Owning a cat is wonderful. Your kitty brings love and joy to your home and you simply can’t stop pampering your little ball of fur. However, considering that your beloved kitty has fur, you have to be prepared for dander, dirt and lots and lots of mess. Of course, keeping your home clean is important due to health hazards that can be dangerous both for you and your kitty. But have no fear, we are here to help. This guide will help you keep your home clean and your kitty healthy.
Clean bed and bedclothes
It’s normal to clean your bed and wash the bedclothes every ten to fourteen days. However, when you’re a cat owner you have to clean two beds. Every week you have to devote a part of your time to cleaning your beloved kitty’s bed. Why? Well, their beds collect just as much, if not even more, dirt and dander. That’s why you need to wash it on a weekly basis. You don’t want that dander flying in the air. And we are sure that you don’t want the smell either.
Many of us do but it’s probably not the best idea to share your bed with your cat. It is not only unhygienic but potentially harmful to your health. Cats can carry and spread bugs like salmonella, and can infect us with parasites, tapeworm, roundworm, and fungal infections.
Brush, brush, brush
Cats themselves spend a lot of time cleaning their coat and many cat owners make a mistake when they bathe their cats too often. They are unaware that the excess of baths means irritated skin and dry coat. That way they are causing more harm than good. And let’s be honest, giving your cat a bath tends to be an adventure. That’s why we advise you to brush more and bathe a little less. Brushing removes excess dead hair so there is less of it lying around your home and it also removes dirt and dander that’s right there on top of your cat’s coat. If you want to say goodbye to huge amounts of hair in your home, you have to brush your kitty regularly.
Fresh air
We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to vent your home and keep the air clean. With all that dander flying around, you will both need to open your windows and doors regularly to let fresh air in and all the minute particles out, and invest in an air purifier that will keep the air fresh at all times. Consider installing a HEPA air purifier and ensure your home will be clear of dander, dust, and mould spores.”
No carpet, no headache
Say goodbye to your carpet! Carpets are hard to clean and they are dirty and present the perfect terrain for all that excess hair. On top of that, carpets absorb odours in the worst way possible. You know how the plastic ware that you cook in holds the odour of what was cooked in it even after you clean it? Well, something similar applies to the plastic in your carpet. So, remove your carpets! Go for hardwood or laminate flooring. It’s easy to clean and once you do it, there is no more odour and mess!
Vacuum and sweep
It doesn’t matter how often you groom your kitty, dead hair will collect inside your home. That is a fact. That’s why you need to vacuum and sweep on a regular basis. Only then will you keep it all at a minimum. You have to be careful and select whatever is best for your type of flooring. As soon as you’ve done that, off you go. Make sure that you clean the floor at least once a week. That’s a great way to keep allergens, dirt and fleas far away.
Get rid of those unwanted guests
Fleas are bad news for you, your home, and your cat. They can cause health problems in cats if left untreated including dermatitis. Fortunately, there are a range of treatments available that will help to get rid of these pests:
- shampoos
- powders
- medication
- drops are available that are placed on your cat’s coat every month or so.
You will also need to make sure that your home is free from fleas and there are many products available that will assist you. Check with your vet or pharmacy.
Cats will need regular worming especially if you have young children as the child could become affected. Drops and tablets are available to eradicate worms in your cat.
Litter tray
Many owners either forget or become lazy when it comes to changing the litter in their cats’ litter tray. However, if you want the odour at a minimum, you have to scoop daily and change the litter as soon as you smell something that can’t be dealt with by a daily pick up. That way, you’ll have a non-smelly air and your kitty will be happy too. Why will your kitty feel that way? Well, litter trays that aren’t kept clean enough are a common cause for cats relieving themselves in other parts of the house. Surely, your cat doesn’t like that. And there are no doubts that you also don’t want that to happen, right? Litter trays should be placed well away from feeding and water bowls, and use warm water and a biological washing powder to clean.
Food bowls
You should remember to wash your cats’ food and water bowls regularly. Bowls should be washed every day to keep germs at bay and protect you and your pet. You wouldn’t eat your dinner on a dirty plate, so why should your cat?
We really hope that you’ll take this guide seriously because you’ll want to take the state of things at your home seriously. Keeping your home clean and odour-free should be of the utmost importance. Fail to do so and you could do some serious damage both to your and your kitty’s health.
