How to Clean a Litter Box In an Apartment: A Complete Guide

If you currently live in an apartment and have cats, you might be faced with some challenges. Between trying to find enough space for all your cat trees and making sure your cat has enough room to run around, it can be slightly overwhelming. Apartments are often limited in the amount of space and rooms you have, so everyday tasks related to cat care can seem daunting. This is especially true of the dreaded ‘clean the litter box’ day. If you’re struggling to find the best way to clean your cat’s litter box in an apartment, then this article is for you. Keep reading to find out how to make cleaning your cat’s litter box in a smaller space a much easier task, so that ‘clean the litter box’ day isn’t a nightmare!

Note: I am not a medical professional, and this article is not to be taken as medical or veterinary advice. Always contact a veterinarian regarding your pet’s health. Additionally, Caitycat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full disclosure for further information.

How to Effectively Clean a Litter Box In an Apartment

Okay, so, picture this. You’ve checked off most of your monthly tasks and are ready to tackle the last one: cleaning the litter box. Only you realize that you don’t really have a good place to do this in your apartment. Do you clean it in the sink where all your dishes that you eat out of go? Or do you lug the litter box down to where the nearest hose is located in your apartment complex and publicly clean it?

Fear not, there are other ways. Below are some options for cleaning your cat’s litter box in an apartment that don’t include public humiliation!

Cleaning Your Cat’s Litter Box In the Shower or Bathtub

I lived in an apartment for a little over 3 years with my husband and my cat Luna, so I had to get creative when it came to cleaning her litter box. I found that cleaning the litter box in the shower was the easiest and least yucky way of getting the job done. Keep the following steps in mind when using the shower method.

Step 1: Dump all litter and clumps in the trash

First things first: make sure you dump all the litter out into the trash along with all the litter clumps stuck to the bottom. If you want this method to work, you don’t want any cat litter getting down your shower drain.

Step 2: Clean with dish soap

Next, you’ll want to place the litter box in the shower and clean it using dish soap and a wash cloth. I’ve found this to be the best way to initially get the box clean. Keep in mind that using dish soap alone will not be sufficient to disinfect, so follow it up with a disinfectant.

Step 3: Disinfect the litter box

I like to use a cleaner such as Lysol to ensure I properly disinfect my cat’s litter box. Follow the instructions on the bottle for how long to leave the cleaner on in order to kill germs. Once done, you’re going to want to ensure you completely get rid of all residue. This is because many household disinfectants are toxic when used around cats. I like to rinse my cat’s litter box fully after using the disinfectant to be sure there is no residue.

If you want to err on the side of caution and use only cat-safe disinfectants, you can use the cleaners listed here at enviroliteracy.org, such as distilled white vinegar.

Step 4: Dry litter box thoroughly and clean shower

After you’ve thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and rinsed the litter box, dry all components before adding new litter to the box. Additionally, you should always disinfect your shower afterwards. There are numerous bacteria and diseases that can be transmitted via cat litter, according to vetinfo.com. The last thing you want is to be showering or bathing with them!

Cleaning Your Cat’s Litter Box Outside on the Patio

If you don’t like the idea of cleaning your cat’s litter box in the shower, you can also follow the same steps from above but outside on your apartment’s patio. Cleaning will be a little trickier, unless you happen to have a hose attached to your patio. However, you can fill a bucket with water to successfully clean the litter box.

This method won’t work if you don’t live on the first floor of your apartment and instead have a balcony. I don’t think your neighbors would be too keen on having dirty litter water drip onto them!

Use Disposable Litter Boxes

If neither of these options sound appealing, you can always use disposable litter boxes. These are a great alternative for traditional plastic litter boxes, as they can be thrown away when they are soiled. It can be on the more expensive side, but if you are limited in space in your apartment and don’t want the hassle of cleaning your cat’s litter box, they are a good option.

You can find disposable litter boxes on Amazon that are durable and water-resistant: https://amzn.to/4mpqLML. 

Use Stainless Steel Litter Boxes

Most cat owners use plastic litter boxes, as these are the most common litter boxes you will see in the store. However, a good alternative that is much easier to clean is stainless steel.

While there are many benefits to using stainless steel litter boxes, as per Happy Cat Corner, the biggest benefit, in my opinion, is the ease of cleaning. Clumps don’t stick to the bottom in these litter boxes as they do in plastic ones. Additionally, stainless steel is non-porous, so smells won’t get absorbed and it won’t harbor bacteria. This also means you won’t have to replace it as often as plastic, so that’s a bonus!

A great option is this XL stainless steel litter box with a lid. You can find this on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FhFgS2.

In Conclusion

While it can be challenging to clean your cat’s litter box in an apartment with limited space, there are options for making this process a bit easier. Whether it be cleaning your cat’s litter box in the shower, on your apartment’s patio, or just using disposable litter boxes instead, you no longer have to stress about ‘clean the litter box day’!

Quick Recap

✔️ There are options for cleaning your cat’s litter box in an apartment, such as in the shower or outside on the patio. ✔️ Disposable litter boxes are a good option if you’d rather not clean your cat’s litter box, as they can be thrown away when they are soiled. ✔️ Stainless steel litter boxes are a great easy-to-clean alternative to plastic litter boxes, as they are non-porous and clumps don’t stick to the bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my cat’s litter box?

This is dependent on how many cats you have and how often they use the litter box. Scooping of the litter box should happen once a day or more. For a full clean and replacement of litter, some owners may need to do this once a week, while others may only need to do this once a month.

What should I do if cat litter gets in my shower while I’m cleaning my cat’s litter box?

Even if you dump all litter and clumps into the trash before cleaning the litter box in the shower, there’s still a chance you could get some in your shower while cleaning. You want to make sure none of this gets down your drain, as litter can clog drains (especially clumping clay litter). Use a paper towel to wipe up the cat litter on the bottom of the shower and throw it away.

How often should I replace my cat’s disposable litter box?

This also depends on how many cats you have and how often the litter box is getting used, but a good rule of thumb is to change out disposable litter boxes every 2-3 weeks.

Did you find this article helpful? Let me know in the comments!

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