12 Ways to Reduce Cat Litter Box Smells
Cats are amazing creatures. They are tiny, cute, cuddly little balls of fluff that somehow manage to produce the most noxious odors on the planet.
If you're tired of being bombed by one of those cute little trash cans from your own home, take heart: there are things you can do to minimize the odors emanating from the litter box.
Some of these tips are quick and easy to implement, while others require a little more work. However, they all have one thing in common: they are much more pleasant than another room-cleaning toilet break from your cat.
If you're tired of being bombed by one of those cute little trash cans from your own home, take heart: there are things you can do to minimize the odors emanating from the litter box.
Some of these tips are quick and easy to implement, while others require a little more work. However, they all have one thing in common: they are much more pleasant than another room-cleaning toilet break from your cat.
1 - Clean it more often.
The best way to prevent odors from developing is to remove the source as often as possible. Try to take out the litter box every day if possible, or you can clean it every time they go inside.
This is easier to do if you have something like a litter locker at home, as you can just throw the dirty litter in instead of getting a fresh bag each time. This also works well if you use a flushable litter.
This may seem like a more labor-intensive solution, but scooping it up every day makes it much quicker and easier to clean. It's definitely worth spending a few seconds with the scope to save you from spending hours dealing with odors.
2 - Change the litter regularly.
Many owners clean up dirty litter and refill it when it gets low. The problem with this is that while it may contain dirt, it does little to prevent bacteria and other microbes from forming, and it can be the source of many odors.
About once a month, you should throw out the entire litter box and wash the box with soap and water. Then, fill it completely with fresh litter. Not only will your cat appreciate a fresh bathroom, but it will do a great job of preventing odors from starting.
3 - Throw away the entire box.
Sometimes there isn't enough scrubbing to save the litter box—the odor is embedded too deeply in the material. This can happen with any type of litter box, but plastic ones are especially vulnerable.
The problem is that as your cat digs through the litter, it creates small grooves in the bottom of the box. These ducts become a haven for odor-causing bacteria and fungi, and they can also harbor disease-causing microbes that infect your cat.
4 - Use a deodorizer.
You can find litter deodorizers at your pet store with cat litter or by searching online. If you want to know how to neutralize the smell of ammonia in cat litter, this is a good place to start. Deodorizers are usually infused with baking soda or enzymes, and a light dusting or spraying over the litter will do the best job of masking the odor.
Even if you keep a clean litter box, you can still find cat odors and stains around the house.
5 - Mix in the tea leaves.
It may seem like a strange solution, but green tea leaves have antibacterial properties and are excellent at absorbing odors. Simply dry a few leaves, grind them, and mix them with the whip.
If you're concerned about your cat eating the leaves, you can dry them and mix them in before you drink them. Just make sure that you brew the tea before using it in the garbage.
The best way to prevent odors from developing is to remove the source as often as possible. Try to take out the litter box every day if possible, or you can clean it every time they go inside.
This is easier to do if you have something like a litter locker at home, as you can just throw the dirty litter in instead of getting a fresh bag each time. This also works well if you use a flushable litter.
This may seem like a more labor-intensive solution, but scooping it up every day makes it much quicker and easier to clean. It's definitely worth spending a few seconds with the scope to save you from spending hours dealing with odors.
2 - Change the litter regularly.
Many owners clean up dirty litter and refill it when it gets low. The problem with this is that while it may contain dirt, it does little to prevent bacteria and other microbes from forming, and it can be the source of many odors.
About once a month, you should throw out the entire litter box and wash the box with soap and water. Then, fill it completely with fresh litter. Not only will your cat appreciate a fresh bathroom, but it will do a great job of preventing odors from starting.
3 - Throw away the entire box.
Sometimes there isn't enough scrubbing to save the litter box—the odor is embedded too deeply in the material. This can happen with any type of litter box, but plastic ones are especially vulnerable.
The problem is that as your cat digs through the litter, it creates small grooves in the bottom of the box. These ducts become a haven for odor-causing bacteria and fungi, and they can also harbor disease-causing microbes that infect your cat.
4 - Use a deodorizer.
You can find litter deodorizers at your pet store with cat litter or by searching online. If you want to know how to neutralize the smell of ammonia in cat litter, this is a good place to start. Deodorizers are usually infused with baking soda or enzymes, and a light dusting or spraying over the litter will do the best job of masking the odor.
Even if you keep a clean litter box, you can still find cat odors and stains around the house.
5 - Mix in the tea leaves.
It may seem like a strange solution, but green tea leaves have antibacterial properties and are excellent at absorbing odors. Simply dry a few leaves, grind them, and mix them with the whip.
If you're concerned about your cat eating the leaves, you can dry them and mix them in before you drink them. Just make sure that you brew the tea before using it in the garbage.