Do Cats Mind a Messy House or Apartment?

Cats are fastidiously clean animals which is why they continually groom themselves. However, whilst cats will expect this of themselves, they won’t necessarily expect it from their owner. Or will they? Cats each have their own unique personalities and will display them in a variety of scenarios.

So do cats mind a messy house or apartment? Cats, in general, are ok with a little bit of clutter and mess. However, if you notice that your cats are having more frequent health issues such as breathing, infections, or vomiting – it is a sign that their environment is affecting their wellbeing.

Cats themselves will be happy to contribute to the mess in your house by way of fur, furballs, and, depending on where you live, the odd mouse! Of course, if you live in a high-rise apartment, you’re probably not as worried about your puss bringing a dead mouse in.

So whilst some may display anxious behaviors if the house becomes messy, there are also those who can become fiercely protective & territorial if you drastically remove all of their stuff (this is because a cat’s sense of security comes from the familiar scents in its environment). There is, however, one area that all cats will unanimously agree must be clean – the litter box. Cats hate going into a dirty or overflowing litter box. As a result, they will seek alternative places to relieve themselves.

Things Your Cat Don’t Mind to Be Messy & Cluttered

If you are the kind of person who may drop the odd shirt on the floor in your morning rush, you may come home to discover your cat napping on it rather than being irked that you failed to move the shirt from your body to the laundry basket.

Many will argue that cats enjoy a bit of clutter as it gives them more places to hide and play. Just try to ensure that you keep things free of potential danger, such as cables and things they can accidentally damage or ingest.

The litter box is one area of your house that should always be maintained regularly and kept clean. As for the rest of your house, it’s not a major issue, so whilst you won’t necessarily catch your cat rolling around in the mud, they are not especially fussy. They have a habit of adapting to their environment. The odd t-shirt on the floor or toy left out is unlikely to bother your feline, but overflowing trash, dirty washing strewn all over the place could likely complicate matters.

Things Your Cat Prefer to Be Well Organized & Clean

The litter area should always be kept clean and free from clutter. No exceptions. In a 2017 study about how cats go to the litter box, researchers found that cats prefer a clean litter box of smells and visual obstructions. For example, if both litter boxes were cleaned out, but one contains fake feces or clumps of urine, they will prefer the one with no visual obstructions!

This is one area of your house that you should not compromise on keeping clean and organized. If you do not regularly clean the litter tray, it is likely to have a detrimental effect on your cat’s state, thus, negatively influencing their behaviors. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, cats will seek and find alternative places to go to the bathroom. So if you don’t want to wake up and find your cat has gone to the toilet in your slippers, then the best advice is to keep the litter tray as clean as possible.

Why Is It Better to Keep Your Area Clean and Organized For Cats?

It will probably be worthwhile to keep your house clean and organized for your cat in order to cut down on the amount of dust and airborne particles, as this could have an adverse effect on your cat’s breathing. A very dusty or dirty house is also likely to increase the number of bacteria, which again could have the potentially negative effect of making your feline ill.

This can be exacerbated if your cat eats a treat off the floor and you haven’t vacuumed it in a while. This can lead to them picking up excess debris, which they will take into their digestive system, eyes, or nose! Try your best to clean your house at least once a week, even if it’s picking up items off the floor and basic vacuuming. In addition, surfaces free of clutter provide more of a space for your cat to move around.

Try to ensure your cat has their own personal space and keep that area clean. Your biggest concern should be the litter box and how to keep it clean so that your cat feels relaxed and content. This should be prioritized above all else because if there’s anything a cat detests more, it is a filthy soiled litter tray.

Tips to Make Your Home Easier to Manage & Clean With Cats

Some people can find cleaning and organizing a home with cats a bit challenging, so here are some helpful tips to make your life easier:

• Scoop as regularly as possible. With a multi-cat home, in general, you’ll want to scoop every day. If you leave the mess then it may result in your cat being unwilling to use the toilet again. Instead, finding an alternative spot to relieve themselves.
  
  For the recommended litter and litter box that we recommend, check out this article!
  
• If you’re using Clay/Sand litter, change the litter completely about once every week. You should also aim to wash and disinfect the litter tray completely in warm water before drying and applying a fresh bed of litter. You can also spray a little vinegar to get eliminate the hard to get rid of odors!
  
• If you can, try to change the litter box completely every year or so. Cats like to bury their mess and sometimes inadvertently scratch the litter box whilst doing this. These scratches can allow bacteria to harbour and fester which could in turn harm your cat.
  
• Knowing how to control cat litter tracking is also a crucial part of keeping your home clean and organized. Litter getting everywhere will not only make it harder to clean your home but also spread around germs from the litter box. Which could get onto tables, chairs, and even your bed!
  
• If you’re unable to use pine litter for whatever reason. There are a number of automatic self-cleaning litter trays/boxes on the market (see below). These are particularly good for those cat owners who find themselves away from home for extended periods of time. The self-cleaning boxes have sensors that can tell when your cat has relieved themselves and will then clean the mess. Cats love them.
  
• Leverage the power of technology! Robotic vacuum cleaners are great for litter and dust on the floor! Air purifiers catch the dust, particles, and hair flying around in the air. This means less dust on the floor and furniture!

What If I’m Not Good At Organizing or Cleaning? Should I Have a Cat?

Yes, of course, you can. As previously mentioned, whilst cats like to keep themselves clean, they won’t necessarily expect it from you. They won’t be too fussy so long as you keep the litter tray clean. The litter tray is really a non-negotiable aspect. It’s unlikely that you would feel comfortable relieving yourself in a toilet that wasn’t clean, so why should your cat? There are plenty of people who own cats that have high-stress jobs that leave them little to no time to keep their own place spick and span, and they still manage to love and care for their pet.

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