Morning Cleaning

Volunteers who have been trained on cage cleaning can sign up for the morning Cleaning and Socialization shift:

Update both whiteboards with current date; erase activity information from previous day.
Check whiteboard information and cage set up - this is especially important for first shift because cats/kittens may have been received after closing shift the previous day.
Always wear gloves when cleaning kennels and replace gloves BETWEEN kennels. This is critical during kitten season when the kittens are very likely to carry organisms that can cause infection and spread to other cats in the building.

Deep-clean unoccupied cages:

Discard litter box.
Empty food in trash can.
Empty water into bucket, sink or outside.
Stack dirty bowls next to laundry cart in hallway for dish cleaning.
Shake out towels and blankets over trash can and place in laundry cart.
Place toys, brushes, and combs in pillowcase (GA room) for cleaning.
Spray all surfaces in cage with “Rescue” Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide cleaning fluid. Because this fluid is like a very strong bleach, try not to get it on your clothes or skin. If you do, wash your hands with soap and water.
Wait 10 minutes, then wipe down cage using a CLEAN hand towel from cabinet drawer. Use a NEW hand towel BETWEEN kennels.
Spray cleaning fluid on cloth and wipe down all surfaces of the door.
Cage set up: left - leave empty; middle – place clean towel/blanket, bed, and a couple toys; right – place new litter box on top of paper liner.
Change sign to “CLEAN.”

Light-clean occupied cages:

Carefully close the portal door or insert the slider to keep the cat from entering the section of cage that you are cleaning.
Replace litter and/or litter box as needed.
Inspect blanket and towel – if unsoiled, shake out over trash bin and return to cage; if soiled, replace with clean bedding.
Replace water in water bowls each morning and refill food bowls if needed.
Community Cat 1 and 2: Only clean cage if the cat is inside the feral box and its door is closed; remove box (with cat) from the cage and carefully place on floor away from where you are cleaning.

Fold, fill and store litter boxes:

Unfilled boxes are stored on top of Adoption 3 cages.
Flat boxes are kept in the storage room and the outside shed (back-right).
Fold boxes and fill with litter from Adoption 3 barrel @ 3/4 scoop per box – do not overfill.
Restock shelf in each room with fresh, filled litter boxes.

Refill litter barrels in Adoption 3 and Adoption floor (1):
- Sacks of litter are kept in the shed (front left); take a cart to bring 2 or 3 sacks at a time.
- To open bags, scissors are in top drawer of GA cabinet; return them when finished.

Additional duties as time permits:

Collect and refill cleaning spray bottles at the southern wall of shelter building. To dispense a metered dilution of disinfectant, insert left hose into spray bottle opening and turn black dial counter-clockwise. Turn dial clockwise to stop, screw spray bottle top back on, and return each bottle to appropriate room.

Check wet food supply in the top drawer of each room’s cabinet; restock as needed with food from shed (front right).
Check dry food bins; refill only when bin is completely empty with food from shed.
Check towel supply in each room. To restock, look first for a Sage Laundry bag near picnic table in courtyard then on shelves in Laundry Room. Put clean towels on wire shelving in each room.
Check for clean cat bowls on table outside of Laundry Room; restock them in storage cabinet or on wire shelving in each room.
Wheel “Dirty Dishes” cart to Laundry Room. Wash cat bowls in sink and load to sanitizer rack. To sanitize, press power button then green “Play” button. Place sanitized bowls back on cart and return to Annex. Dry and return bowls to cabinet/rack in each room.