Does The Placement Of The Litter Box Matter
No one wants a litter box sitting in the middle of the kitchen, or in the middle of anything for that matter! We like to tuck our litter boxes in the laundry room, or in an unused basement bathroom, and in corner that gets little human foot traffic.
But these are almost always the worst spots for a litter box in terms of odor control. Litter boxes need to be placed where there is air movement to keep odors from stagnating.
Your cats preference also needs to be taken into consideration with regard to placement of the litter box. Litter boxes need to be put where the cats like to go. Just because you’d like the box to be in the attic, doesn’t mean your cat will be comfortable going there to toilet.
Most cats enjoy well-lit, comfortable , quiet , places with constant access to toilet.
If you have a multi-cat household, the box needs to be placed where a cat using the litter box can see other cats coming and going.
(If you have a new kitten, read this post, “How to litter-train your new kitten.”
Tips For Controlling A Stinky Litter Box
Many factors can contribute to a stinky litter box.
Cats bring a lot of joy to our lives, but they can also bring an unexpected complication: stinky litter.
You may be familiar with that sinking, stinking feeling. Your cat runs up to you, happy with their tail high in the air. You give them a friendly pet and a treat, but then you smell something.
You sniff again. Yes, a very familiar odor is wafting from that corner where you keep the litter box out of sight. And now that smell is taking over everything. What can you do?
There are many different factors that can contribute to stinky litter, so heres a primer to help you figure out the solution. Read on to learn how to add a breath of fresh air to you and your cats lives.
How To Control Odor From Cat Food
Cat food is the next odor source, and it has quite a strong odor. Again, especially on hot summer days, the smell can really be quite stuffy. So with cat food, its important to not leave too much cat food out in the open.
Keep the extra food in a container with a good seal that traps the smell. The food doesnt go stale, and the cats cant get into it without you.
If you have been scheduling your cats meals, its easy to predict just enough food to last them until the next mealtime. It varies from cat to cat but as long as you observe and learn how much they eat. It becomes easy to portion just enough food.
The key is to give them just enough so that within about an hour or two, they finish the whole bowl of food.
I have a sealed food box in my studio apartment until I open it and scoop out of it. The cats will have a meal once in the morning after I get home from work, and at night before I go to sleep .
It takes them about an hour or two to finish their food and be fine until the next mealtime. It minimizes the time for the food to be outside and stinking up the apartment!
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Tips To Control Litter Box Odor
Sweet, fluffy, loving, sometimes mischievous cats can make a bad day better, a cold day warmer, and a rough day fluffier. However, when their litter box develops a smell, it can turn any room into a surprisingly toxic nightmare. How can something so fluffy and sweet produce such a terrible smell?
Luckily, theres plenty you can do to control litter box odor. Follow these pro tips for a healthier home thats free from that foul litter box smell.
Indoor cats will use the litter box three to four times a day. That means scooping is often one of the best ways to minimize odor and stay on top of a sanitary litter box environment. Ideally, youll scoop right after your cat uses the facilities, but since that isnt always realistic. Aim for at least one to two times each day. For times when you cant scoop as often, or are in a rush, you can use a product like Skouts Honor Litter Box Deodorizer for a quick refresh in between cleanings to help eliminate litter box odor. Its safe to spray on used litter and in the surrounding air wherever nasty odors are present.
While this chore is less favorable than scooping, dumping the litter and cleaning out the box with Skouts Honor Cat Urine & Odor Destroyer is an excellent and cat-safe way to stay on top of odors that can stick to the sides and bottom of the litter box. Even smooth plastic is a little porous, which means odors can sink into the material over time.
Scoop Your Kitty Litter Twice A Day At Least
If you leave your toilet unflushed all day, its going to start to smell. The same goes with your kitty litter.
Clean out your box at least twice a day, using a metal spoon to pick up both your cats poop and any wet urine spots. If your cat has trouble using their litter box consistently, cleaning it will encourage them to use it since many cats avoid pee smells, especially from other cats.
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Put Your Litter Box In A Bigger Space
You probably have heard more than one cat enthusiast recommend putting your litter box in a small cabinet . For some households, hiding their litter box works, but for others, the confined space can amplify the cat smell.
Moving the litter box to a larger room with better ventilation will help the odors disperse before they can make your litter too smelly. Putting your litter box in the garage, the laundry room, or even an enclosed catio are all great locations with plenty of air circulation.
Spraying Outside The Box
The first thing to check is whether the cat is spraying outside the litter box. If it is, no amount of litter box maintenance is going to solve the foul odor till you address this issue. You might be misled to think that the smell in the room is coming from the litter box where the cat might actually be merrily spray-painting your walls in your absence. So, how do you find out if the cat is doing it? The obvious way is to catch the cat in the act which you will be hard pressed to do so. Grab one of the dark lights and investigate the elimination habits of your cat. You might end up getting horrified how your little furball is filling your entire house with excreta. If you see evidence of your cat spraying outside the box, you need to take a step back and sort this issue. There could be several reasons why your cat could be doing that such as:
-Territory marking
-Competition
-Dirty litter box etc
You need to get to the root of the issue and ensure your cat does not indulge in excreting anywhere but the litter box
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Best Cat Litter Boxes For Odor Control In 2021 Reviews & Top Picks
Unless you have the patience and persistence to teach your cat to use the toilet, theres no way to avoid keeping litter boxes in your houseunless your cat goes outside . Cat owners accept the presence of litter boxes just as they tolerate other quirks of cat ownership, like cat hair on their clothing or the occasional love bite.
Just because you keep a litter box in your house doesnt mean your house has to smell like a cat toilet too. Scooping daily will help control odors, but the type of litter box you use plays a role as well.
To help you keep your home smelling fresh, weve collected reviews of the top 10 cat litter boxes for odor control. Check out our list to help you decide which one is best to keep your cats odor in the box where it belongs.
How To Find The Best Cat Litter For Odor Control
If you use clumping cat litter, then itll be easier to see just how much liquid has been absorbed, giving you a clear indication of when the litter box needs a quick clean or a complete overhaul. Non-clumping cat litter, on the other hand, is a little tricker, which is why all cat owners must get in the routine of cleaning their cats litter box well and often daily for scooping out clumps and feces and weekly for a complete litter refresh. As a whole, both kinds of kitty litter are equally effective in absorbing odor, but some materials may be better than others.
Nearly every litter you find on the market both clumping and non-clumping cat litter will absorb odor, so you really cant go wrong with any brand you see in the pet aisle. Just steer clear of paper pellet cat litter if the scent is your primary concern. This kind of cat litter is best for kittens, older cats, or those with injured paws since its soft to the touch. Its typically made out of recycled newspaper pieces, which isnt very absorbent.
Go with these options instead, often available in clumping and non-clumping formulas:
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How Do I Make My Cat Litter Box Not Smell
How do I make my cat litter box not smell stinky
- on Sep 26, 2018
You can sprinkle some baking soda on the litter. It really works and its perfectly safe.
- Sharon Seiber on Apr 22, 2020
I went to crystal litter and I only have to scoop once a day and stir the litter. I have 3 litter boxes and change them once a week. Yes, baking soda also works.
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Choose The Right Litter
Clumping litter forms balls when it comes into contact with urine and it ensures that these balls of urine can be easily removed. Stay away from scented litter or odor eliminating litter: they use perfume or other additives to cover the smell which can be overwhelming to cats and they just wont use it. When it comes to litter, however, experimenting is fundamental. Cats are picky and can be particular about which litter they will use.
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Get A Bigger Litter Box
Cats can be finicky. Even if they have been trained to use a litter box in the past, if they find an issue with their current box, they can refuse to use it now. Then they go to the bathroom all around your house, spreading the smell everywhere.
For finding the right cat box size, follow this rule of thumb: your box should be twice as long as your cat is long and as wide as your cat is long. Any smaller, and the box might be too small for them to comfortably use.
Does The Type Of Litter Box Matter
Get the largest box you can stand having in your house. Some people use a large plastic storage container with a side cut down to allow the cat to enter.
Why is bigger better? For one thing, it gives your cat a fresh place to step every time he enters the box. Cats are fastidious creatures and they want a clean spot to toilet. Litter box “fails” are much less likely to occur if you keep your cat happily using the box. The more litter there is to absorb liquids and cover solids the more likely odors will be kept under control.
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Reasons Why Your Cat Smells Bad
Cats usually are fond of cleanliness, so their bad smell should definitely catch your attention and worry. The poor smell of the cat could be due to the presence of bad odored stuff near them, bad dental health, unhygienic habits, or even bad health.
Here are some reasons which could be behind the bad smell of your cat
Does The Size Of Box Matter
Choosing wrong sized boxes will make them unhappy. Giving them a small box is like they are getting less space. Less space means less happiness for them. Keep them side to side so that they can choose where they are going to sleep.
Make sure that the sides of the box are not high enough. It will be difficult for old cats and those who have arthritis for something like that then they will not be happy.
It is wise to have more boxes for cats. One could avoid one box and go into another one. It is also good for multiple cats.
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Did I Say Box I Meant Boxes
It’s best to have at least one box for each cat and to have at least one on every floor of your house. they also have to be fairly large so Kitty will feel comfortable moving around and trying to bury her leavings.
The box should be twice as long as an adult cat and wide as the cat is long. A kitten can do with an inch or so of the litter but an adult cat needs two or three inches. Don’t use plastic liners. They snag on Kitty’s claws and urine seeps in, defeating the purpose.
Are self cleaning automatic litter boxes worth it? They’re a bit on the small side and some cats are a bit skittish about using something with moving parts. But other than this they have proven to be very helpful in a cat parents life.
Rather Than Covering Up Litter Box Odors With Artificial Fragrance Eliminate Them At The Source With Nonscents Cat Litter Deodorizer This Granule
Even if you choose the right litter and the right litter box, odors are going to happen, especially in a multi-cat household. Give your litter box a boost of odor-eliminating power with a cat litter deodorizer like NonScents Cat Litter Deodorizer. We chose this product over other options because it actually eliminates odors instead of masking them. This formula is completely fragrance-free and actually helps extend the life of your litter as well.
NonScents Cat Litter Deodorizer is more concentrated than other formulas, so it is powerful enough to tackle even strong ammonia odors. It is made from zeolite, a mineral that neutralizes odors at the source. It is easy to use as well just sprinkle it over the litter to remove odors in minutes for a fresher home free from unpleasant smells.
Cat Litter Help includes NonScents in their list of the best cat litter deodorizers, calling it one of the most popular and effective granule-based litter box deodorants on the market. They do note, however, that it is more expensive than deodorizing powders.
With over 1,900 reviews on Amazon, NonScents Cat Litter Deodorizer carries a 4.4-star rating. Customers love the fragrance-free formula, though there are some comments that multicat households may go through the product fairly quickly.
Pros: Highly concentrated formula eliminates odors, made from natural zeolite, no artificial fragrance, extends the life of litter
Cons: More expensive than powder deodorizers
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Block Off Your Litter Box
Okay, so what if you just dont like how much the kitty litter smell spreads? While leaving your box in the open is great for reducing the smell itself, leaving your box behind a closed door is the best way to keep the smell from getting all over the house.
For this solution, we recommend putting your litter box in a room with a door, like the garage or laundry room. Then you can install a cat flap or a cat hole into your door or wall in order to give your cat access to their box whenever they need it.
If you get your cat a cat door, make sure you train them on how to use their door.
Where You Should Keep A Cats Litter Box
Where you place a cats litter box which room, how open the space is, how hidden away, and how well ventilated the space you choose happens to be, all makes a quite a big difference in how much you notice litter smells, how much they linger, and therefore how much they will bother you over time.
Have a large house with great ventilation? My guess is that youre a lot less likely to worry about litter smells overall. Bothered by cat litter smells? You can simply move the cats litter box to a location you wont notice it so much, like a garage or the basement. Live in a small apartment? Youre likely going to have a lot more of a struggle with litter smells and need to be a lot more choosy about where you end up placing the litter box as chances are no matter where its placed, youre going to notice it at least a little bit.
If you need a few ideas with regards to litter box placement in not-too-big spaces, check out my article on where to keep a litter box in a small apartment. Dont be afraid to move your cat litter box around to different spots in your apartment to see if one place works out a lot better for you than another. And if youre tight on space in the room youd like to keep your cats litter box, but are willing to change the box entirely, check out these litter boxes ideal for small apartments.
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