Why My Home is Never 100% Clean —And That’s a Good Thing (for Me and My Cats)

Behind every purr, there’s a hidden world of microbes — and that’s not as scary as it sounds.

Before cats ruled my life — fieldwork days collecting water samples to study microbes.

If you’ve ever shared your life with cats, you know “clean” becomes… a flexible concept.There’s the visible kind (the one you proudly post on social media after vacuuming for the third time), and then there’s the microbiological kind — the one I used to study when I worked in a lab.

I’m Cissou — a microbiologist turned designer and content creator, cat mom to Purrl (the Queen) and Jaspurr (the Chaos Gremlin). After years of studying microbes in water and human samples, I now study a different ecosystem: my own multi-cat home.

The Scientist Who Tried to Out-Clean Nature

When I first adopted my cats, I thought I could control everything — the fur, the litter dust, the mystery paw prints appearing on the kitchen counter. I had an arsenal of disinfectants that promised “99.9% germ-free” results. But here’s the truth no one tells you: that missing 0.1% is where life happens.

As a microbiologist, I can confirm — being completely microbe-free isn't possible. And honestly, it wouldn’t be healthy. Our skin, our homes, our pets — everything teems with microbial life. Some of it can make us sick, yes, but most of it keeps us balanced.

Cats can act as disease vectors to humans, but a proper preventive care plan — including vaccination, parasite control, and good hygiene practices like regular litter box cleaning — significantly lowers the risk of infection. For example, cats are the definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. However, cats shed parasites for only a limited period after exposure (typically 7 to 10 days, up to 3 weeks), and the oocysts they shed are not immediately infectious; they require 1 to 5 days to mature. Therefore, maintaining good hygiene and cleaning the litter box twice daily is generally sufficient to prevent the parasite from becoming infectious.

Interestingly, studies have shown that early exposure to pet-associated microbes may help regulate our immune systems and lower the risk of asthma and allergies. One large study even found that children who grew up with more pets in their first year of life had a significantly lower risk of allergic disease.

So instead of fighting nature, I learned to live with it — and to design my home around harmony rather than sterilization.

Catifying Without Chaos

Territory negotiations, feline edition.  When you live in a catified home, vertical space is prime real estate. Watch Purrl and Jaspurr debate who gets the penthouse suite (spoiler: the Queen wins).

Watching Purrl and Jaspurr has taught me plenty through experience, but I still turn to scientific literature to better understand what drives their behavior.

Cats crave perches, hiding spots, and vertical space — not just plush cushions. The “cat guru,” Jackson Galaxy, calls this Catification: “the art of creating an enriched home environment that meets a cat’s primal needs for territory, climbing, perching, and hiding while also working with a human’s aesthetic and budget.” Peer-reviewed veterinary studies echo this idea, showing that providing elevated and enclosed spaces can significantly reduce stress and unwanted behavior in indoor cats, and decrease conflict in multi-cat households.

Of course, every cat is different. Personality shapes preference: Purrl seeks height, quiet corners, and soft light, while Jaspurr believes gravity is optional and personal space is a myth.

Creating a home that works for both of them (and me) means balancing textures, light, and behavior — like designing a small ecosystem.

• High perches satisfy their instinct to survey territory.

• Washable fabrics and neutral tones keep things aesthetically calm (and hide the inevitable fur tumbleweeds).

• Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and jute let me clean effectively without over-sanitizing.

The result? A space that feels alive, not sterile.

The scroll gallery below features a few of my personal favorites. All images in this scroll gallery are shoppable — click any photo to explore the featured product without leaving the page.

Modern Cat Tree (73" Tall) Featured in Video of Purrl and Jaspurr

Sisal Cat Scratch Pad (23.6 inches)

Indoor Outdoor Scalloped Lumbar Pillow Cover, Water Repellent (12"x20")

Stylish Area Rug that Doubles as Giant Scratching Pad

Fluffy Faux-Fur Plush Sofa Covers

Taupe Striped Pick Stitch Soft Velvet Bedspread

Clean ≠ Sterile

When most people hear “scientist,” they imagine bleach bottles and rubber gloves. Truth is, I’m much more of a “plant-based formula and microfiber cloth” kind of cat mom. I still love a clean home, but my definition changed. Clean means:

• Surfaces safe for paws (and whiskers).

• Air that smells fresh but not overwhelming for my cats.

• A microbiome that supports, not suffocates.

  
  

That’s why I lean toward eco-friendly, pet-safe cleaners that remove dirt and odor without wiping out beneficial microbes or exposing cats to irritants. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

• Mrs. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY Pet Multi-Surface Cleaner (orange blossom) – My go-to for everyday cleaning on counters, floors, and cat shelves. It’s plant-based, effective, and leaves behind a light, natural orange blossom fragrance that doesn’t overwhelm sensitive noses.

• Mrs. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY Pet Stain & Odor Fighter (orange blossom) – Great for rugs, sofa covers, and cat beds. It refreshes fabrics without synthetic perfumes or residue.

• BISSELL Pro Pet Urine Eliminator Deep Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner – When Jaspurr decides to “redecorate” with scent marking, this cleaner is a lifesaver. It removes odors and stains deeply while being safe for homes with pets.

• LEVOIT Air Purifier & Diffuser Combo – I keep one in every room. It filters out odors and particulates, helping with litter dust and pet dander. Plus, I can use my own essential oils instead of chemical-based fragrance diffusers to keep the house smelling naturally fresh.

• Pet Hair “Candy” Sponge – It looks unassuming, but this reusable sponge works like magic on beds, couches, and cat bedding. I call it “candy” because it’s oddly satisfying to use — it grabs hair that even vacuums miss.

• ChomChom Roller – My secret weapon for quick fur removal between deep cleans. It works better than any handheld lint or hair remover I’ve tried and doesn’t need batteries or sticky sheets.

These let me keep my home fresh while knowing Jaspurr can safely roll on the floor five seconds later.

Tap or click the pictures in the scroll gallery below to shop my favorite cleaning products without leaving the page.

Living With Fur and Flourishing Anyway

Some days, I still sigh when I find a cat hair floating in my morning coffee. But then I remind myself: that same hair belongs to a creature that brings joy, companionship, and endless curiosity into my home.

The more I observe my cats, the more I see parallels between microbiology and motherhood (of the feline kind): it’s all about ecosystems, balance, and acceptance. A truly healthy home isn’t microbe-free — it’s full of life.

I’ll be diving into these topics more deeply over the next few weeks:

• How to “catify” your home using principles of feline behavior and aesthetic design.

• How your home’s microbiome affects you and your pets.

• Chronicle of my life and experiments in my multi-cat home, what actually work for us (and smell good).

  
  

Because if there’s one thing science and cats agree on, it’s that perfection is overrated — but harmony? That’s achievable.

So welcome to Purrrfect Finds, where we celebrate fur, function, and French-Californian flair — all in the pursuit of a home that’s beautiful, balanced, and just a little bit wild.