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My House Smells Like a Litter Box

House Cat

House Cat

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,602
I have two litter boxes for one little cat. She’s totally rotten inside! I clean the boxes everyday but my house still reeks! I can’t buy the robot litter boxes. For those of you who don’t have those, have you conquered this smell? If so, how?
 
I used to use that Arm & Hammer litter deodorizer, which I think helped (in addition to daily cleaning). But I’d almost think - with two litter boxes - you’re doubling the odds of that smell. Why not just go with one litter box?
 
Get rid of carpet, fabric furniture and draperies that might have the smell in it etc. We have all wood floors,leather furniture and practically no curtains.

We use worlds best cat litter for multiple cats red. Really works. We only have 3 litter boxes for our 4 kitties and there is absolutely no litter or cat smell. Anyone who visits us always can’t believe we have any cats let alone 4.

And of course daily litter cleaning and vacuuming.

HTH.
 
the_mother_thing said:
I used to use that Arm & Hammer litter deodorizer, which I think helped (in addition to daily cleaning). But I’d almost think - with two litter boxes - you’re doubling the odds of that smell. Why not just go with one litter box?
Click to expand...

Cats like options. Definitely want more than one litter box. IMO. And each one will stay clean longer that way too.
 
Ditto on the Arm & Hammer litter deodorizer and daily cleaning.
 
Forgot to add we also completely clean the litter boxes every 2 weeks. That is empty it out and wash it and refill with all clean litter.
 
We use the tidy cat breeze system. We substitute out the pellets for equine pine pellets (40lb bag for $6!). Absolutely amazing. Seriously no smell. Scoop the poop and flush daily. Change the pad about once a week. The pine neutralizes the urine smell.
Plus, no litter to fill the land mines up!
 
I hve two cats and two litter boxes. I don’t think my house smells, mostly bc people who have come over tell me they can’t believe I have two cats (and two dogs and a rabbit [and a turtle]).
Are you sure she’s going in the right place? I had a car previously who I thought was going in the litter box bc I was always emptying it out but it turns out he was also going on my sofa and my bathroom rugs. He even peed on our beds. sad :((
I use fresh step multicat with febreeze. It comes in bags of 4. I love it.
 
kayla17 said:
I hve two cats and two litter boxes. I don’t think my house smells, mostly bc people who have come over tell me they can’t believe I have two cats (and two dogs and a rabbit [and a turtle]).
Are you sure she’s going in the right place? I had a car previously who I thought was going in the litter box bc I was always emptying it out but it turns out he was also going on my sofa and my bathroom rugs. He even peed on our beds. sad :((
I use fresh step multicat with febreeze. It comes in bags of 4. I love it.
Click to expand...
When i first got her, she went on my bed a couple of times. I treated the bedding with anti-icky poo and began feeding her on the beds in the house to stop her from using the beds as litter boxes.

Then, when this smell started to permeate through the house, I bought a urine detection kit and went through the house. I didn’t find any spots of urine anywhere.

I think i’m Going to change out her litter to the one @missy suggested. I was using a walnut product because my little dog keeps trying to eat my cat’s poop. I think we have that pretty much under control now.

I’m not sure I can change all of my decor. I do have hard floors already...but we just bought one couch and aren’t planning on replacing the other until we move. Both cloth..but one has washable slipcovers.

I feed her wellness dry and wet cat food. Do you think that could be contributing to the stink? It isn’t just urine...when she poops, the whole house stinks. You have to clean it right away or you feel as though you’re sitting in a toilet.
 
Is the smell coming from the litter boxes? Are you sure she isn't peeing outside of them or spraying in the house?

I notice mine smells more in the summer with the humidity. I just try to clean the box a lot and you can sprinkle backing soda in there when you clean it to keep the odors away. Hope that helps!
 
Sorry I just saw that you responded to Kayla after I posted.

I had a cat who would stink up the box something awful when she was stressed out, it wasn't all the time and we couldn't figure out what was causing the stress. That's not super helpful but thought I would mention in case there is maybe something new in the house that could be causing her to stress.
 
Changing the cats food worked for a friend of mine.
I dont remember the brand but one brand of dry food and a few different flavors of canned food will give his cat knock you out smelling poo.
 
Feistyred said:
We use the tidy cat breeze system. We substitute out the pellets for equine pine pellets (40lb bag for $6!). Absolutely amazing. Seriously no smell. Scoop the poop and flush daily. Change the pad about once a week. The pine neutralizes the urine smell.
Plus, no litter to fill the land mines up!
Click to expand...

I did that until I learned that it’s actually really bad for marine life.

https://petsonbroadway.com/blogs/expert-advice/how-cat-poop-affects-marine-animals

Since toxoplasmosis is becoming more common in marine mammals, Dr. Gulland says, “felid fecal material must be entering the marine ecosystem.” If you flush your cat’s feces down the toilet, you may be spreading the parasite without realizing it.

Wastewater treatment plants cannot eradicate oocysts. Neither chlorine nor ultraviolet light can fully destroy them.
Click to expand...

Here’s a recent news article about the impact:
http://bigislandnow.com/2018/06/18/cat-feces-linked-to-hawaiian-monk-seal-deaths/
 
As @StephanieLynn metioned above, she may be peeing somewhere else, in the vicinity of the litter box.
I read online (Jackson Galaxy) that cats sometimes pee several feet outside the box in an invisible (to us) arc to mark their area. Or she could be going under or behind furniture, or spraying the walls, curtains, etc.
Sometimes you gotta catch them in the act to find out where this may be happening.
 
She’s not peeing outside the litter box. I’ve checked with a black light and goggles.
 
Also I use covered litter boxes. One of my cats is really messy. She sits and pushes around the cat litter for 10 minutes before and after she goes. Is you box covered. I find that helps with the smell too.
 
I don't like the cat deodorizer bc it has a fragrance. I'd rather add plain old baking Soda.

Not a fan of worlds best cat litter bc in the spring time when my parents would have the sliding glass doors open, the ants would walk in through the screen and carry off the corn litter.

Try the clever cat litter box. Doggy won't be able to access "little doggy tootsie rolls" so easily. I had 1 for 3 cats. I know.... shameful...lolol. I scooped 2x a day and never had odor issues. I only got the litter robot when I got cat number 4.

I stick with clumping litter - dr. Elsey.

I also have very well behaved and trained girls. (The antithesis of their mama:lol-2:).
 
Covered litter box. We use wood cat litter, no smell and it hasn’t got as much of an environmental impact as clay
 
I swear by the Breeze litter system. It's light years better than anything I've used before.
 
Five cats, four litterboxes.

Some things we've done (or are doing) to mitigate smell, stray litter, and fur:
- Minimizing fabric - carpet, drapes, rugs, cushions... all trap materials and odour :sick:
- We keep windows open and fans on unless the weather is truly abominable. There's really no deodorizing system as thorough and cleansing as fresh air!
- One of ours has chronic digestive issues. Our vet suggested a sprinkle of Metamucil over his wet food - he's responded reasonably well, and it doesn't hurt the others if they happen to get into it.
- This stuff is cheap and insanely effective - a little sprinkle and a quick vacuum ten or fifteen minutes later does wonders: https://www.target.com/p/arm-hammer-pet-fresh-carpet-odor-eliminator-30-oz/-/A-14773271
 
We have 4 cats and 3 litter boxes. People who visit are surprised to find cats since our house doesn't smell like them. (Yay!)

Litter is scooped daily (into plastic grocery bags and taken out immediately). All litter is dumped and replaced with new once per week. (Additional litter added midweek as needed.) Baking soda added once per week. Boxes sit on puppy training pads that are swapped out as needed or once per week.

We also have whole house hepa filtration plus a separate air purifier (hepa) in our bedroom (where one box is).
 
We have 2 kitties and two covered litter boxes, but we only have one box in use at a time -- so we can swap them out easily each day and clean the other one. We use Arm & Hammer and have found it to be the best for odor. We also use the Johnny Cat Heavy Duty liners, and they seem to work well. I'm very interested in the World's Best Cat Litter, as I have been hearing a lot about it lately... Is it a game changer? ...what's the deal? @missy

Our kitties are very messy with litter - they can somehow track it out all over the house. Thankfully, we have hard wood floors, so not a disaster. One thing that grosses me out is that they urinate on the sides of the litter box... still inside, but it stays on the liner and makes cleaning disgusting. Anyone have a similar issue?? Suggestions??

ETA: We have to vacuum every other day... and could really vacuum near the box several times a day, if I'm being honest.
 
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I have one cat that urinates right on the side of the box and he never covers it up. He is big too so when he pees it is a huge amount. They only thing I do is just cover it up with some car litter so it clumps. Also I purchased a covered cat litter box with a higher back. And a metal scooper. They are the best. My plastic one felt like it was about to break every time I used it.
We vacuum everyday too. I bought those really inexpensive stick vacuums and keep one in each bathroom, one in the kitchen and one in the garage. It’s great for just needing a quick picker upper. I have four kids and three are girls so they are great in the bathrooms for the hair and cat litter (I have a box in my bathroom).
 
kayla17 said:
I have one cat that urinates right on the side of the box and he never covers it up. He is big too so when he pees it is a huge amount. They only thing I do is just cover it up with some car litter so it clumps. Also I purchased a covered cat litter box with a higher back. And a metal scooper. They are the best. My plastic one felt like it was about to break every time I used it.
We vacuum everyday too. I bought those really inexpensive stick vacuums and keep one in each bathroom, one in the kitchen and one in the garage. It’s great for just needing a quick picker upper. I have four kids and three are girls so they are great in the bathrooms for the hair and cat litter (I have a box in my bathroom).
Click to expand...

Same... big kitty (and very old at 18 years), lots of pee, covered high back box, metal scooper. Our box is tucked away in the corner of our laundry room (which is conveniently by the garage, so cleaning means taking the boxes there). That's a good idea about having separate vacuums. What brand do you have, @kayla17? Do you find it has good suction? THANKS!!
 
kayla17 said:
I have one cat that urinates right on the side of the box and he never covers it up. He is big too so when he pees it is a huge amount. They only thing I do is just cover it up with some car litter so it clumps. Also I purchased a covered cat litter box with a higher back. And a metal scooper. They are the best. My plastic one felt like it was about to break every time I used it.
We vacuum everyday too. I bought those really inexpensive stick vacuums and keep one in each bathroom, one in the kitchen and one in the garage. It’s great for just needing a quick picker upper. I have four kids and three are girls so they are great in the bathrooms for the hair and cat litter (I have a box in my bathroom).
Click to expand...

Stick vacuums in various rooms is a stroke of genius.
I'm definitely guilty of leaving hair on the floor "for later" because I can't be bothered lugging the dyson upstairs...
I'm borrowing this suggestion pronto! Ditto @msop04, please do share any brand recs!
 
msop04 said:
Our kitties are very messy with litter - they can somehow track it out all over the house. Thankfully, we have hard wood floors, so not a disaster. One thing that grosses me out is that they urinate on the sides of the litter box... still inside, but it stays on the liner and makes cleaning disgusting. Anyone have a similar issue?? Suggestions??

ETA: We have to vacuum every other day... and could really vacuum near the box several times a day, if I'm being honest.
Click to expand...


we don't use liners, but we have a ridged plastic mat that goes outside the litter box so he steps on that straight away.
We clean the litter and it goes in a plastic bag inside a caddy with a lid on. So when that's full it goes out to the main bin. Haven't noticed him peeing on the side. How big is the box? Do they need a bigger one? :confused:
 
we have a modkat box (top entry, perforated on top so litter doesn't get tracked) and a litter genie. we clean the lining on the litter box every couple of weeks. the biggest help is we don't have carpet. i need to get another box and debating what to get because it'll have to be out in the open somewhere. if anyone has found a good enclosure etc. please post!
 
Poop machine :lol:
 
LJsapphire said:
we don't use liners, but we have a ridged plastic mat that goes outside the litter box so he steps on that straight away.
We clean the litter and it goes in a plastic bag inside a caddy with a lid on. So when that's full it goes out to the main bin. Haven't noticed him peeing on the side. How big is the box? Do they need a bigger one? :confused:
Click to expand...

It's the "jumbo" covered box... the largest one they make. I don't know why he pees on the side. It's maddening... and gross! UGH!
 
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