03/13/2025
*UPDATED* Cleaning protocol for volunteers and staff:
Sanitation for Group Cat Rooms
a white and black cat sits on the floor in a cat room looking at camera
Proper cleaning and disinfection are critical to shelter disease control and should occur on a regular basis. In conjunction with ensuring your sanitation protocol is followed, disease should be tracked to monitor whether your sanitation program is effective.
Spot cleaning should occur on a daily basis to ensure a comfortable and sanitary environment for the cats. However, if a group is stable and healthy, thorough cleaning and disinfection may occur less often – but it still should be regularly scheduled at 2-week intervals. In the event of disease outbreak, cleaning and disinfection should take place on a daily basis.
The following recommendations are designed to make cleaning and disinfection as easy and effective as possible.
Organize for Efficiency
All cleaning supplies and enclosure set-up supplies should be stored in closed containers that are restricted to each housing area and stocked before cleaning begins.
Supplies should not be stored on the floor or where cats can reach them.
Dirty items should not be placed on clean surfaces.
Individuals performing sanitation should wear appropriate, clean, protective outwear, and care should be taken to put on and remove attire properly. A new set of clean gloves should be worn, or hands should be sanitized before handling clean supplies and between touching or handling different animal groups.
Group Cat Room Daily Spot Cleaning Protocol
Grab this handy poster [PDF] of your daily protocol and post it in the group room.
Enter room and observe cats for changes in physical and behavioral health. Document and report findings as appropriate. Leave cats free in room while performing daily duties.
Pick up food and water bowls and set aside. Heavily soiled bowls should be removed for cleaning and disinfection.
If cat beds/towels are soiled, shake off excess debris into the trash can. Place items in the appropriate container (e.g., laundry hamper or bag) for subsequent laundering.
If disposable items are soiled or ruined, discard.
Scoop litter boxes daily, removing excreta and any soiled litter.
After scooping litter, sweep the floor.
Wipe down soiled areas of the floor, walls, and doors with detergent solution. Stubborn areas, stains or materials that cling to surfaces should be addressed with a scrub brush.
After performing hand sanitation or changing gloves, refresh food and water bowls as needed. Cats should have free access to food and water at all times, with multiple bowls of food and clean potable water provided in various locations throughout the room. To ensure availability, water bowls should be checked twice daily and refilled as needed.
Replace soiled/discarded items (e.g., cat beds, litter boxes) and replenish litter as needed.
Remove trash and dirty items from room.
Group Cat Room Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol
Grab this handy poster [PDF] of your cleaning and disinfection protocol and post it in the group room.
In addition to the daily protocol, cleaning and disinfection should be performed in the following instances:
All occupants have left the enclosure
Enclosure is grossly contaminated
Occupants have been diagnosed or exposed to a known infectious disease
A minimum of every 2 weeks when animals are apparently free from infectious disease.
Once you have determined cleaning and disinfection is necessary, proceed with the steps outlined below.
Remove cats from the room, using clean or assigned transport carriers or other suitable temporary housing.
Remove all litter boxes, room furnishings, toys, and food and water bowls and place in designated area for disposal or cleaning and disinfection as appropriate.
If there are kennels in the group room, follow a traditional kennel cleaning and disinfection protocol for those items.
Remove all visible solid contaminants (e.g., food, f***s, vomit, etc.) from room. Sweep the floor. Apply a product with detergent activity using a garden sprayer or spray bottle, coating all surfaces, including the floor, with solution.
If banks of kennels are present, be sure to move them away from the wall to allow for cleaning of the floor and wall.
Physically scrub all non-porous surfaces of the room using a hand-held scrub brush or clean rag.
Rinse surfaces with clean water.
If a drain is present, use a squeegee to remove standing water.
If no drain is present, use a clean mop to remove any standing water.
Apply appropriate disinfectant (effective against calicivirus, panleukopenia virus, and ringworm) at the appropriate dilution (see product label) using a garden sprayer or spray bottle, thoroughly coating all surfaces, including those of non-porous permanent furniture (e.g., perches and benches).
Allow appropriate contact time (see product label) for the disinfectant then rinse all surfaces with clean water.
Reset room with clean supplies. Before returning animals to the room, weigh each cat and record their weight on the physical exam sheet.
Return cats to room and release when floor is completely dry.
modeled on the facilities at Best Friends Utah. We are a registered 501 (3)C
