Cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. The bulk of my hours at the cat boarding facility are taken up with cleaning.
The first thing I do in the morning is empty the litter pans. Each guest room has a separate, private area for the litter pan. Spray the nook down with a cleaning solution, wipe it clean, and put in a fresh pan and fresh litter.
After all the litter pans have been emptied, I take the garbage out. A bag full of last night’s litter and waste can be pretty heavy! Then I sweep the whole room to gather up any spilled litter pellets.
Next, it’s time to clean the rest of each guest room. From one cage to another, wiping down the floors and walls, sweeping away spilled food, making sure the bedding is clean. This is also a good time for pats and cuddles, or a game of “catch the dust rag” with playful cats.
If need be, I’ll sweep again. Then it’s time to make breakfast for the guests. In between all this, the dishwasher is running loads of water bowls, supper dishes, and litter pans. The washer and dryer are working on staff uniforms and guest bedding. The play room gets wiped down, swept, and mopped between each guest.
Why so much cleaning?
- We want the residents to be comfortable. That means keeping the litter fresh and the guest rooms clean.
- We want owners to be comfortable, too! Would you want to leave your beloved pet in a place that was dirty and smelly? I wouldn’t.
- Keeping everything as clean as possible prevents the spread of germs. We want our guests to stay healthy while they are at the boarding facility and go home healthy with their families!
At the end of each shift, we mop the main guest room and vacuum the rest of the facility. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to keep the cats healthy and happy!