How to Deal with Litter Box Smells

Cats are excellent housemates, though they bring with them certain smells that are undeniably awful. The litter box is usually ground zero for these scents, and there are some very easy ways you can avoid and reduce the unpleasant odours given off by regular use.

Litter Box

The first thing to tackle is the right litter box. Most cats require a few inches of depth to bury their business when they finish, but beyond that, some cats – especially larger ones – will need a box with higher walls. Higher walls prevent the litter they scrape up from being flung over the sides and onto the floor.

People have been investing in electronic or “robotic” litter boxes with some of the less expensive boxes in this category creating headlines for trapping or injuring cats, therefore we do not endorse using these.

Something else worth keeping in mind is that plastic litter boxes tend to hold on to smell after long-term use. Be sure to replace them with relative frequency or invest in metal litter pans.

Type of Litter

There are plenty of different types of litter available. Pretty Litter is a great brand for households who want to keep a close eye on their cat’s health. It changes colour to indicate changes in their system, and is a tad expensive, though, so it’s not for everyone.

Lightweight litters are fantastic, as they weigh less despite the volume of litter received. They are also great for reducing dust. These litters have been getting more expensive as well, but not as much as the fancier ones.

Clay litters are still available, and cats enjoy using them, but they are heavy and generate a ton of dust. With all that in mind, the price is often pretty good so your dollar does go further.

*Note: Scented litters are your worst enemy if smell is an issue. Scented litters may smell nice as soon as you pour them into the box, but they soon mix with your kitty’s waste, creating a smell far worse than anything you would experience with a scentless litter. Scentless is almost always the way to go.

Scooping

Scooping the litter every day is one of the best ways to stay on top of cat scent. It might sound like lots of work, but if you do it daily, the workload is never too much – and neither is the smell!

Replacing

Even if you do scoop litter daily, you’ll want to replace all the litter periodically to prevent residual smells from building up. Scooping is excellent, but it doesn’t pick up every single element left behind by your cat.

Stay Away from Chemicals

Your cat may create a strong scent from using the box, but when you go to clean it or to try to deal with the smell, do not use chemical products – especially heavily scented ones. These smells are extra harsh for your cat, and there is a chance the interaction with the chemicals could irritate their skin.

Baking Soda

One method for adding a little extra ammo to your anti-smell operation is the use of baking soda. Baking soda does a great job of absorbing and disposing of negative smells. It’s also natural enough that it likely won’t bother your kitty!

Box Location

Another element we should mention is location. The place you put your cat box will have a direct impact on how badly things smell in your home. A box by the front door, or in a washroom, will likely have an effect on you and your guests at some point, so places like the basement or a room more dedicated to the cats would work best.

Dispose of Used Litter Immediately

There are some products out there that claim to store litter without letting the scent out, and they might do a great job, but the best course of action is to dispose of it directly. When scooping, scoop into a sealable plastic bag, then take that bag and put it outside in the garbage bins. Scooping into the garbage in your home will only make the smell worse as it interacts with other garbage.