by Bridie Cavanaugh

Created on: January 24, 2009

There are many joys to owning cats. They offer companionship, humor and love. They are a part of our families and make our lives interesting. However, they also come with one very large, smelly issue. Litter box odor! Odor can be hard to combat and leaves guests asking "how many cats do you have?" Here are some suggestions on how to reduce litter box odor.

Litter Box - Cats are naturally inclined to use sand/dirt for their "bathroom". This is why cats are easily trained to use litter boxes. You may have to experiment with types of boxes and litter. If you feel the litter box itself is getting a little aromatic, it should be emptied and then washed with water and vinegar.

Have at least one litter box available for each cat in your household, plus one extra box.

The box should be large enough for the cat to turn around and the entrance should be low enough for them to gain easy access.

A covered litter box can help keep odor down. However, they can also trap odors and must be scooped daily. Out of sight should not mean out of mind.

Boxes are available which offer "lift and sift" liner pans which reduce your need to scoop.

There are many new boxes available which offer self-cleaning options.

Litter - Cats can be very fussy about their litter. You may need to use a "trial and error" method until you settle on something your cat likes. Fill the litter box with about one and a half to two inches of litter unless the instructions say otherwise. If switching between litters do so gradually. Litter should be scooped daily and the box completely emptied and refilled at least once a week.

Clumping litter contains clay which absorbs the urine. Clumping litter which contains sodium bentonite should not be used by kittens.

Crystal litter is silica based and does a great job at covering odor. It is more absorbent than clay and through expensive requires less litter overall.

Pine based litter has a nice "woodsy" smell and comes in either pellets or shavings.

There are many other specialty litters available in different textures, scents and ingredients.

Other - There are many additional things you can do to reduce litter box odor.

Newspaper can be used to line the bottom of the box and add an extra layer of absorption.

There are commercial additives specifically designed for use with cat litter. Products such as Arm & Hammer Cat Litter Deodorizer can be mixed into the litter to reduce odor. You can also mix in generic baking soda.

An odor absorber can be placed on the cover of the box or in close vicinity.

For natural odor absorption , volcanic rock, which can be found in the garden section of your local store, can be placed in a net bag and hung near the box. This rock can be "recharged" by being left out in the sun for a day or two.

Hepa air filters work well to mask odors. They work especially well in small spaces and will also help clear the air of allergens.

The best way to keep your litter box smelling fresh is regular cleaning. Scoop daily and refill with fresh litter as needed. Completely switch over all of the litter at least once a week and when necessary wash out the box. These steps, along with one of the extra odor absorption suggestions listed above, will keep your box and your house smelling fresh and clean. Your friends will wonder what happened to your cat!

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