Cleaning
Cleaning Products
A cat's nose is an extraordinary sensory tool! Cats have an estimated 14 times more scent receptors than humans, making their sense of smell dramatically more sensitive than ours. What might seem like a perfectly clean floor to us can still hold a surprising amount of scent, dust, litter residue, and other interesting (or not-so-interesting!) odors to your cat.
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And then there's the litter tracking! Keeping up with scattered litter, paw prints, and everyday floor messes can feel like a never-ending chore, especially in a multi-cat household.
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We've gathered some products and practical cleaning methods to help you stay ahead of the mess. Our selections focus on pet-conscious formulations and approaches intended for use in homes with cats, so you can explore options with your feline family's unique sensitivities in mind. We'll also share tips for minimizing lingering residues, reducing litter tracking, and keeping floors fresh without overlooking the fact that your cat experiences the world nose-first!
Litter Tracking
The best litter in the world (see my litter recommendations on this page) still tracks. Only big pellets don't track, and they aren't preferred by cats. I simply keep a good cordless vacuum next to the litter box for speedy clean up. I did some research on the best cordless ones and bought this Levoit model and I love it! In fact, I've purchased a second one to keep in my studio.
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Dust and Smell Filtering
It's important you scoop your litter boxes 1-2 times a day, change the litter every fourth week, and scrub the box while you're at it. And even if you are doing all that correctly, sometimes the air still has linger cat soilage smell. I use this Coway Airmega air filter and it works great - not only to help with the stale air smell, but also for Dewey's allergies. I did a lot of research on this, because there are a lot of them to choose from! I love the HEPA filter on this unit and it's performance.
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Floor Cleaner
We have concrete and tile floors everywhere. It's great for cat hair because it doesn't get caught up in carpet. Cats come in contact with your floor more than any other surface and the cleaning products you use may be ingested by them. It gets on their feet and they lick it off in a grooming session. It's so important to use plant based products and to be sure you sequester your cat until the floor has fully dried. I really like this Blys floor cleaner.
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Surface Cleaner
Finding a good antibacterial cleaner that isn't too harsh for your cat is challenging. I use the Method brand.
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Perfume
I don't wear heavy perfume, and almost always never any to the shelter. But when I do wear perfume, and I expect to be around cats, I choose Vetiver fragrance. It's used as an ingredient in some alming diffusers.
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