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Cats are notoriously clean. They are always grooming themselves and are very picky about using a dirty bathroom. Yet there are certain odors that will most likely exist no matter how clean your cat is.

Your cat itself should never have an odor. Although she will most likely groom herself often, you should aid her by brushing her daily. A dual purpose "brush on one side/wire comb on the other" is available at most pet stores. This will help remove dead skin, dander, and loose hair. Not only will her fur look nice, but she should also be huggable. If needed, pre moistened cloths can clean kitty with the joy of petting and without the torture of water.

If kitty has bad breath, it could be from canned food or dental problems, and this should be discussed with the veterinarian. In between dental checkups/cleaning, you can help keep kitty's teeth and gums strong and fresh with hard treats. The treats have to be crunchy to help clean away plaque buildup.

The main potential odor threat will come from the litter box. Ultimately, you have control over this. If you clean the litter box at least once daily (more if you have multiple cats), there should be no odor. Scoop the dirty litter into a bag and tie it off to prevent any smells from leaking out of the bag. (And take the trash out as soon as possible; it is poop after all.). Smooth the litter evenly in the box and replace litter as needed. You will routinely need to thoroughly clean the entire litter box and replace it with a fresh new batch of litter. This will need to be done weekly or monthly depending on the type of litter you use. You can also line the bottom of the litter pan with baking soda as well as sprinkle some in with each cleaning. If litter odor remains a problem, experiment with different types of litter until you find the one that works best for you.

The real odor problem exists if your cat begins spraying. They do this for a variety of reasons: stress, change, anger/unhappy, age, etc. There are many products on the market that addresses pet odor. However, if you can't modify kitty's behavior, nothing will eliminate the smell. A cat hormone spray may keep kitty from spraying a particular area. You may also need to confine kitty to a bathroom for a couple of weeks until she changes her behavior. In the meantime, you must clean the mess. A black light will help you find the soiled areas. Then use an enzyme cleaner and follow the directions of the manufacturer. (Forget using other household products because of chemical interactions.) After cleaning, use the black light to check the results and see what areas are still soiled. Be forewarned that you may need to replace carpeting if kitty has been saturating the spot for a while and you did not stop her in time.

In summary, the essential odor control items mentioned above are:
Brush/comb
Pre moistened bath cloths
Hard treats
Litter (one that works for you and kitty)
Baking soda
Hormone spray
Black light
Enzyme cleaner

Good luck and hopefully you never need to buy everything on this list!

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Koerbl.
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