Poop is a fact of life, and pet guardians have to deal with a fair bit of it! We all know how important it is to clean up after our dogs. Whether in the yard, on a walk or at the dog park 鈥� keeping things clean is good for our pets, community and environment. It helps keep diseases from spreading, and helps us avoid the dreaded: 鈥淚s there something stuck to my shoe?鈥� feeling.

What about cats? Indoors is best for cats; it keeps them (and the birds) healthy and safe. But that means we have to give them a great place to do their business. Litter box issues are one of the main reasons that cats end up surrendered to shelters. So, what are some things we can do to keep everyone in the household happy?

•  Keep the litter clean. Scoop out the used bits of litter EVERY DAY and add fresh litter on top. Once a month, empty and wash the litter box.
• Make sure there are plenty of litter boxes. As our friend and cat behaviour consultant Allison Hunter-Frederick explained to us: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just one litter box 鈥� you should have one litter box PLUS ONE for the number of cats you have. This helps to ensure the cat can always find a box that they are happy to use.鈥� If you have two cats, there should be three litter boxes available. Even if you only have one cat 鈥� that means two litter boxes. Spread them out in the house, upstairs / downstairs, in locations that aren鈥檛 in heavy traffic or close to where they eat or sleep.
• Make sure the boxes are a decent size, the cats like room to turn around and kick. Kittens and senior cats may need a bit lower box so they can step in and out. Some cats are fearful of enclosed boxes or the noise of 鈥渟elf-cleaning鈥� boxes.
• If at first you don鈥檛 succeed, keep trying. Some cats prefer different types of litter. As Allison says 鈥淵ou might have to go back to basics and try a sandy-type litter similar to what cats would have in the outdoor environment.鈥� Or perhaps they need a different spot or you need a baby gate to keep the dog out of the cat鈥檚 litter area.
• Never punish a pet for bathroom issues or anything else, always use positive techniques for training.  Being diligent about poop also helps you know if your pet is well. If their bathroom habits change, or you see something concerning, make an appointment with our friendly local vets and they can check for any health issues.

For a detailed litter box checklist and other awesome handouts, check the Resources Tab at

Kids can also check out the poop-related pages in our activity books at