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

Hello, this is YOKO from Poponeko♪

When I'm cleaning, I find myself focusing solely on the dirt in front of me, which helps me clear my mind. I actually quite enjoy that time, but it takes a while for me to get the engine running to say, "Alright, let's do this!" (lol)

I usually start by daydreaming about rearranging my furniture and redecorating my interior once the house is clean after a deep cleaning session.

While a deep cleaning can offer a fresh start, it might actually be a bother for your cat.

Keeping your home clean is important, but an environment that is too different from the norm can be stressful for cats. Today, I’d like to talk about what cat owners should be careful of when doing a deep clean.

Cats are Very Clean Creatures

Cats are very clean creatures. They groom their bodies carefully and diligently bury their waste after using the litter box (though there are individual differences). Some cats will even hold it in if their litter box is left dirty.

For the sake of your cat's health, you should always keep the litter box clean.Make sure to clean it right after use, and give it a thorough wash with water and replace the litter once a month.

Also, you cannot avoid dealing with your cat's shedding. Cat hair tends to accumulate behind furniture, in air conditioning filters, and on cat towers.

To keep your cat's environment clean, you should take care of what you can on a daily basis, just like cleaning the litter box.

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

Deep Cleaning Might Stress Your Cat Out

If you do a quick clean every day, you can keep your room clean, and the effort required for a year-end deep clean should be reduced significantly.

However, when it comes to doing a major cleaning, you need to be considerate of your cat.

As you move around the house in a hurry, your cat will also feel unsettled. Also, opening windows for ventilation or opening doors while moving furniture increases the risk of your cat escaping.

Furthermore, sudden environmental changes—such as loud, unusual noises, the strange smell of detergents, and furniture moved to different spots—are major stressors for cats.

When doing a deep clean, you must be careful about these two points:

• Take measures against escape before starting your deep clean
  
• Do not change the environment too drastically
  

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Prevent Escapes During Your Deep Clean

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

If you provide a place where your cat can feel safe and relaxed, they will be less likely to feel stressed during the cleaning. If your cat seems uneasy, it’s okay to cover the cage with a cloth or bath towel.

Using a cage well can also serve as an escape prevention measure. As a precaution, it’s a good idea to ensure they are wearing a cat collar and an ID tag.

If you can't provide a cage, isolate your cat in a separate room. Let your family know as well, and ask them to be careful when cleaning the room where the cat is kept.

Doing a Deep Clean? We Recommend Going Little by Little

Cats get very anxious when their own scent disappears or when the environment of their living space—their territory—changes.

For instance, if you replace all their toys and beds with brand-new ones at once, their scent will be gone, which will make them feel anxious.

The secret to avoiding sudden environmental changes is to proceed with your deep cleaning little by little. It’s also good to clean one room at a time on different days.

If you rearrange the room, your cat might be scared if you suddenly let them into the redecorated space.It’s better to keep them in their cage until they get used to it. Place their usual litter box and bed nearby and keep an eye on them.

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

For your cat's sake, you want to do your best with both daily cleaning and the year-end deep clean. However, changing the environment too much during a deep clean can cause the opposite effect: stress. Why not plan this year’s deep cleaning while keeping your cat’s delicate feelings in mind?

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