Things Cat Owners Should Be Aware Of During Year-End Cleaning

Hello, this is YOKO from Poponeko♪

When I'm cleaning, I can concentrate on the dirt in front of me and lose myself in the task. I actually quite enjoy that time, but it's hard to get started sometimes (lol).

I usually start by fantasizing about redecorating and getting new furniture after I've done a thorough cleaning and the room is spotless.

But this kind of "big cleaning" that brings a fresh start might actually be a nuisance for your cat.

While it's important to keep the room clean, an environment that's too different from the usual can be stressful for cats. This time, I'd like to talk about what cat owners should be mindful of when doing a thorough cleaning.

Cats are very clean

Cats are very clean creatures. They meticulously groom themselves and meticulously bury their poop and pee after using the litter box (though there are individual differences). Some cats will even hold their pee or poop if the litter box is dirty.

For your cat's health, you want to keep the litter box clean at all times. Clean it immediately after use, and once a month, wash the entire box and change the litter.

Also, shedding対策 is unavoidable when owning a cat. Cat hair tends to accumulate behind furniture, on air conditioner filters, and on cat trees.

To maintain a clean living environment for your cat, do what you can on a daily basis, just like cleaning the litter box.

Brush regularly to remove loose hair before it scatters. Vacuum floors and tatami mats, and quickly use a lint roller on furniture every day. Just doing this will make both you and your cat comfortable.

Thorough cleaning can stress your cat

If you clean quickly every day, you can keep your room tidy and significantly reduce the hassle of end-of-year deep cleaning.

However, when undertaking a major cleaning, it's necessary to consider your cat.

When owners are bustling around the house, cats can become restless. Also, opening windows for ventilation or opening doors to move furniture increases the risk of escape.

Furthermore, sudden environmental changes like unfamiliar loud noises, strange smells from detergents, and rearranged furniture are a major stress for cats.

When deep cleaning,

• Take escape precautions before deep cleaning
  
• Avoid sudden environmental changes
  

You need to be careful about these two points.

Take precautions to prevent your cat from escaping during a thorough cleaning.

When doing a deep clean, have your cat stay in a cage.

If you prepare a safe and comfortable place for your cat, they will feel less stress during the thorough cleaning. If your cat is restless, it's okay to cover the cage with a cloth or bath towel.

Using a cage effectively also helps prevent escapes. Just in case, it's a good idea to put a cat collar and an ID tag on them as well.

If a cage isn't available, isolate your cat in another room. Be sure to tell your family to be careful when cleaning the room where the cat is.

It's best to clean gradually

Cats can become very anxious if their scent disappears or if the environment of their territory (their living space) changes.

For example, if you suddenly replace all their cat-related items like toys and beds with new ones, their scent will be gone, which can make them anxious.

The trick to a deep clean is to proceed gradually, so as not to drastically change the environment. It's also a good idea to tackle one room at a time on different days.

When redecorating, your cat might be scared if you suddenly let them out into the newly arranged room. It's safer to keep them in their cage until they get used to it. Place their usual litter box and bed nearby and observe how they react.

It is said that cats trust people who keep their litter boxes clean and their rooms tidy.

For the sake of your cat, you want to do your best with daily cleaning and end-of-year deep cleaning. However, changing the environment too much during a deep clean can actually cause stress. With your delicate cat's feelings in mind, why not plan your deep cleaning this year more carefully?

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