By Farah Al-Khojai
Cats are marvelous creatures that can reduce your stress with just a simple purr. Unfortunately, having them as companions at home may leave behind smell and hair that add to your daily cleaning chores. Keeping a clean home with a cat isn’t impossible – it just needs some extra work and patience.
Below are cleaning rules to stick to if you want to keep a pristine home with your feline friend.
1. Place food and water containers away from high-traffic areas
Leaving cat food and water on the floor of a high-traffic zone increases the possibility of making quite a mess, especially if you have kids in the house.
Consider moving these containers to an area where your cat can eat and drink in peace, which means fewer chances of spills. Place a feeding towel or mat under the bowl so that even if there are spills, cleanup will be easier.
2. Maintain the litter box
A poorly maintained litter box is the main culprit for horrible smells around the house. After all, it’s your cat’s toilet so make sure you establish a cleaning routine to keep odors down to a minimum.
- Place a mat under the box to control litter scatter.
- Scoop out “deposits” at least once a day or more if you have more than one cat.
- Keep a broom and dustpan near the box so you can immediately sweep the dirt away.
- Deep clean the litter box every few weeks to avoid reek or any foul smell.
3. Sweep and vacuum often
Stray hair is inescapable like death and taxes especially if you share a home with a feline friend.
The hair settles everywhere including wood or laminate flooring, carpet, and even furniture.
Establish a routine to vacuum at least once a week to remove any stray cat hair from all home surfaces.
If your cat loves to sleep on the furniture, make sure to thoroughly vacuum his or her spot using an upholstery brush. Also, sweep the kitchen floor frequently to get rid of any leftover crumbs.
4. Protect furniture
Since it isn’t possible to toss chairs or the couch inside the washer, opt for furniture that will be easy to clean. This way, you won’t end up crying later when unavoidable cat-related messes come about. Use washable blankets to cover your chairs and sofa as an extra layer of protection for your furniture which will also help in containing cat hair.
When a guest comes over, you can easily remove the blankets and reveal clean, cat hair-free places to sit and relax in.
5. Brush your cat daily
The biggest obstacle of having a cat is the hair. It ends up everywhere, and the easiest way to control it is to brush your cat daily. You may see your cat grooming all the time but his or her hair will still have to go somewhere.
Hair captured on a brush means that you’ll have lesser hair to clean from your floor and couch later. Moreover, it will ensure your cat suffers from fewer (and smaller) hairballs and constipation as a result of ingested hair while a cat grooms him- or herself.
6. Clean up the mess as soon as possible
One problem you’ll encounter when your cat has yet to be spayed or neutered is the smell of urine. It goes beyond the litter box as your kitten or cat will “spray” on curtains, walls or furniture to mark his or her territory. As soon as the mess happens, clean it up before it gets worse and spreads to other areas of your home.
7. Deep clean whenever necessary
Everyday traffic, especially from pets and kids, will definitely take its toll on your home. As a result, periodic deep cleaning is necessary to remove tough dirt and grime in every nook and cranny of your house. Deep cleaning gives your house a pristine, brand new look even if you have a cat who loves to create a mess.
Keep a clean home with your cat around
Cats usually don’t follow rules so make sure to wipe down counters. There’s a high chance that your cat may have just touched the litter box then touch surfaces where you prepare or eat food. In this case, your cat may be spreading organisms harmful to pregnant women and children.
Having a pet at home is no easy feat. Make sure you’re ready for the responsibility that comes with it. By following the cleaning rules above, living with a feline friend will become less of a problem.
Author Bio
Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Orijen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.
Tagged with: brush your cat • cleaning rules • deep cleaning • food containers • hairballs • litter box • protect furniture • water bowls
Filed under: Cat Care
