Cats are great companions and can make even the saddest person feel better. They are fun and playful while their purring is calming and soothing.
If you own a cat, you probably know the joy of returning home to your furry friend. However, cats tend to surprise us with shredded toilet paper and scattered litter.
Cats can sometimes sleep through the entire day, while at other times, they want fun, and they’ll find it in the weirdest places. Although they’re not necessarily difficult to clean after, you might be surprised by the mess these animals can make.
Take a few minutes to discover seven ways to clean up after your kitty. We’ll share the most popular tips and tricks that are also the simplest to do. These can improve your life, especially if your kitty is young, playful, and tends to make a big mess.
1. Removing the persistent hairs
Cat fur is notoriously challenging to remove from your clothes and furniture. It’s usually more persistent than dog hair as it’s shorter and tends to stick to these surfaces quite well.
The best way of removing pet hair is to try and contain the amount of it that ends up on your furniture and clothes. This is done by regular grooming, so make sure to brush your cat. You might also want to consider bathing and cutting the hairs if your kitty allows it.
Another option is to have a pet hair roller that removes all the hairs quite easily. These rollers are easy to use on many surfaces and are quite affordable to buy.
Still, the best way of keeping pet hair under control is by using a pet hair vacuum. You can either go for a full-size or a handheld vacuum that can clean hairs and dander. If you already have a full-size vacuum, you might want to invest in a handheld to remove hairs from upholstery and car interior.
2. Cleaning the litter
How many times you’ve come home to litter being all over the room? This is a common inconvenience that cat owners go through. It’s annoying to deal with even if the litter is clean, although it’s much nastier when it’s dirty.
While you can always have a brush at hand, cleaning with a brush can be quite tiring. Instead, get a pet-friendly vacuum that can pick up kitty litter. In most cases, these vacuums also come with special motorized tools that can extract pet hair from all kinds of surfaces.
Since they’re made specifically for pet owners, such vacuums can also pick up litter. Some can clean only dry, while others can clean wet litter as well. Check the vacuums for cat litter reviewed by CleanThatFloor as these are the best on the market, designed specifically for kitty owners.
Purchase a washable kitty bed
Your kitty’s bed probably looks like a mess at times, even more so if the animal sheds. The sole glace at the bad makes most people dread the cleaning process, but the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be.
Cleaning with a brush or even a vacuum might be a bit tricky. A brush is not powerful enough, and most vacuums are too powerful for the job. Unless you have a pet-friendly vacuum with adjustable suction, you’ll find the task impossible to complete.
However, getting a washable kitty bed makes all the difference. All you have to do is remove the hairs by shaking or brushing the bed. Once you’ve done that, you throw it in your washing machine, and that’s it.
An even better solution would be to get a bed with removable bedding. This way, you don’t have to wash the spongy part that usually takes a long time to dry.
4. Don’t let the cat on your furniture
We know that it’s tempting to cuddle with your cat while reading a book or watching TV. Kitties are so cuddly, and their purring is calming enough to warm even the iciest heart.
This makes it a bit difficult to forbid your pet to sleep on your sofa, chairs, and bed. However, cats leave their fur everywhere, and you’ll soon find your furniture packed with loose hairs.
Washing your bedding is usually not enough since it can’t get the hairs off. You’d have to shake the bedding or use a roller to try and remove the hairs before washing the sheets.
The matter is even more complicated when it comes to removing pet hair from your upholstery. Washing a sofa isn’t as simple as washing your bedding. For this reason, you should keep your kitty away.
If not, get a vacuum cleaner with motorized tools that can extract the hairs from upholstery.
5. Wipe the counters regularly
Cats love kitchen counters and will climb even if you don’t let them. Every cat will climb a kitchen counter for the fun of it if not for food that might be there.
If there’s food or a drink, your cat will most likely make a mess of it. But even if the animal only walks across the counter, you want to get it cleaned.
Kitchen counters are where we prepare food, so you might want to keep the animal away regardless of how clean you think your cat is. Avoid placing kitty food on the counter and allowing your pet to eat there.
Still, you should clean your counters regularly even if you think your cat never comes near them. You don’t know what the animal does when you’re away, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Use paper towels and a cleaning solution to wipe the surface every day. It might sound like too much, but the entire process takes only a minute.
6. Stick to your routine
As we mentioned, kitties can make a big mess out of everything. They leave fur everywhere, and you have to deal with their litter nearly every day.
Avoiding cleaning the mess will result in buildup, which will then take even longer to clean. For this reason, it’s essential to have a cleaning routine that you’d stick to.
Vacuum the litter and pet hair, wipe the counters and pick up the kitty toys and all the items your pet might have thrown around. The entire process might sound time-consuming, but it shouldn’t take more than ten minutes if done regularly.
Sticking to a routine is especially important when it comes to cleaning the scattered litter. It’s not a pretty sight, and your cat will only make a bigger mess each time he/she uses it.
7. Keep some items away
If you don’t want your cat to keep breaking your perfumes, you might want to store them away. The same goes for other items you have and care about.
This isn’t the simplest thing to do because kitties can get to anything regardless of where you place it. Don’t make the mistake of putting things high on shelves because your kitty will get to them or break plenty of things trying.
For example, many cat owners will tell you that they don’t keep plants because cats tend to nibble on them. Some things don’t go along with having a kitty, so make sure to think about that before buying a lamp.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind