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How often should cat bowls and toys be washed?
2026-05-05
Among the places with the highest number of household bacteria listed by the National Health Foundation (NSF) in the United States, pet bowls and pet toys have both entered the TOP10 list. It can be seen that the hygiene of cat bowls and toys has a significant impact on cats.
If not cleaned in a timely manner or the cleaning method is incorrect, it can lead to the proliferation of a large number of MRSA, Pasteurella multocida, and various rod-shaped bacteria, causing serious health problems: it may cause infection problems, meningitis, local lymph node enlargement, bacteremia, and in severe cases, poisoning in cats. So the cleaning of cat bowls and toys needs extra attention.
1. Cat bowls should be washed once a day
According to the detection of bacterial growth rate, the US Food and Drug Administration recommends that cat food bowls and water bowls should be cleaned once a day like our own tableware. When washing, hot water and detergent should be used to thoroughly clean food residues, and they should be cleaned immediately after cats finish eating.
In addition to daily cleaning, the US Food and Drug Administration also recommends weekly disinfection. Disinfection can be carried out by boiling, dishwasher disinfection mode, or rinsing after soaking in bleach water.
At the same time, water bowls and dispensers are also heavily affected by bacterial contamination. Ordinary water bowls and dispensers, if connected to tap water, should also be washed once a day; If it is pure water, wash it at least every 2-3 days; Even water dispensers with built-in filters and sterilization effects should be cleaned and thoroughly disinfected at least once a week.
2. Toys should be washed once a month
According to the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration, washable plush toys and cat beds for cats should be cleaned at least monthly.
Hard toys that are not easy to clean should be wiped with bleach once a month and thoroughly rinsed and dried before being given to cats. Toys that cannot be cleaned or easily wiped, such as cat teasers, should also be regularly placed in sunlight for sterilization, and it is recommended to replace them regularly if necessary.