If you have a cat, you know the smell of a litter box all too well. It's something that only goes away slowly and can be a real problem for many cat parents. There are more than a few ways to get rid of the cat box smell — but none of them are entirely effective. It's the combination of several ways that will make the most impact.
Here are some tips for reducing litter box odor:
Use a cat litter mat to prevent tracking.
Cats tend to track litter and feces onto the floor as they enter and exit their litter boxes. This can lead to unpleasant smells and the spread of bacteria, which could cause illnesses to you and your family. One of the best ways to prevent this is with a litter mat.
Mats will catch stray pieces of litter and feces before they can spread around your house, and they'll keep them in one place so they don't ruin your hardwood floors or stick to your carpeting. By catching these pieces of litter and excrement before they can spread outside the box, you're making it much easier to clean up later without worrying about spreading germs around your home.
Scoop out solids at least twice daily.
Scooping the litter box at least twice daily is one of the most important things you can do to keep your cat happy and healthy. Cats are very clean, so they prefer a clean place to do their business. They also like to bury their waste, so if you don't scoop out solids at least once per day or whenever it becomes visible on top of the litter (or before your cat gets all territorial), they will continue using that spot and get frustrated with having no place else to go. This can lead to inappropriate urination outside of the box! And we don't want that, do we?!
If you don't scoop regularly, there's also a good chance that your cat won't use its box anymore because she doesn't want to step in a dirty litter!
Keep the cat box in a well-ventilated area
Moving the little box to a larger room with better ventilation will help the odors disperse before they can make your little friend too smelly.
If you're trying to find a good place for your little box, we suggest these tips:
Put it in an open space
The best places for your litter box are those with plenty of ventilation and sunlight. This way, it will always have fresh air coming in and going out. While you may have a basement or garage that is the perfect location for your litter box, ensure plenty of natural light comes through the windows. This will help keep the smells down and make it easier to clean up after your cat.
Avoid small spaces with poor ventilation
While some people put their litter boxes inside small cabinets or closets with good intentions, this can make the odor build up faster than if it were in a larger room with better ventilation. If you live in an apartment building or condo community where there are not many options for where to put your litter box, then hiding it in a small cabinet might be necessary - just make sure to clean it out regularly. Otherwise, put it somewhere where there is plenty of air circulation so that there will be fresh air inside no matter what time of year it is outside.
Use a Colorfil air filter to capture the smell in your entire home.
It could be that the smell of the litter box has spread throughout the entire home. If that's the case, a simple, quick, and effective solution is to replace your HVAC and furnace filters with filters specially manufactured to capture and neutralize pet odors, like Colorfil air filters.
From kitchen and bathroom odors to strong pet odors like that from a little box, Colorfil's filters attract, capture, and neutralize smelly odors while also capturing other airborne particles resulting in clean, fresh air. And how would you know it's working? In addition to smelling the difference, Colorfil's filters change color from pink to yellow to gray as it cleans your air. This color-shift feature also helps you to know when it's time to replace your filter.
Colorfil air filters can be installed by anyone—you don't need special skills or tools! Just follow these instructions carefully:
- Remove the filter from the plastic casing. If you've purchased a pack of two or more, we highly encourage you to keep the plastic bag intact and closed to limit the exposure to indoor air.
- Locate the arrows printed on the sides that show you which way they are supposed to be installed. These arrows should point in the direction that air flows through your system, away from the supply ducts and toward the blower.
- Remove your existing filter and insert your new Colorfil filter into the designated opening in your HVAC system. Be sure the arrows are pointing in the direction of airflow.
Colorfil filters are available for purchase through our website. And if this is your first time learning about Colorfil filters, don't forget to enter your email on the popup for a one-time 15% discount code.
See our filters HERE.
Make sure your cat has a stress-free home environment.
It may not seem so, but maintaining a stress-free home environment can influence the overall health and cleanliness of you and your cat, ultimately affecting the condition of your cat's litter box.
Cats are susceptible to stress and can easily detect it in the people they live with. Awareness of your personal stress levels and the overall mood of the home is an essential step in delivering a fine home living condition for your cats.
The location of the cat box and its surroundings play an important role in creating a calm environment as well. This includes keeping the cat box in an area where it is clean and free of dust and crumbs, as these attract bugs which could cause illness for your cat. Also, make sure there are no sharp objects nearby that might hurt your furry friend when digging and playing.
Ultimately, the best thing you could do for your cat and yourself is to spend time with them every day. If you have a cat or twenty, spend time loving them. Like humans, Cats love spending time with their families.
See your vet about any health problems your cat may be having.
If you're a cat owner, there's one thing you've probably learned to pay attention to your cat's poop. It's certainly not the most enjoyable topic, but it is one of the best ways to gauge how well your pet is doing.
In fact, if you notice any changes in your cat's waste, it could be a sign that they aren't feeling so chipper. We suggest having them checked out by your vet as soon as possible. There may be something serious going on, so it's important to rule it out as quickly as possible.
Some issues have easy solutions, while others are far more serious. Regardless of the cause, it's essential to quickly determine what's causing the problem to give your cat the best chance of recovery.
Keeping your home and litter box clean and fresh is important for your cat's health and your own peace of mind. If your litter box smells less than fresh, don't fret. Consider the tips provided, and you're on your way to bringing freshness that you, your family, and your cute furry baby will surely enjoy.