Have you ever found yourself desperately searching ways to get rid of cat odor? Yep, me too. While cats are lovely creatures, it doesn’t take long for them to give your home a whole new smell, and once you’ve lived with them a while, you won’t even notice it on yourself anymore. So how do you keep your home smelling great without giving up your furry friend?! Here’s the top ways to get rid of cat odor that have worked for me…
One of the easiest ways to get rid of cat odor is by using baking soda, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’ll do everything! Baking soda is a natural and safe deodorizer, so it’s ideal for sprinkling over cat litter to keep it smelling fresh, and hide any horrid odors. Get in the habit of sprinkling a bit over every time you change the litter, and it’ll soon come naturally.
The litter you use can make a big difference to the scent level in your home. Newspaper, for example, tends to be popular because it’s cheap and available in abundance, but it carries a very strong smell. Clumping cat litter tends to smell a lot less, as it seals around the waste, but costs more. Deodorized cat litters can work very well, or may just release a nasty chemical smell instead. It’s trial and error, so try finding a few sample bags of litter to see what works best in your home.
In the last few years, lidded kitty litter trays have been everywhere. They look better, and are said to offer more privacy for your furry friends on the toilet. And fair enough, they do. But adding a lid reduces ventilation drastically, and therefore drastically increases the stench. Avoid lidded litter trays unless you are 100% confident that it is both very well ventilated, and that your cat will use it.
Keep the litter tray, or trays, in the same place. Even perfectly healthy cats have been known to rebel against moved trays by peeing up the wall or on the carpet instead, and if your cat can’t find the litter, you can guarantee you’ll come home to a shock. If you do really need to change the location, add a new litter tray in the new location first, and then remove the older tray once your cat has used the new one successfully a few times.
Yes, scooping cat litter is one of the worst jobs ever…it’s like nappy changing but without the cute baby giggles. That said, you’ll much reduce both odors and the chance of hygiene problems by scooping the litter as soon as possible, and not just doing it once a day. Not only will this reduce the chances of an odor developing, but it also prevents urine infections and similar conditions which can be expensive and difficult to treat.
Your cat’s food will play a big part in how much they smell. Cow's milk, for example, is known to greatly increase smell, and causes an upset stomach in a large number of cats. Cheap dry food can also cause smelliness and frequency problems. Try a half wet/half dry diet, or even swapping to a raw food diet, to see if it improves the problem. It’s amazing how quickly it can change!
It’s not just baking soda that can naturally deodorize your home! Bring some water to simmer on the stove, and add lemon, cloves or cinnamon. These mixtures will neutralize the air and restore a fresh smell, without posing any risk to your cat. They can work for some time, too! This is one of the best ways to get rid of cat odor, as it’s so easy and effective; just remember not to use fresh flowers without checking that they are safe, as some can cause serious kidney failure in cats.
If you find you are suddenly looking for more ways to get rid of cat odor, without adding a new cat or changing your current set up, it might be worth getting your cat checked at the vet's. Some changes can be due to infections or diseases, so it’s worth checking! Have you got a great way to remove that cat smell from your home? I’d love to hear it!