Scoop the Litter Box Daily: CDC's Cleaning Schedule for Pet Supplies, From Daily Bowl Washing to Bleach Done Right
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a cleaning schedule for pet supplies in its Healthy Pets guidance: bowls used for wet food should be cleaned after every use, dry food and water bowls every day, pet beds, blankets and habitats every week, and toys every month. Items that touch poop or pee, such as a cat's litter box, should be disinfected as often as you would disinfect your own toilet or bathroom.
The disinfecting method is specific. Wash first with soapy water, then use a diluted bleach solution of one quarter cup (2 ounces) of bleach to one gallon of water, soaking the item for at least 10 minutes before rinsing and letting it dry completely. Households with pet birds should disinfect outdoors or in a separate room, because birds have very sensitive respiratory systems, and households with cats must never use disinfectants with phenol in the ingredient list, because phenols are very toxic to cats.
The litter box carries one more rule. Cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is passed, so scooping daily removes it before it can spread. CDC says that when a household includes a pregnant woman or someone with a weakened immune system, another family member should clean the litter box; if no one else can do it, wear disposable gloves, scoop daily, and wash hands with soap and water immediately afterward.
CDC also notes that vinegar can kill some germs but lacks enough research evidence to count as a reliable cleaner or disinfectant for pet supplies. Soap or detergent removes dirt, disinfectants kill germs, labels must be followed exactly, and bleach must never be mixed with other cleaners. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一只三花猫正在绿色猫砂盆里扒猫砂。Wikimedia Commons 图片。 / Photo: A calico cat digging in a green litter box. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
