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Litter box odor is stressful for cats, and embarrassing for owners. These tips and tricks will help reduce gross litter box smells in your home.
“What’s that smell?” My grandmother tottered through the door of my condo.
“Smells like the cat box,” my grandpa said, stepping through behind her.
“Yes, smells like cats in here. Unless that’s dinner cooking!” Although she was joking, the look on her face said it all.
My grandparents had come to visit from hundreds of miles away, and I’d forgotten to scoop the litter box.
The beet-red of embarrassment crept up my face. “Hi! Come in! Sorry! I’ll be right back!” I turned toward the bathroom to remedy the problem, and shake off my humiliation.
A smelly litter box can wreak havoc on a home. Along with clutter and other messes, the smell of a dirty litter box can cause extra stress when you walk through the door Plus, it’s embarrassing and gross.
Don’t you wish your house didn’t smell like a stinky litter box? Can you imagine a day where that gross stench isn’t drifting through the air, but your kitty is still keeping you company?
I Fought Litter Box Odor and Won
I’ve had 3 cats for several years. Before buying my house, I owned a 970-square-foot condo. I had 2 litter boxes in the condo, and things used to get pretty smelly by the end of the day.
I used to hate having a friend drop by when I hadn’t had time to scoop the litter box. The smell was terrible and embarrassing! Plus, our cats were stressed and unhappy because of their dirty litter boxes.
As a result, we started using a Cat Genie self-cleaning litter box. We kept a traditional litter box as a backup, just in case the Cat Genie wasn’t available. We learned how to control litter box odor, and we’ve been pros at it ever since.
If you’re interested in getting rid of your cat’s traditional litter box and making the switch to a self-cleaning box, you can read my review of the Cat Genie. We still use and love ours after more than 4 years.
If you’re sticking with a traditional litter box, no worries. We still have our backup box as well. It takes some work, but with the right tools, you can eliminate litter box odor for good.
How to Eliminate Litter Box Odor
The key to getting rid of stinky litter box odor is 2-fold: Using effective products, and frequent cleaning. Let’s look at products first. Scroll down to keep reading, or check out my video on how to eliminate litter box odor!
Products to Help Get Rid of Litter Box Odor
There are tons of cat litters on the market today. Plus all kinds of other products. It might be confusing to figure out where to start if you want to eliminate litter box odor. Here are the tools I’ve found to be the most effective, and why.
Clumping Cat Litter
My first piece of advice is to use a clumping cat litter.
A clumping litter more effectively eliminates waste and allows you to scoop out all dirty litter. Non-clumping litters can still be coated with urine, even after you scoop out solids. Urine-soaked litter leads to stinky litter box odor! Clumping litter binds liquid into clay-like chunks that you can easily scoop out.
By far, my favorite clumping litter is Arm & Hammer Multi-Cat Clump & Seal Clumping Litter. There’s no dust, it’s great at controlling odor, and it clumps liquids tightly for easy scooping.
Litter Deodorizer
Although clumping cat litter works great, using a litter deodorizer can also help control icky litter box odor. It adds an extra layer of protection by helping reduce waste smells.
We’ve used Arm & Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer with Activated Baking Soda for years. It’s no substitute for regular scooping, but it does help the box smell fresher for longer. Mix it in with clean litter after scooping, and you’re good to go.
Sturdy Scoop with Thin Slits
Have you ever tried scooping a giant clump of urine-soaked litter with a flimsy plastic scoop? It’s a recipe for disaster!
Metal scoops are sturdy and easier to clean. A scoop with thin slits also means that smaller litter clumps won’t fall through as you’re trying to scoop them. Fewer waste clumps in the litter box means less litter box odor.
Covered Litter Box
Choosing the right litter box can have a big impact on reducing litter box odor. Before we got our Cat Genie, we had 2 Pet Mate Litter Domes. They are fully-enclosed other than a small entrance. They also use a charcoal filter to help reduce litter box smell.
Scoop the Litter Box Twice Per Day
Simple fact: The more you scoop, the less it smells. As a result, you’ll probably want to scoop each litter box in your home at least twice per day. Before you leave for work and before you go to bed are usually great options.
If you have multiple cats and you’re scooping twice per day, you might still have significant litter box odor. This is usually a sign that you need to add another litter box in your home, because your cats are going often enough that you can’t keep up with scooping.
Change Out Litter and Wash Box Weekly
If you choose to go with a non-clumping litter, you’ll want to change it out weekly.
If you’re using clumping litter, you still might want to change it out every 7-10 days. This is because even with a thin-slitted scoop, tiny clumped particles will still fall through the cracks. As a result, the unclumped litter in the pan will become dirty over time.
Washing the box prevents gross gunk from building up at the bottom of the box. That gunk can be a huge source of litter box odor! Your cat will also thank you, because she won’t be stepping in it and getting it all over her paws.
Too Much Work?
If all of this sounds like too much work for you, you might want to consider getting a Cat Genie. Cat Genies are completely self-scooping and self-washing. They’re great for cats and humans alike, because the litter box is almost always clean, with virtually no maintenance required. Check out my Cat Genie review and Cat Genie FAQ’s to see if it’s right for your home.
How to Eliminate Litter Box Odor: Conclusion
Keeping smelly litter boxes at bay takes the right products and consistent effort. It’s totally doable, though! You and your cat will both be happier. Friends and family (especially grandmas!) won’t have to smell your cat before they see her! Here’s a summary of how to get rid of litter box smell:
- Use clumping cat litter
- Mix litter deodorizer with clean litter after scooping
- Use a sturdy metal scoop with thin slits to catch smaller clumps of waste
- Get a covered litter box to contain litter box odor
- Scoop each litter box twice per day, and add more litter boxes if needed
- Change out litter and wash litter boxes weekly
- Consider the Cat Genie if you want a self-cleaning litter box
What’s your biggest frustration with keeping the litter box clean? Let me know in the comments below!
Good details on the scooper, I have plastic one will change.