How Often Should You Change Cat Litter? 4 Vet-Reviewed Factors & FAQ

The concept of a litter box seems pretty straightforward, but it can actually raise many questions, especially for new cat owners. Trying to figure out how long cat litter lasts and how often to change it out can get confusing. It can be difficult to establish an effective routine because many factors affect the state of your cat’s litter box.

There’s no simple answer, but there are several key questions that you can answer to find the correct frequency for changing cat litter. In general, cat litter should be changed at least once per week, though some litter may require it more often. Keep reading and ask yourself the following questions to figure out a routine that works best for you and your cats.

How Many Cats Do You Have?

There should be one litter box per cat plus one more. So, if you have two cats, you should have at least three litter boxes in your home. The reason for this arrangement is to prevent overcrowded use. There are also some situations where some cats may not like to use the same litter box as another cat.

You might think that having more boxes means that you have to spend more time cleaning. However, this isn’t always the case. It doesn’t take as much time to simply scoop up clumps and soiled spots or quickly dispose of the cat litter and refill it. On the other hand, it takes longer to clean a completely soiled litter box thoroughly, especially if it collects urine on the bottom.

How Frequently Does Your Cat Use the Litter Box?

Cats urinate anywhere from 2-4 times per day and defecate once or twice daily. This will also greatly depend on their age and health. This frequency and quantity will affect how often you must change out the litter.

What Type of Cat Litter Do You Use?

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There are also clumping and non-clumping varieties. In general, if a type of litter clumps well, you don’t have to change it as often as non-clumping kinds. This is because urine can reach the bottom of a litter box more quickly with non-clumping cat litter.

There are multiple types of cat litter, and each one affects how often you have to change your litter box. Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each one.

1. Clumping Clay

2. Non-Clumping Clay

3. Corn

4. Wheat

5. Pine

6. Walnut Shell

7. Recycled Paper

8. Silica

How Long Can You Keep Cat Litter?

You can develop a good routine after considering the number of cats, how often they relieve themselves, and the type of cat litter you use.

Now, it’s time to test out and experiment to find a customized system for you. It’s good practice to scoop urine and feces every day at least once, or ideally in the morning and evening, and thoroughly wash out and disinfect your litter box every 1 to 2 weeks.

In between washing out your litter box, you should change out the cat litter. It’s common to change it once or twice a week. However, this can vary depending on your circumstances.

The goal is to change the cat litter at the appropriate time before you start to experience certain warning signs. These signs indicate that it’s past time to change the cat litter:

Ultimately, you’ll know the best schedule for changing out the cat litter. It may take some time, but once you figure it out, it can end up saving you a lot of time and money, and preventing your cats from going outside of the litter box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have a better idea of how often you should change cat litter, here’s additional information to help you develop a litter box schedule that works best for you and your cat.

How Can I Make My Cat’s Litter Last Longer?

Cat litter can get expensive, so it’s worthwhile to figure out how to use it as efficiently as possible. Here are some things you can try:

What Happens When You Don’t Change Cat Litter Regularly?

A dirty litter box can end up causing stress, avoidance and even some health concerns for your cat if they choose not to use dirty litter boxes and hold off on relieving themselves. Some cats may carry a parasite called Toxoplasma without showing any signs of illness. If their feces sit in the litter box for longer than a day, the oocysts from this parasite will become infective after 1-5 days in the environment. This puts the person cleaning out the litter box at risk of contracting the disease, especially if they do not thoroughly wash their hands. Regular litter box cleaning and scooping, as well as hand hygiene, are crucial in reducing the chances for this. A dirty litter box can affect human health. Therefore, both cats and humans benefit from a clean litter box.

Your cats can also start to feel stress and develop unwanted behaviors. They can end up disregarding the litter box altogether and may start peeing or pooping anywhere in the house.

Is It Bad to Change Your Cat’s Litter?

Most cats are creatures of habit, so once they like a particular type of litter, they may resist using a different kind. Therefore, it’s best to find a cat litter that works and stick with it.

If you must change your cat litter, you can try making a gradual switch. Start by putting a small amount of the new cat litter on the bottom of the litter box. Then, cover it up with the old cat litter. Keep adding small increments of the new cat litter until you’ve entirely switched over.

The goal is to make the change unnoticeable to your cats. You can expect the switch to take up to several days to a week.

Conclusion

A clean litter box greatly benefits both humans and cats. Therefore, it’s important to develop an adequate and efficient routine. A good litter box cleaning routine includes scooping daily, regularly changing out the cat litter, and deep cleaning the litter box.

Take some time to experiment with the frequency of changing out cat litter. This process can help you save time and money in the long run and create a happy and harmonious home for you and your cats.

• Related Read: How to Introduce a New Litter Box to Your Cat (5 Helpful Tips)

Featured Image Credit: Axel Bueckert, Shutterstock