What is the best way to get rid of the smell from the cat litter box? I clean out the box at least twice a day and put new litter in. I even added baking soda to the litter, but it doesn't help. Is there anything else I can try besides buying a scented litter, which is too expensive?
By Linda Delcamp from Brighton, MI
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What works well for me is clumping litter. I purchase the inexpensive store brand and scoop once a day (one cat) and place the scoops in a used produce bag (inspect for possible holes), tie the bag off and place it in the kitchen trash can under the sink until I take the trash out. Absolutely never flush scoopable!
It seems like clumping litter is really expensive because of the initial price but it actually is more cost effective because you only need to scoop the clumps of ammonia smelling urine and the poopy instead of completely replacing all the litter.
Yes since I have a cat, you know those air fresheners. Well put it by the litter box and ever time the cat goes away from it, it will spray from movement.
Try FelinePine. I've switched from the clay Tidy Cat litter and find the pellets, while different, mask urine odor. Another cheaper alternative, which I learned from searching for information, is stall pellets. I bought a 40lb bag of those at a local Southern States for less than $7. The FelinePine and stall pellets turn to sawdust when they get wet. I have found the litter pan used in the Breeze litter system to work very well with the pellets.
I use Tidy Cat litter and clean out the clumps at least once a day. I also use the tidy cat litter box powder.
I forgot to mention that when using clumping litter it works best to keep the litter box at least a fourth full. I start with a about a third. With Rachel I only need to add more about every three days.
Also, if you want extra odor control you can mix in good old fashioned inexpensive baking soda to absorb odor instead of expensive cat litter powder.
Definitely use the "clumping" or "scoop-able" litter. Walmart carries a brand called "Special Kitty." It is less than $6.00 for 28 lbs and lasts for ages. As another poster said, you only remove the clumps, not the whole pan of litter, so it lasts a long time - and best of all - no smell!
Clumping litter yes, as everyone has mentioned. Brands are up to you, and to some extent, your cat. The urine of different cats will react and smell differently with different litters. So the brand that works for one may not be the best for someone else. My cats use either Arm and Hammer or Tidy Cat.
I've tried many things over the years. I've tried the automatic boxes and I even tried one that was over $300.00. They didn't work because the feces when disturbed would cling to the rake the boxes use. What a mess! And of course the odors were terrible. I tried using a large storage bin with the sides cut high, but our large, older cat said it was too hard to get in and out. I tried the rug in front of the box trick but, I still had a mess to vacuum up. Finally I am in a happy place. I am lucky enough that I have a seldom used attached garage. I store things in it mostly. I installed a kitty door so the kitty's can come and go.
Now the litter box is no longer in my home. I set the box in a swimming pool and the litter that they kick out or sticks to their feet stays in the pool. I also use a hard clumping litter. It's best if it can't seep to the bottom of the box. I scoop 2x daily, more if I am able, and find a gift for me in their box.
I have discovered that if the feces or litter sit in the box, then the entire box is absorbing those odors, the odor is still there even when the clumps are removed. I take great care in scooping to not breakup the clumps. The little pieces that fall through the scooper screen add up and smell. I dump and deodorize, sanitize once a week. The stick on carbon filters work well.
I tried baking soda but never really saw an improvement things still would smell. I hope this helps, I understand not everyone has a room they can put the box in and install a kitty door, but it's and idea for those that can. The swim pool also helps a lot for those with the room.
You can also add diatomaceous earth, to help with clumping. It's already in most litters.
If the litter box is plastic, it might have absorbed some of the odor. I would replace it with a new one and see if that helps.
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