A litter box that has been properly disinfected with
If you're wondering whether it's safe to clean a litter box with bleach, vinegar or other pet care cleaning supplies, the answer is yes—as long as you rinse them properly.
Chloramine gas can also be released when bleach is mixed with urine, such as when cleaning the area around a toilet or when pets stains are cleaned. Both chloramine and chlorine gases are immediately irritating with a very pungent odor, causing watering of the eyes, runny nose and coughing.
Cleaners with powerful odors that promise results should alert pet owners, particularly cat owners, to danger, experts say. The ingredients that make disinfectants effective make them toxic for companion animals: alcohol, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, chemical compounds that contain the word “phenol,” etc.
Don't reach for the bleach or other common household cleaners. Instead, grab a good enzymatic cleaner that is manufactured specifically to neutralize the odor from cat pee and poop.
Cats are particularly attracted to bleach.
Its characteristic odor is like that of animal pee. When the cat perceives this smell, it feels threatened and feels the need to mark the territory. This is the case with all substances containing sodium hypochlorite.
Cleaning the area thoroughly with vinegar first and then applying an enzyme treatment will break down and evaporate the uric acid and your home will be free of cat odors. Vinegar and enzyme cleaners work on all surfaces: hardwood floors, carpets, mattresses.
Breathing high amounts of chlorine gas can lead to a build-up of fluid in the lungs and severe shortness of breath that could lead to death if untreated. Immediately or within a few hours after breathing chlorine gas, the lungs can become irritated, causing coughing and/or shortness of breath.
For the majority of cases, which involve household bleach that has been diluted in water, symptoms begin within minutes. These include heavy drooling (especially in cats) and redness and irritation on the skin and in and around the mouth.
Things to Avoid. Don't be tempted to use bleach. Ammonia-based or bleach cleaners can smell like cat pee (to a cat) so they may mistake it for their own pee and can be attracted for a repeat performance!
Washing a Litter Box
It is not necessary to use detergents or cleaning chemicals, as hot water will generally do the trick. A small amount of liquid dish soap added to the hot water will help loosen any “dirt” on the interior sides and bottom, and will refresh the box without leaving a toxic residue behind.
Don't use chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Cats are very sensitive to smell and a lingering chemical odor may cause your cat to avoid the box. Never use chlorine bleach because it can combine with the ammonia in cat pee to produce a toxic gas.
If you notice an odor or if much of the litter is wet or clumped, it's time for a change. Scrub the box every time you change the litter. Use mild dish detergent to clean it, as products with ammonia or citrus oils can turn a cat off, and some cleaning products are toxic to cats.
If you're looking for the best way to clean and disinfect a litter box, OdoBan Disinfectant and Odor Eliminator is one of the best litter box cleaners and cat litter deodorizers.
However, what happens is when cat urine comes in contact with bacteria in the litter box, it produces toxic ammonia fumes. The smell that most people think of as cat urine is actually urine that has come into contact with ammonia and in a few days turns into toxic ammonia fumes.
Drinking chlorinated water may cause minor GI irritation, but it should not cause serious issues for pets. Pets who love to gulp water as they paddle should be discouraged. Fortunately, most symptoms related to chlorine are minor.
Household bleach (sodium hydroxide) is not technically speaking considered corrosive or toxic, even if ingested. However, bleach exposure can cause irritation in the eyes, mouth, lungs and on skin. Individuals with asthma or other breathing problems are particularly susceptible.
If instructions are not available, leave the diluted bleach solution on the surface for at least 1 minute before removing or wiping. This is known as the “contact time” for disinfection. The surface should remain visibly wet during the contact time.
When you're dealing with bleach smells on your clothes, it's important to remember that the smell stays for a while. It could take anywhere from 2 hours to several days depending on the amount of bleach used and the type of fabric being laundered.
You might damage what you're trying to clean, according to Johnson. Full-strength (non-diluted) bleach can be damaging to the surface and be harsh on your skin. And using undiluted chlorine bleach on fabric can lead to permanent staining and damage to fibers, so always follow the instructions on the product's package.
Cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might surprise you (and you probably have them in your kitchen). Try orange and lemon peels, cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.
The No. 1 rule, and the only thing that will keep litter box odor at bay, is constant cleaning. That means scooping the box out at least twice a day, removing the solids and liquid clumps if you use clumping litter.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP): This non-toxic, pet-safe disinfectant contains surfactants, compounds that acts as detergents and foaming agents. AHP is a more stable than the traditional hydrogen peroxide. Dish Soap: This tried-and-true cleaner disinfects without causing harm to pets.