how to clean up dry wet.cat poop

Cats see sand and they think "potty!"; if you're a cat owner or you have cats in your neighborhood, then you know there's no guarantee that they will do as you ask, so you have to find other ways to keep them away from the sandbox.

In this article, we will learn why cat feces is so dangerous, how to keep cats away from your children's sandbox, and we will also look at ways to sanitize and clean your play sand.

Why is cat poop toxic?

Cat and dog fecal matter can be a health risk for your family because it can cause Toxocariasis, a parasitic infection. Dog and cat feces contain roundworms Toxocara cani and T. cati.

This is the most common human parasitic worm infection in the United States, so you really have to keep your pets away from your sandbox.

Toxocara eggs can be found in sandboxes because cats and dogs tend to use them as bathrooms. If you're not disciplined about the hygiene and upkeep of your sandbox, you risk exposing your children to this parasitic infection.

The scariest part about this infection is that people infected with toxocara don't present symptoms or any kind of illness. However, when people do develop symptoms they may include headaches, cough, abdominal pain, and even behavioral changes. In pregnant women, the parasite can cause birth defects.

How do I keep my cats from pooping in the sandbox?

The fact that you're reading this article means that your cats already went potty in your sandbox, so the first step is to clean it up.

Remove all of the sand, scrub the sandbox well with a mix of equal parts water and bleach, let it dry and then refill your sandbox with fresh sanitized play sand.

A very simple way to keep cats away from your sandbox is to keep it covered when it's not being used. If your sandbox didn't come with a lid, use a tarp as a temporary measure until you have a lid made either out of wood or vinyl. Make sure that the material you choose is sturdy, waterproof, and breathable. You can buy that kind of cover here.

If the problem isn't your cat but stray cats or the cats around the neighborhood, then consider building a fence around your yard or at least around your sandbox to keep cats away. Have a chat with cat owners and figure out a way to prevent their cats from coming to your yard.

Another way to keep your cat from using the sandbox as its own private bathroom is to teach them. Pay attention and whenever you see your cat trying to go potty in the sandbox, pick them up, move them, and speak to them in your disciplinary voice. Be patient and eventually your cats will learn that the sandbox is not a bathroom.
If you can do it, place motion-activated sprinklers around the sandbox and when your cats go near, they will get wet. You know how much cats hate water, so eventually, they won't go near the sandbox again.
You can also use foods that cats hate and use them as natural repellents. This includes orange peels, coffee grounds, and even garlic. Choose one or mix them together, add some water and apply the mix around the sandbox every few days to keep cats away. You can also buy cat repellents here in the form of spray or powder, just make sure that they're nontoxic and safe for your kids. You'll also have to keep reapplying the repellent if you want a long-term solution. You can buy here orange oil that works perfectly as cat repellant. But I advise you to get this ultrasonic cat repellant. It's going to solve your problem with cats entirely.

Cayenne pepper is often recommended as a natural repellent for cats, but this can actually harm them and that's not what we want. Another recommended option is to get lion dung from the local zoo and spread it around the perimeter of your yard or your sandbox to keep stray cats and your own cats away, but this is a very unpractical choice. Not just because of the smell!

Does cinnamon keep cats out of the soundbox?

Cinnamon is a natural repellent for bugs and it works like a charm, but when it comes to cats and dogs it's not clear how well it works. Cat owners who have tried this remedy have made little progress in keeping their cats away from the sandbox because it would take a huge amount of cinnamon.

Cats certainly don't like cinnamon in their food, but it's not clear if it would have much of a repellent effect when you mix it in with the play sand.

The best and simplest solution seems to be: keeping your sandbox tightly covered when it's not being used. However, you can always put these different methods to the test.

How to clean cat poop from a sandbox?

The first thing you need to do is get a kitty litter scoop and scoop all of the poop out. Get a shovel and move the sand around to make sure that you get everything.

Once you're done doing that, prepare a mix of equal parts of water and bleach. We recommend a gallon, so it will be half a gallon of water and half a gallon of bleach.

Spray this solution over the sand and make sure you soak it all trough. You should also spray the sides of the sandbox to make sure you sterilize everything. Keep in mind that this work has to be done under the sun because you'll need the sand to dry. Once you've sprayed the top layer, grab the shovel and bring the bottom sand to the surface.
Soak the sand again and be thorough. Grab a garden rake and mix the sand well. Once the sand is all soaked, let it sit for a while and move it around with the rake from time to time. Once it dries out a bit, use the rest of the solution and then let the soaked sand dry completely.
If you do that you won't only be cleaning your sand, you will be sanitizing it and if you do it correctly you can be confident that your children will be safe. Keep an eye on the sandbox and take measures to keep cats away from it.

Here's another way to sanitize play sand:

You'll need

a bowl
a large pot
a bucket
a baking tray

Put the play sand in the deep bowl. Boil water and then pour the boiling water over the sand and stir it until the sand is fully submerged. Let it sit for five minutes and then drain the sand. Repeat this process as much as you need if the sand is especially dirty.

Once you've done that, drain the sand in a bucket and rinse it under running water. When you see that the water is coming out clean, your job is done. Drain the sand on a towel to soak up as much excess water as possible and then put the clean play sand on the baking tray and put it in the oven at 180 F for 30 minutes to complete the process. Let it cool and then it's ready to use!

How to keep your sandbox from contamination?

Keep your sandbox covered

This is the most important thing to avoid contamination. If your sandbox doesn't have a lid, find a good cover and make sure it's sturdy, waterproof and breathable to keep your sand both dry and clean. Plywood is a good material for you to build your own cover if you're handy enough! But you can also buy affordable custom-made covers.

Dry it out

If the play sand in your sandbox gets wet it's essential that you let it dry in the sun completely before you cover it for the day. If you don't you'll have to either sterilize the sand or replace it completely.

Keep bugs away

You can keep bugs away from your sandbox by mixing cinnamon into your sand because it's a natural repellent. There are certain plants that are also natural repellents so you can start growing a special garden to keep bugs away from your backyard. Mint and basil are both natural repellents, just make sure you cut off any flowers because they will attract bees. Another natural way to keep bugs away is spreading coffee grounds around the sandbox and the yard.

Keep food, drinks and pets away

In order to keep your sandbox from contamination, you have to set some rules. First of all, don't allow drink or food in the sandbox and second of all, keep your pets away. When animals see sand they think it's their bathroom, and you don't want any fecal matter in your children's play sand. Also, keep your pets vaccinated and healthy.

Keep an eye on your toddler's diapers

When your little ones are playing in the sand you have to keep your eye on two things: their diaper and making sure they don't eat the sand. Human feces can also contaminate the play sand in the sandbox, so keep an eye on leaky diapers, otherwise your children can contrat E. coli. If your children are not potty trained yet, it's best not to let them play in the sandbox for now. But if you do, keep an eye on them and make sure their diaper is clean.