Basic cat hygiene: how to keep your home clean and odor-free

Keeping your home clean and odour-free when you have a cat is perfectly possible – you just need to understand the key hygiene points and create a simple routine around them.

Litter box cleaning

Remove faeces and urine daily

Ideally, solid waste and urine clumps should be removed at least once a day. Cats are very clean animals and tend to avoid dirty litter boxes, which can lead them to relieve themselves elsewhere in the house.

Changing the litter

Even with daily cleaning, the litter should be completely changed regularly – the exact frequency depends on the type of litter used, but it usually varies between once a week and once every two or three weeks.

Ideal number of litter boxes

A good rule of thumb is to have one litter box per cat, plus one extra box. This helps reduce conflicts between cats and decreases the likelihood of the box getting full before the next cleaning.

Correct place to put the litter box

Choose a quiet location with some privacy, away from food and water, and easily accessible to the cat at any time of day.

Types of litter

There are several types of litter – clumping, silica gel, plant-based, among others – each with different advantages in terms of odour absorption and ease of cleaning. It's worth testing and observing which type your cat accepts best.

Cleaning the litter box itself

In addition to changing the litter, the box should be washed periodically with warm water and a mild detergent, avoiding products with ammonia or very strong smells, which can be unpleasant for the cat's sensitive sense of smell.

How to avoid odours at home

• Maintain a daily and weekly litter box cleaning routine
• Ensure good ventilation in the area where the litter box is placed
• Opt for litters with good odour control capacity
• Avoid accumulating full litter boxes for several days

Do not mask the smell with strong perfumes

Air fresheners and heavily perfumed litters can bother a cat's sense of smell and, in some cases, lead them to avoid the litter box. The most effective approach is to invest in cleaning itself, rather than disguising the smell.

Cleaning blankets, beds, and sofas

Blankets and beds should be washed regularly, and it's useful to have a vacuum cleaner with good hair-picking capacity, as hair accumulates easily on fabrics and upholstery.

Home ventilation

Airing out the house daily helps to refresh the air and reduce the accumulation of odours, especially in smaller spaces or those with poor air circulation.

Hygiene of food and water bowls

Food and water bowls should also be washed daily to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and biofilm, which can generate odours and affect the cat's health.

When a different smell can indicate a health problem

If you notice a very strong smell, different from usual, associated with changes in the cat's urine, faeces, or breath, this could be a sign of a health problem and not just a matter of cleanliness. In such cases, it is best to consult a veterinarian.