easily when it comes to change!

[@xradelox]

If your cat uses pine pellets without any issues, please keep them on it. Pine pellets are so much better for the environment than clay litter. If you use a sifting litter box, you can just shimmy it once a day to get the sawdust to drop down into the solid tray and just dump it however often you want to. As long as you get rid of the sawdust every day, pine pellets are the best for reducing tracking.

[@ChessieChess]

@@xradeloxI really want to switch to this but the pellets are so big, I don’t think they like the feel of them. Also this creator said wood dust causes cancer and I would like to know if this is true

[@xradelox]

@ The amount of wood dust inhaled is nothing compared to the dust from clay litter. And the clay litter solidifies, the wood doesn’t. You can premoisten the pine pellets so they start to break down and become softer and just leave a good amount of the broken down sawdust instead of sifting it all out. Do that until your cats are using it without accidents, then you can start to sift out more and more of the sawdust until you’re able to do it everyday. Then there will be no tracking. It’s a good way to transition them. Yes it takes time, but once they’re using it, the savings and health benefits and much cleaner house are all so worth the transition time/inconveniences.

[@ChessieChess]

@@xradelox thank you!! I did start it, mixing it with clay until they make the transition. I cannot wait to be done with clay, so tired of me and them breathing in the dust and having it coat everything around the pans

[@marvinmcgill]

I clean my box I have 2 cats I do mine 3 or 4 times a day I do it before I go to bed when I wake up if they go I hear it when I get done going to the bath room I clean it to

[@jesscaticles]

That's great!

[@alexistionna1905]

Did you put that pump on that dr bronners yourself?!?! Brilliant idea lmfao I’ll have to try that out

[@jesscaticles]

LOL yes I did! Amazon has basic pumps you can use -that's what I did (:

[@halanasser5589]

Did you try grass litter?

[@jesscaticles]

Yes I've tried grass seed litter. 3 different brands and they had bugs in them. But I think I will try it again with a different brand because it was my favorite aside from the bugs.

[@halanasser5589]

@@jesscaticles I will be waiting for it. Thank you

[@jesscaticles]

@@halanasser5589 I will definitely make a video about it if I give it another go, stay tuned!

[@jacklawer6389]

Here in canada 80 bucks for a 40 pound bag, kind of ridiculous don't you think ?

[@kerstinmahnke8863]

What is the jar for

[@jesscaticles]

DIY litter genie.

[@castlenani]

How many litter boxes do you have for your cat? Is 2 necessary if it is indoor/outdoor cat

[@alexb7699]

Should I be wearing a mask like yourself when cleaning out my cats litter ?

[@darlpo64]

I can’t scoop at all because I am disabled. I pay someone to clean the boxes every morning. I wish so much I could just do it myself. I would be scooping the same way, after each pee or poo. I am extremely clean and obsessed with cleanliness. It breaks my heart when the box is even a little dirty. I can’t afford to have it scooped more.

[@jesscaticles]

That's ok! Daily is still better (:

[@beloveddaughter8585]

If you give yr cats extra boxes then it will be less of a concern they are only scooped once a day as they can always find a clean box. 😺

[@madwithwonderlust]

Hi! Thank you so much for this video and answering my question on another video. This may be an odd question, but with the walnut litter would it be difficult to see if your cat is peeing blood? If so, are urine strips how you would monitor it? Thank you in advance. :)

[@jesscaticles]

It would be difficult to see blood with walnut litter. I'd suggest using test strips only between vet appointments. You probably already took him/her to the vet, but of course I'd say do that before relying on litter.

[@madwithwonderlust]

​@@jesscaticles Thank you so much! He has never peed blood thankfully or had any major issues, but I am just a paranoid cat mom in case he ever did. Thanks again for your time! :)

[@konzertina9685]

Can a steel box get too cold for a cat?

[@jesscaticles]

I've never had this issue even with the AC on. I guess if it was right under the AC maybe? But that would be a poor spot for a litter box anyway.

[@konzertina9685]

@@jesscaticles I don't have AC, but I do live in northen sweden. But I guess I could try!

[@jesscaticles]

@@konzertina9685 Gotcha! Apparently bamboo is less porous than plastic. So that might be another option for you. If you decide to get bamboo let me know how it works!

[@konzertina9685]

@@jesscaticles thank you! I'll look into it

[@jesscaticles]

@@konzertina9685 You got it!

[@oyvzsoka54]

I use wood pallets and works well to me. Skoop after every poop and sift every 2-3 days and wash the box completely every week. When I tried litter I found it too dusty and ended up everywhere sadly, but maybe worth another try 😊

[@jesscaticles]

You're right litter is dusty and it tracks everywhere. They make wood litter, but breathing in wood dust regularly can cause cancer. There is an issue with everything!

[@richiec.7637]

What is the difference between scooping and sifting since you do both? I do find scoopers sifting areas to be too large and a lot gets through. I bought one that was for reptile cages and it also said it was for litter but the sifting area was too small for cat litter. It seems scooper sifting areas are a universal size.

[@richiec.7637]

@@jesscaticles I saw a lady at a store and her and her husband were discussing "dust free" litter. I told them there was no such thing...lol. I notice on the wall by my litter box a litter dust film.

[@oyvzsoka54]

@@richiec.7637 When my cat poops I scoop out as soon as I notice, mostly once a day. So only the poop gets cleared. However I don't sift the pee out everyday, only every 2-3 days. I have a sifting litter box from Cat Centre. I use cat litter woodpallets. Once almost got the small animal bedding one, because it was cheaper, but as you said they are different size of pallets. I hope I was able to help, sorry English not my first language and sometimes I am the only person who thinks I am making sense 😂.

[@richiec.7637]

@@oyvzsoka54 You're making sense

[@sketchur]

I work 8 to 6 (away from home), but my husband works from home. Should he be scooping both the litter boxes throughout the day?? What do you do when you're away from home for half the day or longer??

[@jesscaticles]

Yes, scoop the litter box after it's been used. That way the cat has a clean litter box every time he goes in. It's like flushing the toilet after you go 😺 If you're away for more than a day I'd suggest having a cat sitter come in to feed, clean, and interact. I worked as a cat sitter for 3 years. Even the shyest cats loved my visits ♥️

[@richiec.7637]

@@jesscaticles Really? Some people actually have someone come in and stay with their cats while they're at work? I've never heard of that. I do tell my brother if anything ever happens to me that he has to take care of my cat. But he's so absent minded that I do worry. But I've always left my cat at home alone when I was working.

[@hammypie]

What litter do u recommend for 3-4 week old kittens? I really hate Yesterday’s News. When can they transition to a clumping litter such as worlds best or other natural clumping?

[@jesscaticles]

I think around 4 months? But you will have to do what works best for your babies. Unfortunately, I have not found the best litter. Right now I'm using walnut. You can check out my litter reviews video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZobIiqd5Z5ehlac&t

[@hammypie]

@@jesscaticles yes that was a great video! Agree with everything

[@giselec.7806]

Please enable closed captions on your videos... sometimes I miss some words, some audience are not Americans

[@gretadar5035]

You’re as always - the super mom of cats! I always feel like a looser as I don’t do so much for my precious ones. Like I do scoop daily. But I guess I should be doing it twice? And I wish I could get the stainless steel litter box in my country and stop wasting on plastic 🤞🏻 And why’d you leave the litter box only half filled?

[@jesscaticles]

Don't feel like a loser!! I've had 12 cats in my life before I adopted Jericho lol I've also worked with hundreds. So I just have a lot of testing and experience in a short amount of time. I always recommend scooping after your cat goes. That way there's a clean box waiting for the next go. Think about it like this.. we flush the toilet every time we go. Bamboo might be another option. Apparently, it's less porous than plastic. And I only fill the box about 3-4 inches in the middle so that I'm not using the entire bag of litter every week. When I do it this way, it's about 1 week's worth of litter. Then I dump that and start fresh every week. The large bag of litter still lasts a month, but Jericho gets a fresh batch every week. Rather than the same litter all month.

[@zainhoosen4659]

@@jesscaticles

[@richiec.7637]

A guy I use to work with wife was a cat lover. He said she never uses scoopable litter. She said the chemicals used for it to be scoopable is dangerous for the cat since the cat cleans themselves by licking. Seems that would be hard to maintain. I only use scoopable cat litter.

[@user-ei8rb7sj6c]

Do you mean clumping vs non-clumping?

[@richiec.7637]

@@user-ei8rb7sj6c Yes

[@user-ei8rb7sj6c]

@@richiec.7637 So I’m using an unscented non clumping litter. It sticks to her BM, I scoop it out, dispose, disinfect the scoop, & I’m done.

[@elizabethtoledo30]

I scoop everyday it nasty jor to

[@Sammich88]

I have no choice. My cat pees 15 inches high so I need a high lid top entry box else the urine splashes out of the litter box. Unfortunately thou don’t make ceramic or stainless steel lidded top entry box. Probably because it would be too heavy for the average buyer.

[@jesscaticles]

15 inches high? Has he seen the vet recently? Typically too much urine is a sign of an underlying problem.

[@aiai-j7i]

@@jesscaticles I assume the commenter meant the level at which the cat pees is 15 inches, not 15 inches of pee. So, normal quantity, just sprayed high up.

[@karengarrow5579]

Why do you use such fine litter I use cat san coarse litter it’s the best cat litter I have ever used it doesn’t smell even if I don’t scoop every day and when I do empty the litter it’s odourless I don’t believe in washing the litter box because it removes their scent and then they will be tempted to go poo or pee elsewhere in my home I don’t want any nasty surprises I just scrape the clumps off the bottom and wipe the box with toilet paper and put the new litter in my cat seems happy with that method she has never had any accidents in my home

[@robinmeraz3051]

This one video is already longer than 5 minutes!

[@Ladythanaa]

I dont think washing it in the bathtub is a good idea…

[@tobiasfoppen2658]

I don't think it's a good idea to wash your litter box in your bath.

[@jesscaticles]

Why?

[@richiec.7637]

I wash mine outside using the faucet. It seems more convenient that way.

[@aiai-j7i]

I run water from the bath faucet but never pour it out in the tub--that is so unhygienic, plus might clog your drain! Pour it out into the toilet, no?

[@Sam_anvi]

I don't use litter box I am an Indian my cat go outside to do these .....

[@sam-is1vq]

Lol

[@muromango4415]

Pure waste of time and extremely time-consuming. First of all, buy decent cat litter. Put the litter box in the toilet. When the cat poops, take it with toilet paper and toss it in the toilet and flush it down. Change the cat litter every 2nd day. I have 2 cats.

[@jesscaticles]

How is this time-consuming if I'm only spending 5 mins/week?