Cat ownership can hold a list of rewarding experiences. Taking care of your cat's litter box would not make that list. For many people, it may be the one thing to deter them from owning a cat - the odor of the litter box being the main factor. It is definitely something you need to consider before diving into the world of cat fancy.
Odor from a litter box can be contained, believe it or not. It just is one of those things that require diligence in regular maintenance. The first item on the list is a proper litter box. This depends on the size, age and number of cats you will have. Small cats, young or old, can use a standard, non-jumbo sized litter box - unless it is a multi-cat household. Multi-cat, elder cats and large cats need a jumbo sized litter box. The litter will be filled up faster and the cats will need more room. Cats might not always master the concept of containment when it comes to using the litter box, so proper space should be considered. You will realize this if you get a cat that will scrape the litter over the edge of the container. If your cat(s) seem to accept a covered litter box, you can contain the litter and its odor much better.
The next key to reducing the litter box odor depends on your tolerance level and how often you take the effort contain the odor. The litter box should at least be checked daily for the level of solids left. Most cats are good about actually burying solids in the litter, whereas others don't do much beyond pushing litter in the general direction. Fecal odor is the hardest to clear out but is more short term than urine if it is covered or removed promptly. Going more than two days for solid waste removal is pushing it if you want an odor free cat area; three or more is just looking for the smell to permeate the part of the home where the litter is located. Urine waste usually reaches the saturation limit in three or four days, again depending on the size, age and number of cats using the litter. Large cats, of course pee a lot more, and multi-cats fill it up faster. For these cases, make it two days minimum for replacement of the saturated litter. If you have zero tolerance for waste odor, you might take the approach of a shallow litter level placed in a plastic box liner with a draw string.
Once you have your cat(s), litter box and litter, follow these tips in keeping the odors under control:
1 - Strategic location. Choose a room or corner of the home where there is less traffic to place the litter container. Small homes and apartments make this difficult, so the bathroom is the ideal place. An area with tile, wood or linoleum floors make odors much, much easier to contain.
2 - Grooming. Litter and waste odor is sometimes carried along with the cat. Check often for litter in the paws or waste that left the litter box with the cat on its paws, fur and rear end.
3 - Litter area cleaned. Check the area around the litter box daily and clean as needed. Tracking is a big cause of odor. Keeping a textured pad around the pan where the cat(s) exit will help contain it. You can see the benefit of covered litter boxes in this case. Sweep and mop, or vacuum and shampoo the area weekly to prevent permanent odor damage. When carpeted areas are the only option, protect using a small area rug, throw or plastic lay. (like the ones used for home office chairs.)
4 - Deodorizer. Arm and Hammer, among others, put out litter box deodorizer that you place in the bottom of the pan, underneath the litter. It absorbs much of the odor effectively.
5 - Remove odor. Do not try and mask odors with products like Glade, Febreeze or fragrant deodorizers. Cat odor is no joke, masking it will only make it harder to eliminate later - remove it promptly before it permeates or becomes permanent.
6 - Maintain the container. Litter box liners are the best way to do this. If you prefer not to use liners, remember that cat urine will eventually make a litter pan unusable if not washed thoroughly between litter changes. Cats may scratch through the liners, so you may need to wash the container once in a while as well. Many cats may unwittingly smear waste on the edges or walls of a container as they try and bury it - watch for this when cleaning.
7 - Automate. If you are in a situation where you can't change the litter as often as you like because of work or travel, purchase an automated litter removal system. Take caution on this one, the motor and parts noises may send your cat scrambling for its life. It will most likely take training over time to get this to work.
However you approach it, odor control takes maintenance with any pet. Cat litter box odors can be kept in check. And once you get your system down, it becomes less painful as it sounds. Cats prefer to have the waste buried and will groom themselves constantly. You just need to be there on the sidelines to make sure it doesn't get out of hand.