How to Keep Your House Clean With Cats: 10 Practical Tips

Can You Really Keep a Clean House With Cats?

Absolutely.

Cats naturally shed fur, scratch, dig in litter and move between different areas of the home. Trying to prevent every trace of those behaviours is unrealistic.

A better approach is to design your home and cleaning routine around them.

If loose fur is brushed out regularly, less reaches your furniture. If the litter area has a good mat and is scooped frequently, less litter and odour spreads around the room. If your cat has an appropriate scratching surface beside the sofa, the sofa itself becomes less attractive.

Stay Ahead of Cat Hair

Cat hair is probably the most visible sign that a feline lives in the house.

It collects on sofas, bedding, clothes, rugs and — somehow — items your cat has never been anywhere near.

The easiest strategy is frequent light cleaning rather than waiting for a thick layer to build up.

Robot vacuums can also be useful for maintaining floors between manual cleans, particularly in homes with several cats.

Groom Your Cat Before the Fur Reaches the Furniture

Regular brushing removes loose hair before much of it ends up around your home.

The ideal grooming frequency depends on the cat.

Cats Protection advises that many short-haired cats may only need around a weekly brush, while long-haired cats often need daily grooming to help prevent tangles and matting. Cats can also shed more heavily during seasonal coat changes. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="1"}

• use a brush or comb suitable for your cat's coat
• keep sessions calm and relatively short
• remove loose fur from the brush as you go
• pay extra attention to long-haired cats that are prone to matting
• increase grooming when your cat is shedding heavily

Keep the Litter Area Clean Every Day

Litter boxes are one area where waiting for the weekly cleaning session simply does not work very well.

Cats Protection recommends removing urine and faeces from trays at least twice a day, with some cats preferring them cleaned even more frequently. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="3"}

A simple setup makes the job easier:

• keep a scoop beside the litter tray
• use a washable litter-catching mat
• sweep or vacuum tracked litter regularly
• keep spare litter somewhere close but tidy
• wash the tray thoroughly on a regular basis
• replace damaged trays that become difficult to clean

Strong perfumes are not a substitute for cleaning. Cats have sensitive noses, and heavily scented litter or products can make the tray less appealing. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="4"}

In a multi-cat home, provide enough toileting resources rather than expecting several cats to rely on one constantly used tray. PDSA and Cats Protection both recommend the general principle of one essential resource per cat plus one extra. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="5"}

Wash Cat Beds, Blankets and Favourite Throws

Your cat's favourite sleeping area collects fur, dust and everyday dirt surprisingly quickly.

Removable, washable covers make maintaining cat beds considerably easier.

Vacuum loose fur before washing heavily fur-covered bedding, then follow the manufacturer's care instructions.

If your cat sleeps on a particular sofa or chair every day, a dedicated washable throw can also protect the upholstery beneath it.

Avoid using strongly fragranced laundry products on cat bedding where possible. Cats Protection recommends being cautious with heavily scented detergents on blankets and bedding because cats can be sensitive to strong smells. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="6"}

Browse our cat bedding if you want sleeping areas with removable or easy-care materials.

Protect Furniture by Giving Your Cat Somewhere Better to Scratch

Scratched furniture is not really a cleaning problem.

It is usually an environment problem.

Scratching is normal feline behaviour, so preventing damage means providing an appropriate alternative in the location where your cat wants to scratch.

A good scratching area should be:

• stable
• large enough for your cat to stretch comfortably
• made from a texture your cat likes
• positioned somewhere your cat actually spends time

A scratching post or cat tree can redirect normal scratching behaviour away from upholstery.

If your sofa is already the favourite target, read our guide to why cats scratch furniture and how to redirect it .

Keep Feeding Areas Small and Easy to Wipe Down

Food crumbs, splashed water and stray pieces of wet food can quickly make a feeding corner look untidy.

Use a washable mat or tray underneath bowls so spills can be dealt with quickly.

Wash food bowls regularly and refresh drinking water frequently.

It can also be useful to position food and water separately rather than creating one crowded feeding station. PDSA recommends separating cats' food, water, sleeping and toileting resources where practical. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="7"}

Control Cat-Toy Clutter

Cat enrichment does not require every toy your cat has ever owned to live permanently in the centre of the floor.

Keep a small selection available and store the remainder.

If you want to make cat furniture work more naturally with your interior, see our guide to creating a stylish cat-friendly home .

Deal With Urine, Vomit and Other Accidents Quickly

The longer an accident remains on carpet or upholstery, the harder it can be to remove completely.

With fresh urine:

1. Blot rather than scrub. Absorb as much liquid as possible without spreading it through the material.
2. Use a suitable pet-safe cleaner. Make sure the product is appropriate for the affected surface.
3. Follow the instructions carefully. Different products require different contact and drying times.
4. Allow the area to dry fully. Keep your cat away while the treatment is wet.

Our complete guide to cleaning cat pee covers carpets, mattresses, sofas, hard floors and old urine smells in more detail.

Use Household Cleaning Products Safely Around Cats

A product being suitable for a kitchen or bathroom does not automatically mean your cat should be walking across it while it is wet.

Cats Protection highlights several common household cleaners that can be harmful, including bleach, laundry detergents, toilet cleaners, carpet cleaners, oven cleaners and drain unblockers. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="9"}

A few simple precautions help:

• read and follow the manufacturer's instructions
• keep cleaning products securely stored
• keep cats away from freshly treated areas
• ventilate rooms when using strongly smelling products
• allow surfaces to dry as instructed before your cat returns
• never mix household chemicals

Be especially careful around floors because cats can walk across residue and later lick their paws while grooming.

Use a Simple Cleaning Routine Instead of Constant Deep Cleaning

The easiest way to keep a home with cats looking consistently tidy is to split the work into small tasks.

The exact schedule will depend on how many cats you have, how much they shed and the layout of your home.

Don't Forget to Clean the Cat Tree

Because cat trees are often covered in fabric and sisal, they can gradually collect fur and dust.

Regularly:

• vacuum fabric platforms with a suitable attachment
• remove loose hair from beds and hammocks
• wash removable cushions according to their care instructions
• check scratching posts for loose or badly damaged material
• check bolts and fittings remain tight

Avoid soaking sisal scratching posts or upholstered platforms unless the manufacturer's care instructions specifically allow it.

If you are replacing furniture, browse our cat trees and consider designs with removable cushions or replaceable components where available.

What About Cat Allergens in the Home?

People often describe themselves as being allergic to cat hair, but the hair itself is not usually the primary allergen.

Cats Protection explains that cat allergies are caused by proteins produced in saliva and sebaceous glands. Those proteins can then be spread onto fur and skin during grooming and distributed through the environment as hair and dander are shed. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="10"}

If someone in the household has a confirmed cat allergy, measures that may help include:

• vacuuming regularly
• washing cat bedding frequently
• ventilating the home
• creating cat-free areas, particularly bedrooms
• using suitable air filtration
• washing hands after handling the cat

7 Common Mistakes When Trying to Keep a Cat Home Clean

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