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How often should you clean your cat's litter tray? Experts reveal why it matters

How often should you clean your cat's litter tray? Experts reveal why it matters

From daily scooping to deep cleaning, cat experts explain how often to clean your cat's litter tray and the risks of leaving it too long.

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Finn Byrne

Published: September 29, 2026 at 7:18 AM

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If you're a cat owner, you'll know that cleaning the litter tray isn't exactly the highlight of pet parenthood. But whether you've recently welcomed a kitten into your family or you've had your feline friend for years, keeping their litter tray clean is more important than you might think.

A dirty litter tray doesn't just leave your home smelling unpleasant. It can also affect your cat's health, increase their stress levels and even lead to unwanted accidents around the house. And if you've got young children at home, maintaining good litter tray hygiene is particularly important.

So, how often should you actually be cleaning your cat's litter tray? We spoke to two pet experts, Dr Jo Myers, veterinary advisor at Vetster, and Paul Trott, UK Marketing Manager at pet care company Catit, to find out.

How often should you clean your cat's litter tray?

According to the experts, you should scoop your cat's litter tray at least once a day and completely replace the litter every one to two weeks, depending on the type of litter you're using and how many cats you have.

Paul Trott recommends daily scooping to keep your cat comfortable and your home smelling fresh.

Firstly, I recommend scooping your cat litter box on a daily basis to prevent odours from building up. Scooping the litter box daily will also keep it hygienic and encourage your cat to continue using it as intended.

Paul Trott, UK Marketing Manager at Catit

When it comes to a more thorough clean, Paul recommends replacing all the litter approximately every two weeks and washing the tray itself.

Dr Jo Myers agrees that daily cleaning is a good starting point, although some cats may need their litter trays cleaned even more frequently.

"Daily cleaning/scooping is the general recommendation, but it’s fine to do it more often. Some cats don’t like to use a litter tray that has been ‘contaminated’ by even a single use. It might even be helpful to have extra trays on hand to ensure that a cat always has a clean tray available."

Why is cleaning your cat's litter tray so important?

Keeping your cat's litter tray clean isn't just about preventing unpleasant smells. It plays an important role in their physical health, emotional wellbeing and toilet habits.

Here are four reasons why you shouldn't put off this particular household chore.

1. It helps prevent unpleasant smells

Nobody wants their home smelling like a dirty litter tray, especially when you've got little ones playing nearby.

Regular scooping removes waste before unpleasant odours have a chance to build up. Completely replacing the litter and washing the tray regularly will also help keep your home smelling fresh.

2. It can prevent accidents around your home

Cats are naturally clean animals, and many won't use a litter tray if they consider it too dirty.

According to Dr Myers, one of the most common consequences of neglecting litter tray hygiene is that cats start looking for somewhere else to go to the toilet.

That could mean finding an unpleasant surprise on your carpet, sofa or elsewhere around your home.

Providing a consistently clean litter tray can help encourage your cat to use their designated toilet area rather than other parts of the house.

3. It helps reduce your cat's stress

Just like humans, cats appreciate having somewhere clean and comfortable to go to the toilet.

A dirty litter tray can cause unnecessary stress, particularly if your cat is reluctant to use it but doesn't have another suitable option.

Paul explains that keeping their toilet area clean and private can make a difference to their wellbeing.

"Cats are notoriously clean creatures and can be particular about their toilet habits, meaning that a clean and private litter tray will allow them to happily do their business in a stress-free manner."

If you've got more than one cat, providing additional litter trays can also help ensure everyone has access to a clean space.

4. It helps protect your family's health

Perhaps the most important reason to maintain good litter tray hygiene is the potential impact on both your cat's health and your family's wellbeing.

Dirty litter trays can harbour harmful microorganisms, and cat faeces can carry infections that pose particular risks to pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

Young children should also be kept away from litter trays and cat waste.

Paul highlights why regular cleaning matters.

A dirty litter box can not only smell bad in your home, but it can also harbour dangerous bacteria.

Paul Trott, UK Marketing Manager at Catit

Dr Myers also warns that cats avoiding dirty litter trays may hold their urine, potentially increasing their risk of lower urinary tract problems.

If your cat is struggling to urinate, seek urgent veterinary advice.

What type of cat litter should you use?

Not all cat litter is created equal, and the type you choose can affect how frequently you'll need to clean the tray.

Some of the most common options include:

Clumping litter: Usually made from clay, this forms solid clumps when wet, making it easier to scoop out urine and waste.
Non-clumping litter: Absorbs moisture without forming clumps, meaning you may need to replace it more frequently.
Crystal litter: Made from silica gel, this offers high moisture absorption and can help control odours.
Recycled paper litter: Often biodegradable and a potential option for environmentally conscious pet owners.

Every cat is different, so finding the right litter may involve a little experimentation. Always follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations, too.

How to keep your cat's litter tray clean

The good news is that keeping your cat's litter tray hygienic doesn't have to become another time-consuming household chore.

Follow these simple steps:

Scoop daily: Remove solid waste and urine clumps at least once a day, or more frequently if necessary.
Replace the litter: Completely change the litter according to the product instructions and your cat's needs.
Wash the tray: Clean the tray thoroughly whenever you replace the litter, using a cat-safe cleaning product.
Provide enough trays: If you have multiple cats, make sure they have access to sufficient clean litter trays.
Keep children away: Position litter trays somewhere your cat can access easily but young children cannot, and always wash your hands after handling litter.

If you're pregnant, it's safest to ask someone else to handle litter tray cleaning where possible. If that's not an option, wear disposable gloves, clean the tray daily and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

And remember, a clean litter tray is just one part of keeping your feline friend happy and healthy.

For more advice on caring for your family pet, explore our pets guides, including tips on making your garden cat-friendly and everything you need to know about whether catnip is safe for your cat.

Authors

Finn ByrneEcommerce Writer

Finn Byrne is a Digital Writer for Immediate Media. He works across several brands including The Recommended, RadioTimes.com, MadeforMums and BBC Gardeners’ World. Finn has previously written for publications including MyLondon, The Mirror, The Express, and The Star. When not writing Finn enjoys spending time on the football pitch and getting stuck into a book.