by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: January 25, 2009

You share many precious moments with your furry feline: from nose kisses to playful games and so much more. However, that odor coming from your cat's litter box is something that you may not want to share with your feline companion. Fortunately, there are many things that can be done before you decide to purchase an air purifier and a mask.

1) Choose the Litter Wisely

There are so many different types of litter available that the thought of choosing one may make your head spin. There are of course good litters and bad litters. You usually get what you pay for. One of the best litter types are the ones that resemble crystals. These crystals effectively absorb odors and last longer. The price to pay may be more than others but you ultimately save in the long run because they usually last more.

2) Invest in Covered Litter boxes

These are litter boxes that have a hood preventing the unpleasant smells from escaping. It may take a little while for the cat to get accustomed to entering and exiting this type of litter box but most ultimately get the idea. Some are even made to camouflage in the home. They may resemble a vase or a night stands and blend in perfectly with the home's furniture.

3) Premium Foods

Diet plays a big role in smell. Usually, cheap foods found in supermarkets are full of fillers. Fillers are substances like corn or grains that you will see listed on the dry food bag. A good premium cat food will contain meat listed as chicken, fish or beef without the word byproduct in it. A byproduct means it is meat coming from a rendering plant. Not very good indeed! Canned food may help reduce the smell because it mostly does not have fillers. A cat's feces though will always have a certain unpleasant smell because of the protein content in their foods (horse and cow manure on the other hand are not that offensive).

4) Scoop as Necessary

Of course if you allow the cat's waste to build up over and over, the smell will get overwhelming. Scooping as necessary will help keep odors under control. If you feed food at certain intervals you may therefore expect the cat to evacuate at periodic intervals making it easier to scoop out as necessary.

5) Wash Routinely

At least once a week, clean the litter box and lid with hot soapy water and a little bleach. Replace with new litter. This helps get rid of bacteria that causes lingering odor while ensuring a more hygienic environment for your cat. It also helps to clean with bleach and water the underlying floor and surrounding area where the litter box is places.

6) Toilet Training

More and more people are toilet training their cats. Many books have been developed to provide guidelines and tips on how to toilet rain cats. There are also special kits that aid in toilet training. While your cat may not be able to learn how to flush a toilet, toilet training will allow the smells to be kept at bay.

A stinky litter box does not have to necessarily interfere with the wonderful relationship you have with your cat. By following some simple tips you may be able to effectively keep your home odor free and enjoy your cat at the fullest.

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