December 9, 2021 Back Home

How Often Should You Scoop a Cat’s Litter Box

Wondering how often you should scoop your cat’s litter box? Well, there is no single answer to this common cat question. It all depends.

The frequency at which you scoop is likely to vary from one cat owner to the next, but it ultimately depends on the number of cats you have, the type of litter you use, and a variety of other factors related to your cat’s bathroom habits, not to mention your personal preference.

Because let’s face it — no one like’s a stinky box. This includes cats and humans.

But, if we had to offer one blanket statement on just how often you should scoop your litter box…the answer is A MINIMUM OF 1-2 TIMES A DAY.

48% of Cat Owners Scoop Multiple Times a Day

According to a poll we conducted earlier this year of roughly 2,600 cat owners, the most common scooping frequency is MULTIPLE TIMES EACH DAY.

While some cat owners admit to scooping each and every time their best bud goes to the bathroom, a majority of cat owners admit to scooping several times each day.

The next most common scooping frequency is ONCE PER DAY – which 35% of the cat owners who took our poll admitted to following. Here’s the breakdown of the remaining scoop frequency:

7.64% scoop every other day
5.10% a few times a week
1.62% once a week
2.93% other

WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT SCOOPING FREQUENCY?

For the most part, all experts agree…the litter box should be scooped 1-2 times each day.

“Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it’s even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business,” said By Dr. Stephanie Janeczko in this featured post on Petfinder.

Dr. Justine A. Lee, a long-time veterinarian, believes the box should be scooped daily but admits it’s OK if you do it every other day.

“We neurotic types clean litter boxes daily. If that’s too much for you, litter boxes should be scooped out at least every other day,” she said in this post on Pet Health Network.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SCOOPING OFTEN ENOUGH

If you don’t scoop your cat litter box enough the side effects can really stink.

A few common consequences include:

Your cat may try to “hold it” and urinate less frequently in order to avoid stepping into a dirty litter box. This may lead to some unwanted health issues.
Your cat may get annoyed and act out by starting to go outside of the box, or in places where they know they can get your attention.
Smells will linger the longer you let them sit in the box, so be sure to scoop out the urine and feces on a consistent basis.

At the end of the day, if your cat’s box isn’t up to par with his or her standards then you will absolutely find out about it — either through some extra meows or unsavory behavior, like going outside of the box.