Your Guide to Keeping Your Cat's Litter Box from Smelling
A cat is a wonderful companion, amusing you with their antics and keeping your lap warm as they doze there with a comforting purr. However, like most pets, they do have a downside. And the litter box can be a very smelly downside. Anyone who owns a cat will tell you the pain of keeping it odor-free and will likely have their own tricks and products to help. So what cat litter deodorizer worked best? Well, Fresh Wave has a fantastic odor-removing gel that’s sure to do the trick, but there’s more to it than that. In this post, we’ll explore some of the causes of litter box smells, how to properly maintain your litter box and share a few more tips on keeping those bad odors at bay.
Understanding the Cause of Litter Box Odors
You might think that the reasons behind the horrible smells coming from your litter box are simple; it’s just pee and poo, so it’s bound to stink, right? Well, that’s only part of the story.
The main component in the smell is the bacterial decomposition of urea in your cat’s urine, which results in ammonia — the part you smell. Cat urine is particularly high in urea, an intact male cat’s especially. Felinine is another main component in cat urine, which degrades to sulfur-rich compounds including pyruvic acid, which gives off a sour, fishy odor.
The odor caused by your cat’s feces can be quite variable. Stools produced by a healthy cat on a food diet are usually solid and sausage-shaped. These may smell for a short while, but the odor is not generally overwhelming. However, poor diet, parasites or a gastrointestinal infection can cause loose stools that smell terrible. If this is the case, try changing your cat’s diet or consult your vet.
Contrary to some common myths, the litter itself does not generally cause any odor. On the contrary; most litters are designed to prevent the breakdown of urea, avoiding the production of ammonia. Many also contain ingredients that absorb odors. So, if you do have nasty smells coming from your litter box, it’s down to maintenance and using the right odor-eliminating products.
Proper Litter Box Maintenance
Proper litter box maintenance is essential if you want to keep those nasty odors away. While there are plenty of high-tech litter boxes on the market and litters that are marketed as absorbing all smells, you still need to do the basics. Scooping the feces and any clumps at least once each day is a must, and you should change the litter completely at least once a week. When cleaning it out, ensure that you use cleaning products that are safe for cats. For example, you should not use bleach at all.
Choosing the best litter is critical too; some cheap litters don’t absorb odors very well or clump up very quickly, doing little to keep smells at bay. Cats can be fussy about litter as well; if your cat is refusing to use the box, you might want to try a different type of litter.
Using an Odor Eliminating Product for Litter Boxes
Even if you have a good maintenance schedule, a high-tech litter box and the best litter you can buy, some smells will always escape, especially if your feline friend is feeling a little under the weather. So it’s always best to have an odor-eliminating product on standby. For a quick fix, you can always use a deodorizing spray, but there is a better alternative that’s long-lasting.
Fresh Wave’s kitty litter odor-removing gel uses fresh-smelling, natural ingredients to neutralize those foul odors. The odor-eliminating ingredients are emitted into the air, seeking out the particles responsible for the smell and absorbing them. As all the ingredients are from sustainable, natural sources, it’s good for the planet, too. To use, begin by simply twisting off the lid, removing the foil and replacing the slotted lid. Next, place it within three feet of your cat’s toilet and leave it to do its work. The gel inside will disappear as it absorbs bad smells, so you’ll know when to replace it once the gel has all gone; this is usually between 15 and 30 days.
Additional Tips for Reducing Litter Box Odors
So you’ve learned about what causes the smells in your pet’s litter box, how to maintain it and how to keep the odors down with odor-eliminating gel. However, there are a few more things you can do to reduce litter box odors and eliminate cat odor in general.
Firstly, ensure your litter box is in a well-ventilated area. Near an exterior door or window is best, and certainly don’t place it in a closet! Next, you need to have enough litter boxes for the number of cats you own. While one cat is enough for most people, many of us like to have more, and they don’t always like to share a toilet area
If the litter box is smelling bad between litter changes, you can absorb some of the odors by sprinkling baking soda over it. Baking soda is excellent for absorbing smells from acidic compounds as it acts as a base and neutralizes them.
Keep Your Cat's Litter Box Smelling Fresh and Clean with Fresh Wave
Despite all the good points of owning a cat, their litter box can be a problem area for smells in your home. Bacteria breaking down their wastes cause some pretty bad odors, so proper maintenance, quality litter and the best odor-eliminating products are essential in fighting the war on horrible smells. So why not add to your arsenal today with Fresh Wave’s kitty litter odor eliminating gel?
