My house smelt like cat till I figured out some genius hacks to make it smell free ( almost) . One of the first issues I tackled was the litter box.
I had to figure out how to stop cat litter from smelling. The simple solution to the litter stink included
- Changing the Litter often
- Cleaning out the litter box at least twice a day
- Changing the cat’s diet
- Checking on her water intake
- Investing in Air purifiers and Deodorizers
- Switching to a Good Non-Toxic Litter
There are many days I am too tired or too lazy to change the litter daily. So I do have some cheats and tricks which have helped me.
How to keep Litter Box from Smelling up the House
I would recommend getting yourself a reminder. Why? Well set a reminder and clean the litter box at least once a day ( every day). There is no other easy way unless you invest in a self-cleaning litter box like this one.
I have heard some horror stories about self cleaning litter boxes. If kitty has diarrhoea, the poop gets smeared around ( yuck). But then there are owners who swear by it, and say they like he no touch system.
Whichever way you decide to go, clean the litter box at least twice a day. This keeps nasty smells away.
Add in a handful of baking soda each time you clean the litter. You can also add in a scoopful of odor-free litter. I personally have decided to stay away from odorless, scented and silica litter. These are said to be loaded with chemicals.
These can affect cats and us as well.
Check these Cat Litter Boxes
Change the Litter Often
I used to try and save money by keeping the litter a bit longer ( or stretching it). This proved counterintuitive. I actually ended up having to deal with stench, intensive cleaning sessions, and the cats decided they liked the floor better.
So from a cat mom to a cat parent, change the litter once a week, max 2 weeks.
Litter Box Smell Hacks
I love hacks and here are some liter related hacks to help you.
- Ammonia – smell test
- Baking soda
- Charcoal filters
- Stain + Odor Remover
First advice is to test a few types of litter in the market. Buy small packets of litter you think might be good.
Take a scoopful of litter into separate containers and add in a bit of ammonia. Don’t let your cats near these test containers.
Come back in a few minutes and in a few hours and smell the litter. The litter which does not smell of ammonia is the right litter for your cat.
Introduce the cat slowly to the new litter. They are so picky. My cats outright rejected the new litter. I had to mix in the new with the old and eventually we managed to find a balance.
Add Baking Soda to Litter
Baking Soda will absorb all smells and keeps the litter fresh longer. You still need to clean the litter regularly. Just add in a little baking soda every time you scoop.
Drill some holes in the lid of a mason jar. Fill it with baking soda. Use this DIY Sprinkler to simplify your work. Baking soda is not harmful for cats. If in doubt do test it with little quantities.
Charcoal Filters
Charcoal absorbs odors, allergens and lots of toxins present in the air. It is safe to use charocoal around cats. Some of the litter boxes have a special place in the hood for charcoal inserts.
These absorb the odours and can be replaced as per the timeframe suggested on them.
I do not own a litter box anymore. I have purchased an Activated Charcoal Dehumidifier Allergen and Odor Absorber.
This product was manufactured in India and it absorbs mildew, harmful pollutants, mould, bacteria, allergens as well as odor.
Since this also absorbs smoke and chemicals from paints, household cleaners, it is actually helpful for you and your pets.
Leave a pack in each room if you can. I even have one in my refrigerator. It literally zaps out all smells.
Best Cat Litter for Odor Control
Ever Clean Extra Strength – No Scent
This cat litter has been rated as one of the best for odor control by many cat parents.
What I found is that ever clean extra strength has the following properties beneficial for cat owners.
- Mix of activated carbon and antimicrobial agents
- Clumping mechanism is good
- No visible dust
- Locks smells for hours
You can check its latest price here ( on Amazon).
Dr Elseys Cat Ultra Premium
This is another litter which cat parents swear by. Some say it can even absorb a tear drop, that is how effective it is.
- No Scent
- Hypoallergenic, hence suitable for sensitive cats
- Good clumping mechanism to lock in odors
- No chemicals and plant proteins
You can check the litter on Amazon here.
Change Cats Intake
When Iwas a new cat mom, I simply introduced the cat to the best cat food in the market. I knew the company and I thought since I paid premium price and the vet said it is best, it should be good.
Well the vet owned the shop, so did he have vested interests in the sale ?
My kitten started meowing often… She started complaining I thought… because usually, she is very quiet.
Slowly I noticed the poop started smelling.
Well I knew immediately it was the food. I switched back the food to the previous brand and she almost immediately stopped meowing.
Her litter box ( at that time we had one) did not stink much.
Remember when the cat poops or pees, immediately you can smell it. But if the litter box continuously stinks, it is a big issue and needs looking into.
Cats do get upset stomachs, gas, flatulence… so as soon as you notice an issue ( usually first its the smell), think back to what you changed.
It is kind of like some detective work.
You work backwards and try to undo what all you did. Did you change the food?
Did you introduce new food?
Did she eat a fruit or meat?
Was it milk? Milk cause diarrhoea in my cats and I almost lost my kitty so be very careful. You can read up on do cats drink milk.
Check Cats Water Intake
If you notice the litter stinking like a urinal, it is the urine which is stinking. Change the litter immediately.
If kitty smells that she will pee and poop outside the litter box. There is no way she will use that box.
I used to wash the litter box using non toxic cleaners. I also sun dried them, this made sure all smells and germs were eliminated.
Next and most importantly check if she is drinking enough water. Also take a note of what she is being fed.
| Food | Moisture or Water Present |
| Dry Cat Food | 6% Moisture |
| Can of Wet Food | 70% water ~ 3.85 ounces of water |
Dry food contains very less water. The major source of water for cats is their food. They usually are not eager to drink water.
A cat needs to consume around 3.5 ounces to 5 ounces ( 105 ml – 133 ml ) per day.
This is for a cat who weighs 5 pounds or 2.26 kg.
To encourage cats to drink more water
- Clean out their bowls
- Put in fresh water, switch out the source of water if they still refuse the water ( boiled water, distilled water)
- Include more wet food in the diet
- Put in low sodium chicken or clam broth in their drinking water
In my house ensuring that my cat consumed more water, eliminated most of the stench from the litter box.
Tips to Eliminate Cat Litter Odor
My most favourite tips and hacks to eliminate cat litter odour.
- Place the litter box in a well-ventilated location.
- Use Air deodorisers – they suck out many nasty smells
- Mix in NonScents Cat Litter Deodorizer
- Clean litter box often
- Use an Air Purifier and filter such as the Philips Air Purifier 2000i
Noise level – Min. 21dba
Energy consumption – Energy star certified
Room Coverage– 277 sq ft
CADR-211
Traps up to 99.97 per cent of air particles
Automatically monitors and controls air quality through its AutoSense feature
Can sync with Air Matters app for easy control
Provides real-time air quality feedback
Energy Star certified so is energy efficient
Why Does Cat Litter Smell ? Cat litter smells like ammonia because urea is broken down into ammonia.