Energetic cleaning routine for caretaker of 6 cats to remove smells

Well, folks, for those who fancy living in a home with multiple cats, this cleaning routine from a lady who I believe lives in the UK living with six cats, may help. It may help in providing a reality check on the energy and commitment needed to manage the home properly. And it only concerns cleaning. There’s other stuff to do such as dealing with feeding and health issues. And ensuring that there is peace in the family. In multi-cat homes there is an enhanced risk of stresses in some cats as their home ranges are dramatically constricted. I have presumed rightly or wrongly that the tips come from a woman as they are more often involved in fostering cats. This person fosters cats.

Cleaning routine for a 6 cat home requires energy to keep the smells down
Cleaning routine for a 6 cat home requires energy to keep the smells down

Here is her cleaning routine

Litter trays: She has 8 litter trays for her six cats. That’s one more than recommended by Jackson Galaxy (one per cat and one extra). She also fosters cats and if fostering she has more litter trays. She scoops out the waste twice daily in each tray (16 times in all daily).

Toilet waste: the scoopings are placed in a sealed bag which is placed in a larger bag which is placed in a bin which is lined with another bag (in all the poop and pee is triple bagged). Inside the bin bag there is baking soda to reduce the smell.

Dumping waste litter: this is done once per month or every two months maximum.

Cleaning the bin: she puts the empty bin in the shower and cleans it with dishwashing soap and disinfects it. She rinses it thoroughly.

Kitchen counter and table: washed with dishwashing soap and ‘scrob daddy sponge’ (the ‘World’s Favourite Sponge’) before cooking and after eating. Food is never placed on the kitchen counter but always on a plate, cutting board or silicone mat. If she has guests who are as particular as her she keeps the cats out of the kitchen but if they are less particular than her the cats are allowed in the kitchen.

Cat vomit: if a cat vomits the mess is cleaned up immediately. She does this: wipes the puke off the floor/surface with kitchen paper. Sprays enzyme cleaner over the area. Leaves it for a few minutes. Then uses kitchen paper with dishwashing soap and finally paper and water.

Vacuuming: she vacuums every day – ‘just the walkable areas, so no furniture moving’. She uses a cordless vacuum for ease of use and speed (‘grab and go’). It takes 10 minutes. She does not use a robotic vacuum as there are too many cat toys on the floor. She uses a spray bottle containing a small amount of dishwashing soap a few times a week. She sprays it on the floor and cleans it off with a mop. She dusts twice weekly with a ‘swiffer’. Also steam cleans the ‘walkable areas’ weekly. Once a month she uses a corded vacuum cleaner to vacuum more extensively and moves furniture. She also steam cleans at this time.

RELATED: Cat caregiving obligation. In multi-cat homes prepare for a house fire.

Source: a Reddit.com user: FosterKittenPurs. Thank you. Her efforts were reported in The Sun newspaper which led me to the Reddit website.

No need for energetic cleaning rountine

The complete opposite to this energetic routine is achieved by having one cat who is allowed outside. There are no smells and no cleaning routines. The cat poops and pees outside. No litter tray. The entire system/routine mentioned is irrelevant when you live with a single indoor/outdoor cat. Of course there are some downsides, none of which concern keeping smells out of the home.

Leave a Comment

follow it link and logo