7 Easy Ways To Stop Cat Litter From Smelling

by John Griffith
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Having a cat at home can bring you real happiness. You have this little furry friend that is the sweetest, cutest, little bundle of joy that you can play with, snuggle and hang out with. However, it’s all fun and games until you hear the cat litter being thrown around. Then you get hit with a smell so foul that you wonder how such a sweet creature can even produce it. A smelly litter box can be quite the nightmare, as the smell eventually starts to linger through your whole house. On the bright side, there are plenty of ways to minimize the bad odor. That’s why today we will spill all the secrets and show you how to stop cat litter from smelling.

It’s all fun and games until you hear the cat litter being thrown around

stop cat litter from smelling orange cat sitting in litter box

Having a cat at home can bring you real happiness

black and white cat on green background

How To Stop Cat Litter From Smelling

It truly is amazing how such a small, adorable creature can produce some of the most noxious smells known to mankind. The fact is litter boxes can get really stinky. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit there and take it. If you are sick and tired from being bombed with nasty smells, it’s time to take matters into your own paws and start using the following tips and tricks to minimize the odors emanating from the box.

How can such a small creature produce the most noxious smell known to mankind

cat sitting in a cardboard box

The fact is litter boxes can get really stinky

cat in litter box scaled

#Clean Daily

This one may seem obvious and annoying, but it is one of the surest ways to deal with stinky litter boxes. The best way to reduce the smell is to eliminate its cause. This means making sure you scoop out the litter box at least once a day and get rid of all the waste. Then just place the waste in a tightly closed bin and you are good to go. A clean litter box is not only good for your nose but also minimizes the chance of your cat doing its business somewhere you don’t want it to. Cats like to go in a clean litter box and might get annoyed if they have to deal with navigating through their own waste to find a spot.

The best way to reduce the smell is to eliminate its cause

scooping litter box with shovel

#Regular Washing

Cleaning out your litter box on the daily, isn’t the only cleaning you should be doing. Your cat’s litter box should also be washed thoroughly at least once per month, but preferably every two weeks and have new, fresh litter be put in. Just take some rubber gloves, soap, and water and clean the box. Don’t use any harsh chemicals like bleach or cleaners, as the smell can be too overpowering for your cat’s nose and cause them to avoid using the box. After you’ve scrubbed it nicely, just dry it and place the litter of your choice.

Your cat’s litter box should also be washed thoroughly at least once per month

person putting on gloves

#Ventilate

For our human minds it’s logical to put the litter box somewhere far away from common rooms and livable spaces. We usually tuck the litter box somewhere small and confined. This is understandable, as we also keep our toilet far away and confined. However, all this does for the cat litter is to concentrate the space in one area. Since the smell has no way of dissipating, you end up with a stinky spot. That’s why it’s important to place it in a space that gets plenty of ventilation, but isn’t drafty. You need to be ventilating the space on the regular, so the smell can escape.

Put the litter box in a well ventilated space

cat on windowsill

#Baking Soda

Baking soda is a household hero. It can do pretty much anything around the house. From cleaning tough stains to deodorizing the litter box. You can sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the box before you add in the fresh litter. However, if your cat seems to mind this addition to their litter, you can always place baking soda in a container in the same area as the litter. This will help absorb some of the nasty smells without adding any perfumed irritants, like deodorized litters, teas, and essential oils that may upset your cat’s nose and cause them to do their business elsewhere.

You can sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the box

baking soda from a jar

#Change Litter Boxes

Most litter boxes are made from plastic. Over time the plastic gets all scratched up from all the frequent clawing your cat s doing while trying to bury their waste. While these marks may not seem like a big deal, they are actually a great place for bacteria to hide in. Over time said bacteria starts to build up quite the smelly residence, even if you are strict with your cleaning schedule. That’s why it’s strongly recommended to get a new litter box at least once per year. This will ensure no pent-up bacteria is stinking up your cat’s toilet alongside their stinky business.

It’s strongly recommended to get a new litter box at least once per year

stop cat litter from smelling cat next to big black litter box

#Better Boxes

One common mistake cat owners make is not having enough litter boxes. You need to have +1 box for every number of cat’s you have in your household. But the lack of boxes may not be the only problem. You also need to consider the box size. Cat’s like to have personal space in the box and need to have plenty of space to move around and bury their waste. It’s also important that your litter box has a way of ventilation. Closed liter boxes may seem like a great idea, but the truth is that they trap in the odor, and may cause your cat to stop using it, resulting in unwanted waste around the house.

One common mistake cat owners make is not having enough litter boxes

cat laying head against litter box

#New Diet

Just like humans, a cat’s diet can affect the smell of their waste. There might be something in your kitty’s food that just isn’t agreeing with their digestive tract. Once you figure out what may be causing the issue, you will be able to reduce the amount of nasty smells your pet produces when they use the litter box. Some problematic ingredients may include wheat, soy, corn, and milk. However, each cat is different so you may want to try an elimination diet and try different food brands to see if there is a difference in smell.

Just like humans, a cat’s diet can affect the smell of their waste

cat eating cat food

These were some of the best ways to stop cat litter from smelling. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can start trying out these tips and tricks and no longer deal with the bad litter box smell.

These were some of the best ways to stop cat litter from smelling

grey cat laying in hammock

No more stinky smells taking over your home

black and white cat in tunnel

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John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.