A fresh litter box starts with a simple routine: use the right amount of litter, remove waste regularly and know when topping up is no longer enough. KittyClean tofu and bentonite litters form clumps; silica gel absorbs moisture into its crystals. This difference determines what you scoop out each day.
Start with a clean, dry box
Wash the empty box, rinse it thoroughly and let it dry before adding fresh litter. Follow the depth stated on your particular pack. Too little litter can allow wet waste to reach the base; overfilling makes it easier for your cat to scatter litter outside the box.
For KittyClean tofu litter, the instructions specify a 5–8 cm layer. Do not apply this measurement automatically to bentonite or silica gel: check their own packaging.
Tofu: scoop the clumps and maintain the depth
With KittyClean Tofu Natural, remove urine clumps and solid waste every day. Check the box morning and evening, and remove waste more often if needed. Lift clumps carefully so they do not break into the clean pellets, then top up to maintain the recommended 5–8 cm layer.
The same clumping routine applies to the green tea extract and activated carbon variants. Added ingredients do not replace daily cleaning.
Bentonite: remove used litter, leave clean granules
KittyClean Compact Plus bentonite and the activated carbon version also form removable urine clumps. Scoop out clumps and solid waste daily, avoiding unnecessary stirring that breaks clumps apart. Add fresh litter to restore the depth stated on the pack.
Check the bottom and corners as well as the surface. If wet litter has stuck to the box, remove it rather than covering it with a fresh layer.
Silica gel: remove solids and monitor the crystals
KittyClean silica gel litter does not form urine clumps. Remove solid waste daily and follow the pack instructions for mixing the crystals. Monitor the whole box, including the base: a dry-looking surface does not necessarily mean the litter underneath can still absorb moisture.
Replace the litter when its absorption capacity is exhausted or the box remains damp or smells after waste removal. Do not keep adding fresh crystals over saturated litter.
When should you replace all the litter?
Topping up and a full change are different jobs. Topping up restores the fill depth; a full change removes accumulated used litter and gives you a chance to wash the box.
Follow the replacement guidance on the pack and inspect the box every day. Replace sooner if it stays damp, smells after scooping or contains many broken, soiled clumps. More cats and heavier box use mean more frequent attention. A bag’s estimated usage time is not a promise that the same litter can remain in the box for that entire period.
For general box hygiene, Cats Protection recommends a complete emptying and wash at least weekly. Use that as a regular cleaning checkpoint alongside the product instructions, and clean sooner whenever the box needs it.
A full change in four steps
- Empty the used litter and dispose of it according to the pack and local waste rules.
- Wash the box with warm water and mild soap or a cleaner labelled safe for cat litter boxes.
- Rinse thoroughly and let the box dry completely.
- Add fresh litter to the recommended depth and clean the scoop.
Do not flush bentonite or silica gel. For tofu litter, check local wastewater rules as well as the packaging: biodegradable does not automatically mean suitable for a toilet, home compost or food-waste bin. Wash your hands after handling used litter.
Still choosing a material? Compare tofu, bentonite and silica gel →
Product-specific guidance: KittyClean product and packaging information. General box hygiene: Cats Protection — cats and toileting.